Back in the swing of things

Back to work today after a great Christmas. It must be a sign that you're in the right job when you find you've missed it and you're not sorry to be back at work!

That said, it's a little hard to get back into doing the more mundane bits. I've got a sermon to write for Sunday evening (yes, New Year's Eve) and I have barely started it. I want to have it finished by the end of today. It would help if I wasn't spending my time blogging and surfing the net, I suppose.

I've had a pretty productive day so far, though. I've organised the new bible-reading notes for next term, and I've had lunch with Clare. On that subject, is it just me or does Clare look a little bit like the girl who plays Mary in the new "Nativity Story" film? What do you reckon?



And while I'm uploading photos, I now have a brand new one of Zac and a couple from my birthday party. So here they are for your enjoyment(?):
Zac looking very cute!


Here's something you won't see very often ... me dancing! Clare (or Mary, if you'd rather!) is to the right of me... see what I mean???

There are lots more photos but they're generally too embarrassing! Worrying that this was the one that I WAS prepared to publish!

It occurs to me that the week between Christmas and New Year is really weird. We're supposed to be at work, but everyone's still in holiday mode. Still, enough excuses for not working. I'd better get on with it. We've promised that the New Year's Eve service will be short, but without a sermon, it might just be a bit TOO short...!

Christmas in Derbyshire

Sorry ... I've been a bit of a lazy blogger this week!

Laura and I travelled up to my Mum and Dad's in the early hours of Christmas morning after spending all day Christmas Eve with her Grandad (including a meal which was easily up to the usual Hobbs standards ... probably better!).

We've had a great time up here with Mum and Dad and Rachael, Dean and Zac. Christmas Day was lovely (even more good food and cool presents!) and yesterday Laura, Dad and I went to watch Derby County. It's the first time I've been to see them in well over a year, and, of course, they lost. Still, it was nice to go.

We're heading back to Bristol tomorrow and I'm back at work on Friday. I've still got a sermon to write for this Sunday, so I'm going to have to get my head down to some serious work!

Anyway, Merry Christmas everyone!

I don't care if I'm 30 ... that was the best birthday ever!

Laura was right. A party was a great idea.

The whole day was ace, actually. I spent most of it at The Mall with Mum, Dad, Rachael, Dean and Zac (Pizza Hut? Of course!). All that in itself was enough to make it a top day.

But then there was the party, and, quite honestly, words won't do it. I was absoutely overwhelmed by the number of people that wanted to help me celebrate, gobsmacked by the incredible amount of cards and gifts, and my breath was taken away by some of the things people said to me. Laura, Emily & Ed, the parents (both sets) went all out to make it a special day and they really did succeed.

What really did for me were the poem that Kelly had written, the song that Jenny sang and the iPod that Mettle had clubbed together to buy for me. I did not see that coming! I feel so lucky to have such a nice bunch of kids letting me be part of their lives, and so many friends that are part of mine.

It almost brought a tear to the eye (and actually did do, but not until later!). Thanks so much everyone. I feel very loved and please know that that love is returned.

Birthday: Pros and Cons

Pros:
- Being spoiled rotten all day
- Mum, Dad, Rachael, Dean and baby Zac speing the whole day here
- A party with all my friends
- Doctor Who Season Two (from Laura, yay!)

Cons:
- Spending the next ten years in my thirties.

I suppose, on the whole, the pros outweigh the cons. And anyway, it was suggested to me this morning that what I am actually celebrating is the 1st anniversary of my 29th birthday. I like that better.

One day

... and counting!

Stupid thirties...

Two days of my twenties left :-(

My birthday's almost here. I don't quite know what to feel!

I'm really looking forward to my party now, but when the day arrives it also means I'll be 30, which I'm not so happy about. Lots of people have been very reassuring, but I'm surrounded by teenagers most of my time, so 30 seems very old! I'm sure I won't feel that different once Wednesday comes...?

Carols on the Green was great. I did the prayers, which I'd forgotten I was doing until I arrived, so I pretty much had to make them up on the spot ... very interesting! I think it went well though. It was cold but there were about 600 people there, and the whole thing went very smoothly, and Rob Wicks did an excellent talk. It's a massive opportunity for evangelism, so it's worth all the work that a lot of people (not me, I must say!) put into it.

Last night was the Carol Service, which I thought was also pretty good. Emily Feltham and Amy Hamlen did a drama (fairly last minute, which was my fault!) and made a really good job of it. They're both such naturals when it comes to performing (which is why I asked them to do it!). You couldn't even tell that they had their scripts hidden about their props...

It's all gone quiet on the youth ministry front now that this weekend's done. I have a staff meeting today, but that's about it, so I'm going to help Murray with some painting and decorating at a house he's working on. So far out of my comfort zone, but it's what grown-ups do and I'm nearly 30, you know ...!

