Naturally Supernatural

St Hugh's 16+ headed off to join a conference at Soul Survivor Watford last Thursday. Naturally Supernatural was all about the Holy Spirit. Ken Costa was speaking on the comfort side of the Holy Spirit.

Once I understood the real meaning of comfort, I have really latched on to it as something that gets me through all days. For the rare moments when I feel as though no one is on my side. And for the moments when it's all going swimmingly well. God is there cheering me on. 2 Corinthians 1 mentions the God of All Comfort.

It's good to be in a different place hearing these things, even if Ken was using words I didn't understand, I got the general idea behind what he was saying. I love the way that God takes the words of others and uses them to talk to every one individually.

The Saturday before last was a perfect example of this, the Spirit of the Lord was upon me and He has anointed me! I used my gift well last weekend and got a bit of money from the community for my trouble. It was enjoyable. God using my words and his convincing to get us some money! Yeay!

May the God of all comfort be comforting you!

CUF

My salary is largely funded by a great bunch of guys at Church Urban Fund. They visited us a few months ago for Big Breakfast, took some information and some pictures.

We're currently "project of the month" on their website. Love it. There's Lauren and me under the rainbow in the hall (on the CUF home page), and then Trina and Dele at the top of the page and Alex at the bottom. Yes we have a wide mix of people at BB.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of all the hard work the volunteers do to put on Big Breakfast every week! It's a massive relief to see some of the work I do getting recognised.

Along with that and something God said to me last night, I'm feeling pretty chuffed right now.

Later this week I'm off to Youthwork the Conference. I'm massively looking forward to a) hanging out with the boys and my sister and b) being away for a bit with a purpose.

Plunged into Darkness

We are back to 'normal time' here in the UK, so the nights are dark and the dawn is earlier for a short amount of time. The first week always feels the most depressing. Everyone suddenly realises that winter is much closer than you thought and the chances of having a nice day disappear.

It's great for firework displays though and for all those who will be out on Saturday for Hallowe'en. Not a joyfilled time of year really, but I like it. The trees are changing colour and there is a better excuse to be snuggled up with hot chocolate. And most importantly apple filled donuts covered in cinnamon sugar. Yum!

And for something completely different, Liz and I will be hanging out in St Albans Cathedral from 8pm on Friday to 8am on Saturday, with hundreds of young people and some lovely people from my diocese. I am looking forward to the twilight hours, something I enjoy and don't find creepy, where every one is quiet and you feel like you are the only one awake. The fun thing is I'll have to teach. Have you ever led a session gone midnight? It struck me how unusual this might be the other day as I was preparing my session. I could have so much sugar/caffeine in my system that I'll be non-sensical. Start praying!

Anyway, it should be lots of fun and I hope to make many new friends during the night. If all else fails at least I can say I attempted to teach between the hours of 9pm and 2am. A unique opportunity!

Of course it's not all about darkness, this weekend also includes a 'Light Party' alternative to Hallowe'en for the children at church, and our new bishop is coming on Sunday to confirm (a CofE rite of passage?/ritual?) some adults and young people. then I finally get to see my family for an evening meal. Very happy to end the weekend like that!

Tigger moments

No internet at home means plain blogging for a few weeks. I promise many photo's upon the return of BT broadband to the house (Sky lost out because they were massively unhelpful...)

I'm at work, making massive use of the internet before working on a sermon this afternoon with no facebook distraction! There might be something go out of this lack of internet!

No thoughts worth sharing have occurred in the last seven days. But Good News prevails! Since we joined Mission Direct, had a project to go to and confirmed who was going to be part of the team we have raised the £11,160 we need to pay for our tickets.

This was massively helped along by my parents church, my own church and the local community. Everybody has put so so so much in. I got a bit emotional in church on Sunday. Not a bad thing, I was totally and suddenly overcome by how much people had given! It's amazing. God has been gracious to us, He's given more than I could ever imagine.

There are many minds at peace about this trip now, mine is one of them, but I've felt like this since February, so I turned into Tigger. My security and joy definitely come from God and I'm massively happy at the moment.

