My last day in Orton Goldhay was like my first a Sunday. This time however I was preaching. The text was the first few verses of Mark chapter 6 - a prophet without honour. Sometimes it seems quite difficult to tell how a sermon is received, although I imagine people walking out or falling asleep would give a fairly clear indication. Neither of these things happened here, so at the very least they heard everything I said. Whether it had any impact is difficult to say.

The approach to a sermon for preaching here is somewhat different from All Saints Little Shelford. It's shorter for a start. The aim is a little less highbrow. And application seems to me to be more important than exegesis.

Total Mileage 64 miles

Prayer Breakfast at 8am. Prayed with 6 others this korning for the life and wellbeing of the chuch and people in Orton Goldhay, before straying into more international concerns. Breakfast followed.

Total Mileage 64 miles

A repeat of the last thursday I was here, as we were back in the sheltered accomodation to take a communion service for some of the residents. This time I was with Ian rather than Sandra. The most discernable difference was the absence of music. Ian told me his music ministry is somewhat limited by his poor singing ability, so on this occassion we just had the Eucharist. Interestingly - at least from an Anglican point of view - the liturgy we used was from a pamphlet culled from the ASB. Only 7 communicants including ourselves attended, but it's clear how important this regular service is for those living here. A good reminder that numbers are not a marker of success or that a lack of communicants does not make it any less worthwhile.

Total mileage 64 miles

Yesterday's funeral visit metamorphised into today's funeral.

There were many more attendees compared with the other funeral I attended whilst in Orton Goldhay. The lady who had died was clearly a popular person with many friends and family, some travelling long distances, among the mourners. I stood at the back to watch. Ian didn't say any of the scripture passages sometimes read out when the coffin is brought into the chapel of rest, he explained afterwards that when they have music playing it's impossible for it to be heard. Although it didn't feel rushed, I was very aware that there is only half an hour to complete the service, so inevitably the whole event takes no more than 20 mins. Ian told me that in winter it can get very busy, and although he didn't say it, I imagine there must be some pressure to get finished as quickly as possible, so that the next funeral can take place.

Total Mileage 64 miles

After a break for Ians holiday, and some time away for ourselves, I was back in Peterborough today for a funeral visit.

The man we were visiting had recently lost his wife to cancer, and apologised for the way he was dressed, which didn't seem unusual to me. Ian took him through the service, suggesting hymns as he didn't really know what he or his late wife wanted, before asking some questions about her so he could say something meaningful during the funeral. He handed Ian some of the correspondance he had received in the few days since her death, which contained some recollections of friends and family, which was just as well, as he was too distressed to give any real insight into his wifes life.

Total Mileage 64 miles

Back at the local primary school today to help some of the year 6s to write some prayers they are going to be saying at their leavers service next week. Ian will be away, so Sandra the NSM Curate will be standing in to lead the event. Most of the prayers the kids produced seemed to be along the 'thankyou' line. Thanks for a great time at school, thank you for friends, thanks for teachers and suchlike. There were a large number of kids in the classroom, more than a normal class size I would guess, but as some of them were also being taken out to fit them up for costumes for a school production, the space was there to be used.

Todays Mileage: 64 miles