Join Me

I have now finished Join Me - a very enjoyable read. Considered buying his next book, Yes Man, when shopping in Windermere last week but managed to resist.
My reading list now stands as before and I'm wondering where to go from here? I might be feeling pro-active this week in which case I think I'll go for Bonhoeffer. I might not though.

Hallowe'en

For the first time in my life I have been involved in an alternative Hallowe'en party. Growing up, hallowe'en was always nicely avoided at home by watching the television in the backroom with the rest of the lights off in the hall and landing so that it looked as if no one was in, and then ignoring the doorbell if it rang. Any unlikely trick or treater should ring the house phone before coming round or they would be ignored on the doorstep!

So I am forced to think about what I think of Hallowe'en. I think that before I was rather sceptical of alternative hallowe'en parties, that there was really no need in encouraging hallowe'en and that if we just ignored the silliness then it would go away (the ostrich approach). One boy at the party today asked, 'but isn't this a hallowe'en party?' and it made me wonder whether we are giving off mixed messages. I haven't come to a conclusion yet and will spare you my trying-to-work-out-what-I-think-while-typing splurge. Any views will be greatly received.

On the other hand, the party was very enjoyable. It had befallen me to lead team games, though how on earth I managed to land myself such responsibility when I no longer even go to the church, I'm not quite sure. Made me feel wanted though :) . The games went fairly well, though after 2 attempts at one running game (run round a chair and back to the beginning, take the next person by the hand and run again until the whole team are running around the chair in a huge chain) I scrapped it for the third because it wasn't working very well - it was a little on the dangerous side of things. We had played it in France at LPO and it worked well there, but I think because of the open space and grass; it was rather more confined in the church. The children were somewhat hyperactive and very noisy, the lack of a decent sound system made calling for order very difficult indeed. I think a system of shutting up and sitting down was necessary to avoid total chaos, but maybe that's the twitchy teacher in me.

On a totally different topic, we have only one more week of Dona Nobis Pacem now before the performance. I think I know most of it now comfortably enough, there's only a few really quite sketchy pages at the end I need to brush up on before next week's rehearsal. I'm rather more concerned that we haven't rehearsed Parry's Blest Pair of Sirens for weeks and weeks, well over a month I'm sure - and that's in 8 parts! Eek!

Visiting

Much visiting has been done this week. I have been to stay with Joy which was much fun, we even went to fellowship at her church together which was lovely. We also went for a walk down the canal and smelt some lovely curry sauce/other brewing at the Robertson's factory. We then went for a walk around the Moravian settlement in Manchester which was very interesting and beautiful too, it has been well maintained and the Georgian architecture is stunning. We read a little about the Moravians in the window of the church hall building which was interesting, I hadn't even heard of them until recently, I read a little about them in the story of 24-7 prayer and then a friend of a friend is a Moravian too. So it was quite interesting all in all.

After staying at Joy's we came up to Lancaster together to see Martyn Joseph and Show of Hands in concert. We are fans of MJ and so knew what to expect and were not disappointed. I am always overawed by the full sound that he can produce from just one guitar and his voice. After the interval was Show of Hands (it was their concert to be fair, but I know of many people who came just to see MJ and Show of Hands was a bonus), and they were fantastic. I had bought one of their CDs off the internet before the concert having listened to a bit of their stuff on their website. They are a very clever musical group with many different stringed instruments with beautiful harmonies. I was most impressed by the lady, Miranda, who clearly had a very strong voice and yet held it back most of the time to allow it to blend with the other voices.

After the concert I drove up to Silverdale to stay in the caravan with my mum, dad and sister for a couple of nights. I didn't take my sleeping bag, having expected my mum to have packed it seeing as she knew I was staying, but she hadn't. So I spent two nights sleeping under my mum and dad's duvet cover (they had the duvet), my sister's camp blanket and a couple of towels... yes, interesting indeed!

I then drove back down to Lancaster to stay with Sarah and Kieron which is where I am now. Having much fun and playing on Matthew's new laptop right now - hehe!

Dona Nobis Pacem

I feel the need to blog about Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem that we are learning to sing in choir at the moment... it is dire not to put too finer point on it. It is written in mind of the terrible terrible pain and crude carnage of the first world war, and that is very, very clear from the music. I find, however, that spending 2 hours singing...

