Where are we at?

Half term ended with a bit of a flourish...

Two nights in London, one to see a friend play a gig and the second to be majorly disappointed by the Emerging Culture Salsa event. It seems that the emerging church still mostly caters for women and feels very disorganised.

I would have loved to have salsa danced to a live band with a man who could dance. Is that too much to ask? I would have done it very differently and I was not filled with hope when the organiser of the event introduced herself and said she'd never Salsed (sp?) before. Does this count as righteous moaning?

Then we had a town wide Pentecost Praise on Sunday night at the Calvary Church of God In Christ (COGIC). This was totally awesome, not only was it well attended, it was loud and so relaxed. I really loved it that there was no preach slot, but that leaders from across the town got up and prayed over the town. Hoping for more things like this and for more twenty-somethings to join in.

I was taking it all in and had a job to do, so felt more at home than previously.

Upon reflection of the whole weekend:

Thought 4: I really don't expect my peers (who aren't my friends) to know who I am, even if I know who they are/have worked with them before. I'm not sure where this thought is headed, I've not verbalised it enough. I think I expect young people to know me (I got on the train to London and said hello to two young people) but I never expect acquaintances to know my name, I'm just not important.

Oh and on the Uganda front, we had an afternoon tea this weekend and raised £180 from it! My young people have worked so so so hard towards the fundraising. I'm increasingly proud.

Matthew Macaulay - As For Me

There is something about this album that sounds very familiar. It might just be because Matt's led worship at youth camp several times, or that those songs echo some of what I feel right at this moment. It's interesting to listen to a singer/song writer and, especially with Christian music, you see so much of the person's heart with each word and phrase.

I find that some of the arrangements on the album feel a little bit out of place, epic in some places, then suddenly drops off to nothing. The backing vocals are massive on some songs, and you definitely couldn't expect any one with a 'normal' singing voice to reach that height. Though I often do try in my car.

“With all my heart” is the opening track which sets the mood for the rest of the tracks, all with catchy tunes, which resound some of what Christian life should look like. A few of the songs try to fit too much in, but it is good to reflect on how much we are called to do, alongside all God has done for us already.

Matt's website has all the bits and pieces for trying out these songs in church, some of which I will try to get into worship. “The Beauty of the Cross” has a very simple message, and could be amazingly powerful. We'll see. A great first album and I'm very much looking forward to hearing more.

La la la

I feel a little bit like I'm twiddling my thumbs until camp comes 'round.

Next week is a week off, so hopefully I will feel very recharged by the time I reach camp.

We walked along the Thames at Richmond at the weekend, at high tide, I nearly waded in the Thames, but no one else wanted to join me. It's been beautifully sunny here, and the rain has only come to clear the air.

Also watched/sang along to/drooled at John Mayer's new music DVD called "Where the light is". Mayer overload the last few weeks, but that's not a bad thing. He especially does a very good acoustic version of "Free Fallin' " by Tom Petty, and some old classics. There are some good distractions.

Pictures of the week off will be up once we've had some fun.

Neeeeee-ver...

... forget where you've come here from!

Birthday on Friday, so headed in to London to see the musical based on the Take That songs.

It was very funny. Can't believe that the last time I saw Take That was when I was 11 or so, at Earls Court, minus Robbie. But now they are back, and doing well.

Then we went to Farringdon for drinks, pictures on Facebook!

Cake on Saturday, with family and friends, and then preaching this morning. Notes on the other site. Was a very fun lovely weekend.

Preaching was a good laugh, better than before, little bit of audience interaction and laughing. Now it's on summer programme, and I'll be calming down alot. Going to enjoy Summer this year I think.

Good evening Wembleeeeey!

Was in London last night with Liz and Chris seeing the brilliant Maroon 5, and their supporting act (and one of Liz's fav bands) Dashboard Confessional.

It was really good to be able to sing at the top of my voice and actually feel the pain this morning when I woke up! I came crashing back to the real world quite quickly, remembering what had happened before the night of great music and better crowd interaction than some of the previous events I've been too.

We had normal services in the morning, both with anointing at the end. God does amazing things in anointing, it's a mystery as to what, but somethings happening. Advent is changing it's flavour here.

Then we had Christingle in the afternoon. The children and young people were amazing and as per usual we missed que's and made mistakes, but got raving reviews from pretty much every one!

Those who play Mary at St Hugh's seem to be in the category of 'most nervous person prior to performance' but we prayed and God saved! So, next up is a panto! 12 days and counting, argh!

If you are in Luton, there is room at 'The Inn Party' for every one, give me a bell if you want a ticket. 15th December, 6.30pm.

Roll on December!!

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.

Sex God

I'm not joking... I could have started this blog with 'I wanna have your babies'.

In a world obsessed with sex, I hope I'm teaching so that they young people I know will be able to make an informed decision - or at least consider the danger they put themselves in every time they have sex.

Whats the one thing James Bond doesn't have? I wonder how the boys may answer this question on Monday morning.

'I wanna have your babies' is a song from Natasha Bedingfield, shes a genius! Single is out on 16th April. I was very scared of this song until I heard the lyrics, then I just laughed for a good ten minutes.

Things I've heard this week
'But miss, I'll never get HIV'
'Girls should get on their knees more often'
'I could never do that miss' (she was talking about faithfulness)
'Miss, that's what I've chosen' on virginity and abstinence

Sex God is Rob Bell's new book, written in the same style as Velvet Elvis. I got given it twice this week. However I have this really strange feeling that the book is aimed at me and not who I will be teaching! I'll let you know when I've finished.