Sandra and I were back in Orton Goldhay today to take a communion service at the local sheltered housing building. It's a rather cool mix of being an old peoples home - complete with older people, and a block of flats. There is a warden, communal gardens and lounge, as well as personal flats.

The service was a shorter form of the Eucharist, with one reading, a short talky bit, and a bit of singing along to a midi player.

Only half a dozen of us there, but generally well appreciated.

Invited round to Sandras for lunch. Spent some valuable and enjoyable time talking to Sandra and her husband Malcolm, who is Rector of All Saints Sawtry.

Total Mileage: 64 Miles

Ian had a blank diary day today, so at his suggestion, I spent the day with Adam at Holy Trinity Orton Longueville. The two churches could not really be more different.

Holy Trinity is a good 3 or 400 years older than Christ Church. It has permanent pews, an organ (which looks very much like it doesn't work or isn't used), is surrounded by a graveyard, and is in an area of the Ortons that appears to be much more affluent. The two clergy are poles apart too. Whereas Ian trained at Oak Hill, Adam trained at Westcott, so their traditions have ended up dictating the churches they are incumbents at. Adam speaks very highly of Ians gifting among the people of Orton Goldhay, a group of people and a style of churchmanship he feels uncomfortable with.

The first thing we did this morning was visit the local school. A year 3 class are leading an assembly on Friday, and Adam and the class teacher were running them through their paces as they played out the story of the Good Samaritan. Using a combination of painted figures and scenery, and some 'live action' followed by prayers, it looks like it'll be a very full presentation.

A short service of Morning Prayer from a liturgy I didn't recognize followed back at Holy Trinity. There were just the four of us, one of whom joined myself and Adam back at the Rectory for coffee.

This afternoon, another class from the same school came into Holy Trinity to do a Godly Play session. They were being taught about baptism by one of the members of the congregation. I'm a huge fan of Godly Play, and wasn't disappointed by the session, although with a class of 25+ it was a little more fraught than it might have been with smaller numbers.

Today's mileage: 67 miles

Up to Peterborough for 9:30 again this morning. Ian was back in the local school to take his weekly assembly, delayed from yesterday as we were at the New Wine leaders event. He was telling the last of the stories from the Old Testament, which turned out to be the return of Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem.

Uniform is not worn by everyone here, not because they don't have to, but because parents either can't afford to provide it, or they can't be bothered. For some of those who were wearing it, they had on new sweatshirts with the new school logo on. Which looked fantastic.

We spent a little time afterwards going over Sunday's sermon. I think I was more acutely aware of some of the shortcomings than Ian was. Ian is an auditory learner, and preaches in the same way, so he didn’t really miss my lack of visual material. He was generally very positive, which was greatly affirming.

Second time up today to attend the Church Council. Age range of the members was slightly wider than other PCC's I've attended. The youngest member is only 16, and the oldest in their 60's. Ian had wanted to get through the meeting as quickly as possible, but as is always the case on these occasions, it turned out to go on longer than I imagine he intended.

Most of the evening was taken up in discussion of the redrawing of Parish boundaries, which as Christ Church is not a parish church, was an odd situation for the Church Council to find themselves in. Typically for the CofE, it's been given a specifically bizarre name, and Ian will be known as a Missioner Priest rather than a Parish Priest.

Today's Mileage: 126 miles

John Coles of New Wine came to Christ Church today to lead a New Wine leader’s day. As a days work at Christ Church this one was a bit different, as it involved more input than output. I took copious notes. (Well copious for me. Others may find them a bit flimsy and without backbone.) For my own delectation I reproduce a few of then here.

John spoke on:

Leading like JesusMatthew 10 (ish)

Priorities & Principles
1) Mentality of War - our focus should be on winning the battle - because the devil's reason for existence is to hide the truth and veil minds. We need courage: 2 Chronicles 32:7-8. Sometimes the leaders get wounded. People will still be against us even, and perhaps more so, if we are getting things right. Leadership is not ministry & vice versa. We need to know when to get involved at the 'coalface', and when to stand back and direct as leaders.