For the son is brought with the father,
In the foremost ranks of the fierce assault they fell,
Two veterans, son and father, dropped together,
And the double grave awaits them.

...to be quite wearing and tiring actually. I cannot imagine that anyone should choose to pay to hear us singing this discordant cacophany.

On the other hand, I find the journey through the whole piece from the Agnus Dei through into the war poetry and then back to the quiet, peaceful ending; dona nobis pacem - have mercy on us, to be quite moving. I would rather be singing something rather more harmonious, though. We are also singing Schubert's Mass in G, necessary for a little light relief I think.

Bubbles!

Sarah is staying at my house today. We have had much fun playing with my bubble sword! We have also been for a walk along the beach and have had a hot chocolate in a cafe, but it is now raining so we haven't been on the swings!!

Evolution of a worshipper

I'm very glad Dave Walker has made this cartoon available for putting on my blog, it is definately my favourite!! So where are you on the scale? I am 4th from the left I think, not quite got to crucifer stage yet and hope I don't get to the grumpy hands in the pockets stage.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Doing what's right

OK so I relented and chose to start Danny Wallace first. Well, I know my weaknesses and limitations I suppose...

Joy sent me a link to a very enjoyable game today too, so I've been wasting a little time on that this morning! It is very difficult, but I'm enjoying the mouse choir... If you want to join me in the internet game madness try it out here:

http://jayisgames.com/archives/2006/10/sound_factory.php

If I was clever and all that I would be able to include a link without the long address, but I'm not and can't be bothered to work out how right now.

Other plans for today include watching the creation debate and then perhaps I will come back to you as promised with my thoughts... that's if I don't get too distracted by singing mice and Danny Wallace... anything is possible!

One Day In History 17/10/06

I got up after my alarm went off at 9 o'clock and having snoozed it for about half an hour. I had a shower and got dry and dressed in fairly smart clothes because I would be going to work later. I went downstairs for my breakfast where I met my mother and we had a coffee and a chat. I live with my parents and my younger sister, my sister was at school and my dad was at work but my mum was off work for a week's holiday.

After breakfast I went back upstairs for a bit of quiet time to read the Bible and to pray as I like to do whenever I am not working in the morning. During this time of quiet my phone rang and I spoke to a friend about meeting up to see the Blackpool Illuminations later in the week. We arranged a time and place to park and a route to walk through the Illuminations, find a fish and chip shop for supper and take a tram back to the cars.

Once I had finished on the phone I continued praying for a short while. It was then time to go downstairs and make myself some lunch. I ate cheese on biscuits and my dad (who had returned home for his lunch) made me a cup of tea. I then went to work at a nearby Primary School as a supply teacher.

When I arrived at work I had to ring the doorbell to be let in to the school and then I went to the year 2 classroom that I would be working in to find out what work had been left for me to teach. When the children came in I registered them and then began to teach. We watched a video to learn about Neil Armstrong and why he is famous. We then talked about what we had learnt from the video before the children went to their desks to write about Neil Armstrong. After an hour the children went outside for a playtime whilst I checked their books. When they came back in they continued with their work. I was unsure of the time school ended, and thinking that it should finish at 3.15 the children were still sat at their desks writing when the bell went for the end of the day at 3.10. It was a mad panic to get them lined up with letters to take home and then out of the door to their parents.

After returning home I went up to my room to check my emails. I then read until it was time for tea that my mum had cooked - pasta with chicken and leek.

At 20 past 7 I left the house to go in my car to Lytham St Annes Choral Society to rehearse for a concert we are holding in a few weeks' time. On returning from choir 2 hours later I continued to read until I had finished the book at half past 11. I went back on my computer to post on my blog and then I went to bed.

*grammatically edited 19/10/06

Book addiction, lacking reading addiction.

Hooray! I have finally finished reading Jodi Picoult's Vanishing Acts. I have been meaning to read it for absolutely ages, seeing as I bought it in about June, lent it to Sarah who spilt juice on it and knowing that I am picky about the state of my books (I like my shelf to look like a bookshop not a library, books are so much neater when they look unread even if they have been) bought me another copy whilst we were at New Wine. So I have been in possesion of it since the end of July. I feel so much happier now that it is read!
Still which of the partly started books to I tackle next?

