Lyrically speaking

Had quite an anglican weekend... St Hughs held it's APCM (Thats Annual Parochial Church Meeting aka AGM aka health check), was a bit full on for a Sunday morning. It would have been quite short if someone hadn't have asked 'whats the relationship between the school and the church?' Which of course sparked a few people into action.

I was way down the queue to have my say... but that's such a good sign. So many people are ready to help out and they know so much more than I do at the moment.

We had news this week that the young people had raised £1000 for WorldVision! I'm so impressed with them. The certificate will be proudly displayed on our new fundraising board. We had started to pull ideas together for Soul Survivor (and Resonate), so look out for pictures!

Had Tim Hughes' new album on repeat lately, he's gone a bit grassroots with his lyrics. 'Clinging to the cross' is my favourite. I'm already having fun adding other lyrics to the songs though. One goes 'the sun, the moon, the stars, the heavens' but could easily be changed to 'the sun, the moon, the stars, whatever!'. Ok I found it funny, stop laughing at me.

Back to work I suppose.

Healings

God is amazing, nothing can take away from that. He is great and He does things that we can't even imagine.

I know that the people surrounding Jesus would have either been sceptics or in awe of the miracles. Today there are exactly the same kind of people. I, for one, skip from sceptic to awe depending on the day, and my mood... I am human!

Saturday morning I woke up scared and excited about what might happen during the day. Turns out there was no need to be really petrified.

Randolph Vickers sees healing as an everyday event, which happens to some people and not to others. He's calm and knows that there is no formula to healing, but we can have a go. We have the power in us with the Holy Spirit to heal people. They come however they are, and hopefully go away better than they were.

Stories from the weekend include:

Healing of a relationship
Many lower back pains healed
Hips and backs realigned
Dancing grandmas
Releasing of demons
and many people blessed by God's presence.

The most confusing thing in the whole weekend was the idea that while this is an amazing thing, and lots of people can now move around without pain, it's so ordinary.
Almost like there is nothing to it, the best example I can think of is driving a car. I waited ages to learn to drive a car, the first few times I drove all alone were amazing, but now I drive everyday. It comes naturally.

God is amazing, nothing can take away from that. He is great and He does things that we can't even imagine. (maybe thats all I need to understand right now)

Needing a boy

Things come in three's apparently. So now my car has a new electric connection to the front head lights, a new back windscreen, a new battery, a new clutch, a newly ground fly wheel and a new tyre. I'm well past three.

I needed a boy to fix this one, I definitely couldn't do it myself. As much as I might complain or put boys down, they are very very useful for a lot of things! Give me a few years and I'll be able to do more things by myself, but there will always be the point where I just need a boy.

Luton life goes on quite well. St Hugh's are holding a healing conference all day Saturday, and I'm part of the ministry team. To say I'm scared would probably be an understatement. Jesus miracles would have been really scary to those standing around witnessing it. They would have been amazed.

The conference should be good, letting God do His thing. I'm sure there will be lots of stories afterwards!

All By Myself

Had a Bridget Jones moment this morning, it was great.

It's been a long week. We cooked lunch for the oldies in the church on Friday. Was lovely to see the young people working.

Friday night and Saturday were spent catching up with my beautiful friends.

Sunday was a whole other world, back in church, working hard and then chilling out with the rest of the staff in the afternoon. St Mary's in the evening was all about community. Sitting around a table with a mixture of people has got to be one of the best things in the world, and I think it's what I love most about my job.

Pictures that make me laugh

Me, as natural as it gets, I'd just washed my hair and i always sit in a naturally defensive position (knees up). No make up, no nothing really. I drove 400 miles today.
Holly in 'The Bump' at a recent health day in Lewsey. She's such a great sport and didn't get too many bad looks (I'm told).

Easter Weekend

It's been fantastic.

Caught up with quite a few people, decisions have been made, it's just time to move on them really.

Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Sunday were all brilliant. If you've never been up for sunrise on Easter Sunday you are missing out. Find a hill, and a bunch of people (if you offer them breakfast more will come), it was amazing.

Back in Essex for a bit, sorting out car trouble and general family tasks. Easter Monday was certainly a day for much sleep and catch up drinks with Billericay guys. Trying to work out if/when I'll be back. Doesn't look likely.

Back to reality soon enough with a trip up north to be trained, cooking lunch for over 50's, away day and normal sunday service resumes. Holiday never feels long enough.

Maundy Thursday

Yes, I am anglican, yes I am a little bit weird.

Those of you who know me will understand a little bit about why I love tradition so much.

We come to Easter, and a chance to meet with the church family at least once a day for 4 days. How exciting! The next four days are intense and busier than the other christian (nicked from the pagans) festival that we don't mention til november.

Tonight is the last supper. Tomorrow is the walk of witness, which takes place between three churches hopefully there will be lots of people. Saturday is youth night, pizza and sweets all round. Sunday sees the dawn service and breakfast for anyone who can brave it.

Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your Easter long weekend, wherever in the world you are.

Labyrinth

St Hugh's hosted the Labyrinth over the last weekend, here are a selection of pictures.


Young People huddling around Station 5, called 'distraction'... playing with magnets to distort what a compass says.



My handprint in some sand, at Station 11. It was supposed to be the the first footprint of the onward journey when you leave the Labyrinth.



The Cd players that guide you around the Labyrinth, filled with Tesco Value batteries.



Please sign the visitors book as you leave the Labyrinth, we'll take the strangest comments and reflect upon them later.