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

A lazy Saturday. I've earned it.

Over the last two nights we've had the 11-14s Christmas Disco and the 14-18s Christmas Banquet. Both went really well, on the whole.

I was lucky because I didn't have to do that much for the disco, and actually wasn't there for some of it because I had a very important meeting. Trevor did the whole thing from start to finish, and, even though there were one or two slight problems, he did a cracking job and the young people really enjoyed it. It was great because as well as the usual Rock Solid crowd, loads and loads of the RS2 lot came along too. A great event! Trevor is doing so well at the moment ... he's operating at such a high level it's easy to forget sometimes that he's only 19!

And last night was the Christmas Banquet for members of Mettle and RE:fresh. It was my sixth Banquet, and, not to put too fine a point on it, I actually really think it was the best one that I've been involved with. There was a great atmosphere, everyone really joined in together and there was a great mix of young people from the Church and from outside. And I think there were loads more boys than ever before, which made it feel a lot more balanced. We took hundreds of photos, and they will appear on the website in the next week or so.

I can't finish with the Banquet without saying a big thankyou to all the amazing people who made it happen. Trevor and Liz both worked their socks off all day long, as did Steve Gardiner, who came to help. On the night, there were kitchen hands, waiting staff and, most importantly, Ann Cooke who works so hard to make all the food happen. We simply couldn't do it without these people ... hats off to them! And the young people all signed a card for me, Trevor and Liz, and gave us a box of chocolates each. It's so nice when they notice the hard work that goes in.

Got home about 1am, after the busiest day of the year, so I'm taking a guilt-free quiet day, sitting on the sofa watching The A-Team and old Doctor Who. Tonight is Carols on the Green, and I have one or two bits to do, but it feels a bit like Christmas now because all the high pressure stuff is off my list and I can get on with enjoying Christmas (and my birthday, I suppose!).

Please pray that I'll remember to remember Jesus in amongst all the wrapping paper, turkey, parties etc. I think that's the biggest challenge that faces any Christian in today's consumerism-soaked Christmas.

A day off ... with difficulty!

Today I did something that I haven't done properly for over a month. I had a day off! A full, complete, from the moment I woke to the moment I wake tomorrow, 24-hour, solid day off. And do you know what? For someone like me who's basically a workaholic, a day off is really hard work!

It's been a nice day ... I got up at 11am(!) and made a sausage AND bacon sandwich, and then spent the rest of the day lounging around the house reading - I'm currently into Susan Howatch and reading "The High Flyer", as recommmended by Julie Bradley and now, without doubt, by me! I didn't watch any telly or anything, just read and walked the dog and spent the whole day being quite and trying to resist the urge to do some work. It's really difficult, but I do think it's something I have to learn if my ministry is going to survive beyond the medium-term. I'm really into the idea of one complete day off, a sort of Sabbath, if you like, and I'm really encouraging the young people to subscribe to thinking like that. The tricky bit is going to be practicing what I preach!

I could spend some time now talking about the Youth Service on Sunday, the Christmas Banquet this Friday or whetever, but in the interests of maintaining my day-off stance, I'm going to save it for another day. You can always check the website of you're desperate to know now (www.stmikesyouth.org).

I will compromise slightly to do three Mettle "Happy birthdays": It was Dan Crockford's birthday yesterday, Naomi Bradley's 17th today and Kelly Snow's 18th tomorrow. Three fabulous, very different people who all deserve a great day. Enjoy the pics! HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUYS!




From top: Dan (from a long time ago!), Naomi (she doesn't ALWAYS look like this!) and Kelly (wearing my tie round her head!). Looking good, guys! Anyway, back to my day off ... hopefully ...

J'ai MALL a la tete

Spent the afternoon doing the Christmas shopping at the Mall.

Two hours in what was basically a rugby scrum. Fun.

Can't be bothered to write any more. Have almost lost the will to live.

Looking forward ...

In amongst all the busy-ness, there is so much to look forward to.

Laura Cooke is getting baptised at the Youth Service this Sunday, which I'm so excited about! She has come so far in her relationship with God since the start of the Mettle Groups just over a year ago, and so there's something quite affirming in this Sunday ... God has used the difficult decisions and changes we made last September to do something awesome in Laura. It makes it all worthwhile.

The service is almost planned, and I pretty much know what I'm going to do for the talk. I've had a whole day's run at both today and, while there's still stuff to do, I've broken the back of it now. Also, the band are doing a performance of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls during the service (there is a legitimate point, I promise). Should be ace!

I'm also looking forward to the Christmas Banquet next Friday. Unfortunately, I've still got masses to do! It's kind of been on a back-burner until after this Sunday, so next week is going to be banquet, banquet, banquet for me! But I know it will all come together in time, and will be as good a night as it always will.