Here is the list:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Life Together
Alister McGrath - Theology The Basics
Bill Hybels - Too Busy Not To Pray
Nick Spencer - Asylum and Immigration - A Christian Perspective
Alistair Redfern - Being Anglican (lets face it, it's not going to be this one)

Or ones that I have not started yet:
C S Lewis - A Grief Observed
Danny Wallace - Join Me

Notice how the majority of my unfinished books are thoroughly edifying ... and like wading through soup. I suspect I will attack the new books first - A Grief Observed is so short I can probably manage to finish it at some point in the near future, and let's face it, Danny Wallace is far more appealing. I just know I'll have gone out to buy another Jodi Picoult before I know what's hit me.

Long time no type

It's been a while since my last post - just goes to show what a few days work can do for you!

I went to the Blackpool Illuminations with a group from Lancaster Baptist Church this weekend, it was much fun! I am, incidentally, going again this Wednesday with other Lancaster people but when I was asked if I wanted to go on Saturday I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be sociable! We went for a walk down central pier and I can honestly say that it is the first time I have ever been on the pier! Ridiculous considering I have lived here all my life. And it is a beautiful vantage point of the tower and the prom and all things illuminating.

On Sunday I gave the talk/sermon at the family service. I did not think I was well prepared or interactive but it seemed to go down well, and raised a few thoughtful points I hope. It is amazing how much being a teacher prepares you for such things I think. I would be a heck of a lot more scared and less confident at the front if I didn't spend so much time yabbering away infront of a classful of children. And a churchful of congregation is a lot more quietly attentive than a classful of pupils!

More Dutch Blitz

I have been spreading the Dutch Blitz fever further afield... Went to my friend's house in Preston on Friday and taught 3 more people DB, I think they're now planning on getting a pack of the cards themselves. I'm rather enjoying getting people addicted to the game!

I went to Abbeystead yesterday to meet up with Housegroup, who were staying there for the weekend, and had a fabulous time. It is so nice to relax with a group of people who you know so well and who know you. We spent some time sharing our stories and how we think we have fit into God's Big Story so far, inspired by last week's all age at St Tees. It was a real blessing to hear how God had been present in so many situations and though sometimes we can wonder where God is, he is there and our lives are so very often testament to that fact. We went for a walk down by the river, ate a lot of cakes (our housegroup is infamous for its cakes!) and made a chicken roast dinner for 14... With the roaring fire and games of Taboo I think I felt a touch of paradise.

And we played Dutch Blitz there too...

Called?

There is an interesting discussion about calling and vocation going on at the Cartoonblog today. When I have more time and am not in the middle of making tea I will comment myself.

http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2006/10/04/are-you-called/

Rah rah rah

I don't like Microsoft any more. It's official. I'll get a Mac...

A work in progress

Last week I posted about the lyrics to 'O Church Arise' and how dissatisfied I was with their military imagery. I have written 2 new verses to the tune now, though I'm not entirely satisfied with them. I have taken my text from Romans 12, deciding to write a hymn about the body of the church rather than how, as a church, we can take up arms and fight. Each member of the church, the body of Christ, should be valued for what they can bring. I know that there are many people who do not value their gifts because they cannot preach or they find it difficult to talk to new people or they stumble over their words when they read out loud... but the church is much more than this and that is why I wanted to write about these varied gifts in my hymn. Here goes -

O Holy God, we bring ourselves to you
As a living sacrifice here.
We worship you each day of every year
In a world so sore and broken.
Transform our lives, renew our minds,
We'll follow your holy will.
Then we will see, and know that you are good,
Holy Lord, we seek your mercy.

In this your Church of different people
Bringing gifts so wide and varied,
Your grace allows each person here to serve
With the gifts you have provided.
Some prophesy and others serve,
Encouraging and kind giving,
In leadership and showing mercy
With the grace that comes from Jesus.

Waiting for something to blog

A wonderful weekend. Thank you to Sarah for having a birthday! I muchly muchly enjoyed Saturday, particularly obsessive Dutch Blitz playing with various new Dutch Blitz addicts. What a game.

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.