Having spent yesterday in a fruitless attempt at writing a talk for the all age service with baptism on Sunday, today was a bit more inspiring. This morning I started off by meeting up with Ian and Sandra for Morning Prayer at the church building at 9:30. Sandra and I then went on to see a lady whose husband had died a week earlier to talk about the funeral. It was both her and her husbands second marriages having both been widowed before. She ran us through the shock of hearing him fall down with a massive heart attack in the kitchen. We talked through the details of how the funeral would go, and what information she would like Sandra to give about her husband during the service.

I went home in the afternoon before joining Ian again later for a wedding rehearsal. The couple getting married were using one of the three parish churches that they can choose from if the live in the Orton Goldhay area. The Christ Church building being just six years old does not have all the features traditionally associated with 'pretty' churches, so most couples who live nearby who are not regular church goers choose to use one of the other buildings.

immediately following this we went to a bible study back at Christ Church where one of the church members led a study on Daniel chapter 8. A highly interesting study followed. I was annoyed I hadn't known in advance what the study was going to be, as following a bit of prior reading I may have been able to make some helpful comments. As it was, the study approached this prophecy in Daniel from one particular angle. Sandra told me afterwards that at least one or two of the congregation at Christ Church were disappointed that she wasn't a fire and brimstone preacher. The study very much reflected this.

Today's mileage:128 miles

Several more futile hours of working on the talk for Sunday were interrupted by helping out at the Teen Spirit group in the evening. They are a great group of kids, and I'm thoroughly looking forward to joining them at the Rave in the Knave next Friday.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Up at Christ Church for a 1.00pm Sure Start management committee meeting.

There were 14 members covering local provision for children. Christ Church buildings are used for some kids work in the local area. They have nearly finished the building of new centre at the far end of the estate that will mean less usage of Christ church, although Sure Start recognize that as the differing locations of the new centre and Christ Church are so distant, there will be current users who only use the venue that is local to them ie. Christ Church, and they will be unwilling to travel any significant distance.

Having gone through the minutes of the last meeting, there was some disagreement over use of baby signing, its merits and problems due to a new group wishing to use Sure Start facilities.

Due to problem with budget and the missing off of £8k costing of wireless networking, and next years expcted budget cuts of £14Ok, one post will be frozen to save the money.

There followed a discussion on the terms of reference. The main problem seemed to be that the meeting was unsure what power if any, they actually had, and what the purpose of their meeting was.

Whilst it was much improved on my experience of Pcc, I still suffered from concentration issues, but they seemed to achieve what they set out to do - which was get through the agenda without making any desicions which they weren't sure they had the remit to make.

I had a short meeting with Ian afterwards to discuss what I'm going to preach on on Sunday. He also suggested I join the NSM Curate on a funeral visit on Thursday, and the funeral itself on Friday next week.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

I met Ian at 9:30 this morning, shortly before he went to his weekly appointment at the local Primary school where he takes assembly. The school is in a UPA, and the make up of the kids very much reflect this. Uniform wearing was patchy, some kids smartly turned out, others with just bits and pieces of uniform matched to sports wear. They sat in nearly absolute silence as Ian told the story of Jonah, after which we sang 'Jesus love is very wonderful' before Ian said a short prayer.

We left the school and went to do a Baptismal visit to a mum who wants the second of her children Baptised. After Ian had explained the difference between a Baptism and Thanksgiving service, and offered her the choice of either, and the relative responsibilities and work that Baptism presented, she chose it nevertheles.

This evening was the weekly meeting of 'Sixes and Sevens', the church club for school years six and seven. And eight. A dozen kids or so turned up to mark out the size of a mystery object, which turned out to be Noahs ark. After a short reading of the bible passage, and a mini study of what it meant, the kids played a game and ate cake. They left after only an hour having enjoyed a club that seems to hit the right balance for short attention spans.

Today's mileage: 128 miles

First Sunday at Christ Church Orton Goldhay. Christ Church as an LEP in a UPA, which just confused me. We joined them for a confirmation service. Half a dozen or so individuals were being confirmed today, which meant three senior people from the denominations that make up the LEP were there in an offical capacity. Present were the Bishop, the local Methodist circuit geezer, and the minister/vicar of Christ Church standing in for the URC.

Interesting service, with a collection of liturgy culled from various traditions. Unfortunately, the only people to speak to us during the coffee folowing the mornig malarky were Ian, the vicar, and the bishop, who recognised me from Ridley, where he's on the council.

Today's mileage: 64 miles