Then there's my birthday. I'm not looking forward to turning 30, but I am starting to look forward to the party, believe it or not!

And Christmas. I get to spend the whole of Christmas day at my Mum and Dad's for the first time in five years this year, which is made even cooler by the fact that Rachael and Dean will be there with nephew Zac! I can't wait to wake up in Derbyshire on Christmas morning. It's been so long!

I've been planning the Spring programmes this week, too, and even though this term has totally wiped me out, looking at all the stuff we're going to do after Christmas always fills me with a sense of renewed optimism.

So, yes, still tired. But at least now I'm tired and excited!

A Fond Farewell

Today would normally be my day off, but life is too hectic at the moment, so I'm settling for a late start and a day working at home, writing my sermon. I'm having lunch with Jeni in town, which is cool because it means I get to go to Woodes (my favourite cafe)!

Last night's Mettle leaders planning meeting went REALLY well, but it did make me realise just how much we are doing for the 14-18 age-group at the moment. Just looking at it all makes me feel tired! But it's so exciting at the same time... I hope the young people get excited by it too!

We made some fairly important decisions last night, about freqency of socials and Mettle Groups and about what do do with the groups during exam time in the summer (we're not going to run midweek, just Sundays and Fridays). We also talked about the possibility of a Weekend Away, which I'm really hoping we can do.

I'm going to the last ever Mettle Group C meeting tonight. The leaders, Nick and Helen, are finishing for the time being, so Group C is being dissolved and the young people are making up a good proportion of the Youth Alpha course, which runs after Christmas. Tonight is a social, and is sure to be emotional for all concerned!

The 14-18s team is particularly strong at the moment, with quality, deeply-committed people involved. Nick and Helen have been a big part of that, and we're going to miss them.

Thanks, guys... it's been a pleasure.

Starting to feel "Scrooge-ish"...

I'm really not sure how I'm going to get everything done this week.

I've got to write a sermon, plan the Youth Service, get the Christmas Banquet sorted... and that's on top of all the regular stuff (I'm working through until 10pm six nights out of seven this week!). Christmas is a very busy time.

I'm still waiting for my migraine, too. I'm just praying that it won't hit until early next week.

Today's been ok... staff meeting was long but very useful and productive, f h c u was as good as ever and I got loads of prep done this afternoon.

We've got a Mettle planning meeting for the Spring terms tonight, and I'm actually quite excited about the stuff we're going to be doing over that spell. It includes Youth Alpha, which I'm getting quite excited about, plus we're probably going to do some teaching for Mettle on sex and sexuality, which is tough but always worth the effort.

Pray that I survive the week!
Oh, and ... Bah! Humbug!

Busy days ...

... as ever! I know I'm also on about being so busy, but that's because this is a diary of what I do, and I'm always so busy! That said, I did manage to have a little time off over the last couple of days ... the problem is, I spent it doing busy things! Even when I'm not busy working, I'm busy doing other stuff!

I spent Friday afternoon with my mate Mark. It was so good to just hang out with him! We went to Pizza Hut and then went and sat on nearly every sofa in DFS, just for fun! I'm pretty sure the staff there thought we were a couple ... erm, no!

RE:fresh continued its upward spiral on Friday evening. It's taken a real step in the right direction over the last couple of sessions ... the young people seem to have accepted and embraced the rules that we have had to impose about alcohol etc., and now we're reaping the rewards. Long may it continue! One more RE:fresh next week, then the Christmas Banquet, so we'll see how it all goes.

Spent Saturday dashing from place to place. Breakfast with Sally Bufton and Liz Gray was followed by a lunch with Ruth Hepburn as I try to get round all of Group C in time for the start of next term. I nipped into town to see Trevor and came home just in time to leave to see Cats at the Hippodrome...

... which was actually quite good! We went for sushi beforehand, which is always a highlight for me, but it wasn't just that - I actually enjoyed it. Just don't tell Laura!

I had quite a few thoughts on how the Jellicle Cats are a bit like Christians, and Old Deuteronomy is a bit like God. Sometimes, I'm a bit like Grizabella (or whatever her name is) turning my back on God and then being welcomed back and born into a new life, again and again. There's more I could say, but I won't because I might turn it into a sermon!

Today's been manic, because I was playing at both morning services, as well as at the Uniformed Groups service this afternoon. Busy busy! And off to a Guest Service at The Mix tonight, which should be cool (and there are loads of us going). See the poster below!

For those that pray, I've had a headache for a while. These ones usually turn into migraines, but it hasn't yet. Please pray that it would either arrive and get itself over with, or, preferably, that it would naff off and leave me alone! Thanks.