2) Means of Prayer - engaging with God.

Ephesians 6:13-20 .Once the armour is on we must stand, and then pray! If Paul needed people to pray for him how much more do we need prayer for us.

3) Mission - begin with the end in mind. 'For the son of Man came to seek and save what has lost' Luke 19:10 People follow leaders who are their age and peer group.Church can recreate generational family type groups because it can be all age.Opening attitude which allows for changing or increasing knowledgeCourses like Alpha can be used for changing attitudes because they can alter preconceptions - food, no condemnation. Laying hands on, praying for people, attitudes Change, and people are more open to receive Jesus

4) Message of the kingdomMessage is Good News. Everything from the nature of the building - how clean it is, to keeping the services from being boring must speak of Good News.Good News of Love.Good News of Hope.Good News elicits Faith.For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

5) Motivation of compassion

There was a time of sung worship before we started, followed by some prayer after the morning session before lunch.After lunch the time was taken up by discussing the setting up of a New Wine network, where local churches who want to ally themselves to New Wine meet together with speakers, and at other times for prayer and support.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Preaching this morning. Sandra had offered to let me choose the songs we were using, but I thiught it more politic to let her do it, as I didn't know which ones they were familiar with, and she runs the singing group.
Sermon seemed okay, but talking to Gill afterwards, I realised that I'd been speaking for 15 mins, a little fast, but not unmanageably so. But the problem was I was just talking. No visual prompts, no touchy feely stuff. Next time I preach I need to make sure I include stuff for people who learn in ways other than those who listen.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Another day of two journeys to Peterborough today. This afternoon I joined Sandra at a funeral she was taking at Peterborough crematorium. It was for the husband of the Lady we went round to visit last week. I got a priests eye view of the crem, including the 'ovens', which were working at full tilt. It was a busy day at the crem.Not much in the way of family and friends for the late dear departed unfortunately. First three rows of the chapel only, which can't have amounted to many more than 20 or so people. Sandra led the service, carefully stepping past the various family obstacles that the family had left in her way. One of the top tips she gave me was to start the reminiscing bit of the service by saying 'when I met with 'deceased’s' wife, she told me', which then makes it clear that you aren't making judgements yourself, and any incorrect info, or bits missed out are not your fault.Just 30 mins later the whole thing was over. Mrs 'deceased' had chosen to have the curtain round the coffin left open, which meant leaving it sitting there behind them as they walked out. Several tearful members of the family touched the coffin, crying, not wanting to leave. Sandra had recommended that the curtain close, but the wife had decided otherwise. I think Sandra’s suggestion was the one that I’ll be making, and trying to insist that the family’s I have to deal with, choose.

Second time up at Peterborough to help take a group of tweens and teens over to Ely for Rave in the Knave. A good hour’s drive to the Cathedral we arrived about 8:30 ish. Security on the front door was provided by the hugely (physically) impressive Christian Motorcyclists Association. Inside the Cathedral was a whole load of stuff guaranteed to appeal to even the most under qualified teenager. Video games, inflatable sumo, remote-controlled cars, a bookshop, a café, a barbeque, and several bands on a large sound stage. Kids seemed to enjoy themselves, as did I. It was a great use of the building, and it was fantastic to see these young people enjoying themselves being Christians. Somehow we need to get these young people happy in their subculture, but comfortable enough to move outside of it to be witnesses to the gospel. Only that then.

Today’s mileage: 210 miles

Spent yesterday at home writing the sermon for Sunday.

Today I was up for 9:30 again. Today was the monthly meeting of some of the older people from around the area for their 'lunch club'. They get together, drink tea or coffee, listen to a speaker, have lunch, drink more tea and coffee, before some drift away, and others stay for communion.