Now all I have to remember is to pay the money to MD oh, and get the booster injections and health passort I need to gain entry to Uganda.

Easter Celebrations

This year we combined our Christmas and Easter displays, so here is what is on the ceiling at the moment, with the cross positioned underneath it.


The crown of thorns sits lonely on the steps to the dias. Awaiting to be put back on the cross, where it normally is. Apparently it was worn by one of the young people when he played Jesus a few years ago.


I think this was the most powerful thing that we did. At the right point in the story, 3 men raised the cross to standing, with the children sitting at the foot of the cross. It brought to mind all of the feelings over the Easter season. Everything drawn to the cross.

On Sunday morning we walked to the hills and watched it get lighter, the sun rose behind the mist. When you get up that early you kinda feel cheated if it's misty, but nevermind, a good breakfast, services and lunch followed. A good Easter all round really!

iSpeak (again)

I spoke at St Hugh's yesterday morning for the second time this year. Was very interesting to preach from a book that's not the Bible, but seeing as I cycle for 40mins a day I had time to read the chapter I was preaching on.

Here's the link for my one and only fan - my Dad.

That's all I have to say for now. Short and sweet.

And as a total after thought, 5 years this weekend!

New Year and beyond...

I have returned to Luton with the intention to work. I preached on Sunday morning. I'm glad that there wasn't a lot of pressure with this one, the Anglican year begins on the first Sunday of Advent.

It was good. Not my best, but good all the same. There were God moments, which I certainly hadn't planned for and it's just lovely to be back with family and people who laugh when you make mistakes (because they know you, not because they are laughing at you).

New Year went off with out too many problems. Some lovely dresses and well dressed men. I didn't win best dressed, but my parents where the Judges so I couldn't have won. Liz has pictures. I didn't take my camera...

Looking forward to 2009, it's started well, let's hope it continues.

In the run up

We are on the final sprint towards Christmas, in case you hadn't noticed!!

St Mary's had their Christmas Ball on Friday. Was expertly done, by too many people to mention and there was a fantastic atmosphere in the church. It's amazing to think the amount of work which went into it! I hope it continues for many more years. Here's me...


The weekend saw the end of Strictly Come Dancing on the BBC. Many opinions shared about the final result and one interesting one here. It was very good to watch it with friends, I feel that's what it should be about. Reality TV is no fun by yourself!!

Sunday was a little bit random, Church services at different times than normal. Christmas tradition at St Hugh's is great. Carols by Candlelight was amazing. then we watched Scrooged and The Snowman afterwards. It was very christmassy.

All in all it's going well. And I've just agreed to preach on the first Sunday of the new year... Epiphany. Should be very interesting.

A very happy Christmas to everybody out there!

Christmas Traditions

Oh it's all change this year, scary stuff! My mum is about to take over thr role of head chef on Christmas Day, it had previously been my Nan.

For longer than I can remember we've always gone to my Nan's for Christmas Day. It's a long standing tradition to gather around her table after church and hang out with my mum's side of the family. But having 10 of us for dinner for the last few years (my youngest cousin is 4, maybe) has obviously take it's toll! So this year she's going to hide at my auntie's new house in London and mum takes of the mammouth task of cooking christmas dinner (something Liz, the boys and i will fight over in years to come!). Mum does have a new kitchen and a family full of cooks to spoil the broth...

It'll be very strange to be at home all of Christmas day. And God only knows when I'll actually see Nan.

The religious bit of christmas is coming along well. St Hugh's has it's Nativity play on Sunday. All the other christmas seervices are coming along.

I'll share a little bit of Farm joy too... broken back windscreen wiper! Christmas lights are out though, so that's proper joy!

23rd Feb - Prayer day/concert

Being stuck inside all day isn't a bad thing when you get to hear some one like Dr Jonathan Oloyede speak for a few hours.

A man who is led by God as to what to challenge the churches in Luton.

Pray more.
Pray with authority (which is different from power)
Pray with each other
Pray in conversation with God
Pray the prayers of others

Young people came to St Hugh's tonight, and I was astounded by them. We pray for each other, we pray for the adults, we pray for our leaders. Mostly we pray.

