It's Saturday morning and I am wondering where the week has gone!
Part of the week has been spent ensuring that we have got a good programme together for a Leaders Conference that is scheduled immediately after Easter. This is a Congregational Federation event and Doreen and I have always enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with colleagues and spend a few days relaxing, studying and worshipping together. One of the great factors is that it is a family event and we have had the real joy of watching little children grow in to confident young women and men.
I was standing on Clapham Junction station waiting for the train to Winchester on Wednesday when a telephone conversation revealed that one of the key speakers addressing work with children and youth was not now able to come. Publicity should have been out first thing in the New Year! Disaster. However, colleagues who specialise in this area of ministry stepped into the gap. Phew! The only problem was that so intense was the telephone conversation that the train arrived and left while I was still on the phone on the platform!
I was on my way to Winchester for several reasons: library books to return, some completed theses to read, and a seminar to attend. The only problem was that there was also a meeting of the Country Way editorial Team so I had to miss that. Unfortunate! The latest issue of Country Way has an article I wrote about Youth Alpha in rural areas. It also has some more in the series on Messy Church. Incidentally, if you have not already subscribed but have an interest in rural church matters I think you would find it a good investment of £9 for a year. It's a quality magazine full of good information, ideas and inspiration.
I heard this week that my formal application process at Winchester University has been approved and I move from being a probationer to being a full blown research student. At present I am still having to research a lot of literature on rural life, rural church issues and general books on mission and evangelism. As an activist I find the discipline of serious reading a bit of a struggle.
We had three new men turned up to the choir practise at the prison this week. My colleague, Roger, has been unable to attend for a couple of weeks and his part in providing accompaniment has been sorely missed. It turned out to be a productive and a happy practise - an ideal occasion to integrate some potential new members.
To my shame I am still finalising my personal tax return, which has to be in by the end of this month - or else! Part of the complication (other than finding time in a busy life to keep records up to date) is that it became necessary for me to open a new bank account during 2010 for 'work'. For years I had paid out expenses from my personal current account and later recovered them, and had also used it where cheques had been made payable in my name but should really have gone into Sunrise Ministries. Then I discovered that this is illegal - at least at the level at which I was operating the system. But it hasn't been as simple as I had hoped to operate the two accounts and that is the period covered by the tax return.
This Sunday I am speaking at Foulsham Baptist Church in Norfolk at their 197th anniversary. After the morning service we share a lunch and this is to be followed by a talk on contemporary rural evangelism. I have been asked to base this on my book, Rural Evangelism in the 21st century published by Grove Books. The same book will be referenced in what is being prepared for Germany. That too is a pressing job.
Other activities this week include my regular visit to Gartree Prison on Tuesday, meeting as part of the Pastoral Care Board in Nottingham on Wednesday, and the Bible Study Discussion Group on Thursday. In addition I will be meeting with someone in Yelvertoft on Wednesday evening who might do some voluntary work with our teenagers.
Points for Prayer
Several friends have been through difficult personal times. I need to make sufficient space to be supportive and take care that busy-ness does not crowd out compassion.
Thank you.
Barry
Part of the week has been spent ensuring that we have got a good programme together for a Leaders Conference that is scheduled immediately after Easter. This is a Congregational Federation event and Doreen and I have always enjoyed the opportunity to meet up with colleagues and spend a few days relaxing, studying and worshipping together. One of the great factors is that it is a family event and we have had the real joy of watching little children grow in to confident young women and men.
I was standing on Clapham Junction station waiting for the train to Winchester on Wednesday when a telephone conversation revealed that one of the key speakers addressing work with children and youth was not now able to come. Publicity should have been out first thing in the New Year! Disaster. However, colleagues who specialise in this area of ministry stepped into the gap. Phew! The only problem was that so intense was the telephone conversation that the train arrived and left while I was still on the phone on the platform!
I was on my way to Winchester for several reasons: library books to return, some completed theses to read, and a seminar to attend. The only problem was that there was also a meeting of the Country Way editorial Team so I had to miss that. Unfortunate! The latest issue of Country Way has an article I wrote about Youth Alpha in rural areas. It also has some more in the series on Messy Church. Incidentally, if you have not already subscribed but have an interest in rural church matters I think you would find it a good investment of £9 for a year. It's a quality magazine full of good information, ideas and inspiration.
I heard this week that my formal application process at Winchester University has been approved and I move from being a probationer to being a full blown research student. At present I am still having to research a lot of literature on rural life, rural church issues and general books on mission and evangelism. As an activist I find the discipline of serious reading a bit of a struggle.
We had three new men turned up to the choir practise at the prison this week. My colleague, Roger, has been unable to attend for a couple of weeks and his part in providing accompaniment has been sorely missed. It turned out to be a productive and a happy practise - an ideal occasion to integrate some potential new members.
To my shame I am still finalising my personal tax return, which has to be in by the end of this month - or else! Part of the complication (other than finding time in a busy life to keep records up to date) is that it became necessary for me to open a new bank account during 2010 for 'work'. For years I had paid out expenses from my personal current account and later recovered them, and had also used it where cheques had been made payable in my name but should really have gone into Sunrise Ministries. Then I discovered that this is illegal - at least at the level at which I was operating the system. But it hasn't been as simple as I had hoped to operate the two accounts and that is the period covered by the tax return.
This Sunday I am speaking at Foulsham Baptist Church in Norfolk at their 197th anniversary. After the morning service we share a lunch and this is to be followed by a talk on contemporary rural evangelism. I have been asked to base this on my book, Rural Evangelism in the 21st century published by Grove Books. The same book will be referenced in what is being prepared for Germany. That too is a pressing job.
Other activities this week include my regular visit to Gartree Prison on Tuesday, meeting as part of the Pastoral Care Board in Nottingham on Wednesday, and the Bible Study Discussion Group on Thursday. In addition I will be meeting with someone in Yelvertoft on Wednesday evening who might do some voluntary work with our teenagers.
Points for Prayer
Several friends have been through difficult personal times. I need to make sufficient space to be supportive and take care that busy-ness does not crowd out compassion.
- Please pray for this Sunday at Foulsham that it might prove a prophetic occasion for the church.
- Pray that I will get the accounts finished and filed on time - and catch up with some other administration jobs (I'd rather be active in ministry!).
- Pray for the prison choir that through the team's time there hearts will open to the Saviour as some of the songs we sing are gospel, and we have time to sit and talk afterwards.
- Give thanks for all God has been doing in recent days. Thanks also for the progress with the university and prayer for time and space management to complete essential reading.
- Please pray that during 2012 I will find various people to whom I can begin delegating some of my responsibilities in rural ministry. I am not yet ready to stop (far from it) but long to see those who will carry on the next stage of fulfilling the vision for effective mission in rural areas.
Thank you.
Barry
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