As Ian was elsewhere, I was standing in for him. (If you have an ontological view of priesthood, and believe there are times when priests stand in on behalf of Jesus, what does that ontological view say about the ordinand who's standing in on behalf of the priest?). So I spent the morning chatting to people as they arrived, serving them with drinks, and trying desperately hard to find new topics of conversation.

Unfortunately the speaker failed to turn up, but I would have missed her talk on 'gentle exercise' anyway, as I spent a good hour or so talking to a lady who had been in tears and wanted someone to talk to. As the NSM curate had to nip off for 45 mins on family duties, it fell to me.

If there's one thing I'm learning here, it's that a dog collar let's people talk. Although I wasn't wearing one, the fact that I had one by proxy allowed this lady to tell me all sorts of things that she may have found more difficult to say in any other situation. Listening is not my strong suit, but with the practice I'm getting in, it's improving.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Up following lunch today, as we were going back into the school where Ian does his regular Monday assemblies, to talk to a year 4 class. They had been studying various religions, and we were there to answer questions on what Christianity meant to us. Ian and I took it in turns to answer questions that the class had prepared in advance.

The questions that the class threw at us were deeply thought provoking and helped me define some of my own thinking, if only on the hoof. We ended up explaining why we were Christians, why we liked being Christians, and if we believed that all the stories in the Bible were true. And then one of the boys asked Ian how much he got paid. He explained how he had a house provided for him and that this was a benefit that other jobs didn't come with.

I know it's a vocation, but having seen the work Ian puts in to what appears to be a rewarding but nevertheless challenging situation, I think a better answer would be 'not enough'

We delivered some travel instructions for some of the kids who would be joining us at the Rave in the Knave on Friday, before returning to the school in the afternoon for a governors meeting.

Two hours were spent running through everything from SAT results, to the number of exclusions this year, unauthorised absences and staff changes. It wasn't that much different from any other committee meeting I've been to. There were personalities that clashed, less time spent going round in circles than in the last PCC I attended, but it still felt like a long time. Understanding that I look at the big picture, and find details boring is important, as others are exactly the reverse, and we all need to allow for the different personality traits to have room to breathe.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Back up to Christ Church this morning for assembly at the school. Ian asked me to read the story which was taken from a book of 'Tales from the Bible'. He's been working his way through the Old Testament this year, and nearing the end, today was Daniel and the Lions.

Today was a day of more visiting. We went to see a couple who are getting their marriage vows renewed. The whole idea of doing this was down to the couples children, one of their daughters had her confirmation the first Sunday I was at the church, and then she'd had her daughter baptised yesterday. They asked plenty of questions, what they would have to say, could they have bridesmaids, who would carry their rings. Ian calmed all their doubts, and we left them discussing who they were planning to invite, and deciding what they were going to wear.

It's people like this who would hardly ever cross the threshold of Christ Church, and present a great opportunity to talk to them about Jesus. Particularly as the couple said they would join their daughter at church in a couple of weeks time.

Today's mileage: 64 miles

Much to my own astonishment, I completed the all age talk in about two hours on Friday evening. I found inspiration driving back from Peterborough.

So this mornings talk, better description than a sermon, was an all age one. I started off my bit of the service with a memory verse using the washing I'd made for a Ridley all-ager, and asked Christopher and a girl called Lisa from Teen Spirit to help my by holding the line. I'm going to have to change the way that the clothing items hang on the line. Because they didn't.

Actual talky bit seemed to go OK. It featured the reappearance of a pig called Pig, a character I had previously used at ASLS. We'd read Acts 2:35-38, and as there was a baptism this morning, I'd tried to explain what Baptism was, and what it wasn't. I think I was more successful explaining what it wasn't, as a Lady who was a dyed in the wool Baptist came up to me afterwards and told me that my talk was the best explanation of infant baptism she'd ever heard.

Looks like I missed then.

Today's mileage:64 miles