I don't believe that God only works in mysterious ways, He works in the everyday, in the ordinary.

It's been said before coincidences happen when we pray and it's funny that they stop when we stop!

We will keep prayng. Hallelujah!

What's happenin'?

This is a question I get asked regularly, normally I have no clue myself. Today I feel as if I'm on the inside, fully aware of what's going on, not only in church, but in my own head.

Clearly this makes a change from everyday life!

Some of the more exciting things happening are:
* the young people/young adults of St Hugh's are heading to Uganda in summer '08. Logistically this could be a headache, prayers/emotional support much needed.
* Christingle is in the hands of the young people again, pray for God inspired moments and the 'coming together at the last moment'-ness that church is famous for!
* I've got two conferences this week (wohoo!), I need to be well (haven't been since last week) to maximise effect of networking.

In other news -we will not be interviewing for a second youth worker this time round. Oh well, God's got other plans...

Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly Pt 1

Well, yet again St Hugh's youth and friends were blessed with amazing non-rainy weather for Thorpe Park. I'm sitting at home with Jed (the goldfish) reflecting on a very interesting day!

Thats the main social trip of the year and now we are gearing up for a full-on weekend.

Prayers, if you can/are willing:

* That we have good weather
* That we learn something about God's heart for the poor
* That we don't get on each other's nerves too much
* That we get some sleep
* That the service we are running would be real and honest, teaching the church about the one billion that live in Slums
* That we raise our target (give at http://www.justgiving.com/slumsurvivorlewsey - thanks!)

Hope everyone who gets a half term is enjoying it, and if you are doing Slum Survivor this weekend, my prayers go out to you!

Intermittent

I'm a task related person, if there is a task to do I will put it off right until the last minute!!

Most days this is how I feel, but I know I don't work like this. Doing tasks, completing things you said you would do is a lot easier if your laptop at home works.

But actually sitting in my office, I realise I've done a lot more than I would normally do at home. It's a shame that online seminars start this week, otherwise I'd be quite happy that my laptop didn't work.

The solution is a simple one, get a new adapter (which I think is the broken thing). Luckily I have a twin and we buy the same things, including similar laptops. So I potentially have the simplest of solutions at my fingertips... wednesday afternoon will be the test for that one.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) not all solutions come as easily or as simply.

This month Soul Action is calling young people across the UK to live in a slum for a weekend (by live I mean build, inhabit, and dismantle). Just one weekend, it's not a lot, and it doesn't make the problem go away.

One sixth of the worlds population live in slum conditions every day for years on end. We're just raising money. Soul Action is here and our fundraising page is here. Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God.

Happy Birthday!

Church had all their celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the newest building this weekend, so it's been busy, but much fun. It was lovely to see everyone dressed up and enjoying themselves.
This is a banner that the young people and children made a few weeks ago... they are amazingly talented.


As busy as it was I still found time to eat an entire chocolate cake to myself!

The sponge cake that Ann made, and yes it had little people all the way round the edge! It was amazing and tasted so so good!

And Ben, trying to be clever when we asked 'what is your favourite memory of St Hugh's?' But he actually got me thinking and it makes me smile when I'm having a hard time!

Home

I was at home at the weekend to celebrate Mandy's birthday. Went out for lunch and shopping... was very lovely to be home if it was just for a few hours. Set Dad up on Facebook too, or 'myface' or 'facespace' whatever. It's getting too busy.

The babies came back from Cambridge safely and Charlie (my white boy who has been mistaken for my son) was on parade today. I'm taking him out on Wednesday if I can get the biro ink off his face. - if what I just wrote has made no sense, check out here.

There is a real baby at church. Lydia Gendi was born at 23.14 last monday and is very very cute. I'm a long way down the matriarchal list when it comes to holding the new baby, but I do have the other 3 Gendi children to keep my busy. Liz knows all about that!

Next weekend St Hugh's celebrate 40 years in their current building with bouncy castle, pimms, chocolate, cocktails, worship and dinner. It's going to be a great weekend. I'm anticipating lots of dancing and being shattered.