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

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