Sunday blogger!

I don't mean to only post on Sundays, but that does appear to be the recent trend. I'll try to rectify that this week and keep you in touch better. This week's mad busy again, though, so we'll have to see...

So I'm pretty tired after a heavy week, but it was a good one. Monday seems a long time ago, but that's good because I was feeling pretty down on Monday. Sunday evening, just after Mettle Sunday, I crashed emotionally. I really don't know why, because the session went well and I had had a good day. I think I was just exhausted... I never really caught up from the Youth Alpha Weekend Away, I don't think.

But all the usual people swung into action to lift my spirits, listen to me and pray with me (take a bow Laura, Julie, Mint and Clare ... where would I be without you all?). And as I say, it seems a long time ago, which is good. I think it's still there under the surface, but I'm feeling ok.

So onwards. Last week was pretty standard, but very busy, and I enjoyed my "day off" again! I had breakfast with my mate James, then played some Xbox with him, before lunch (sushi, yay!)and a nice walk round the waterfront in town with Clare. Ok, so James is 16, and Clare 17, so technically it's work. But they're my mates, and if I choose to eat with my mates on a day off, surely that's a good thing? Well, it was anyway, I wnjoyed it and it gave me energy.

This week looks full but fun, too. I've got loads of one-to-ones lined up on top of the usual meetings, and Clare, Ruth, Emma, Cath and I are off to see the mighty Rob Bell on Tuesday... and I'm SO excited about it!

This weekend is the Student Age Pastorate Weekend Away, and I'm going as guest speaker, guest worship leader and guest minibus driver! I'm really excited about it, because it will be really nice to be away on a weekend that I'm NOT in charge of. I still have to write the four(!) talks though... maybe I should get on with that instead of blogging!

Pray for my week, and that I keep on top of my emotions...

f h c u and more!

Today brought a better day... with f h c u the highlight!

The Christian Union is always something I look foward to, although there has been a sense that, while it's usually been good, we've never properly "cracked it".

Today, I felt like we were getting there. I led a session based on Saul's conversion and Ananias' role in it, showing that meeting Jesus can change our lives and that sometimes we will be called to talk about him to the most unexpected people. It went really well ... I think we might look at doing stuff like that again.

We had a great turn-out, too. We now have a regular crowd of ten, and four of those are from other churches, which is really encouraging, because f h c u is not really supposed to be another Mettle meeting in Filton High ... it's supposed to be a group for ANY Christians in the school.

One thing you can pray for though: all ten of the regulars are girls! And when you add Liz into that, it means an 11:1 female/male ratio - I feel a bit outnumbered! It would be great if some of the guys (St Mikes Youth folk or otherwise!) would start coming. I know of quite a few Christian lads in the school, but for some reason, they've never some along. I would feel far less outnumbered if they would!

Just a quick word too for Mettle Sunday. Louise led a reflection on "Garbage In Garbage Out", about what we fill our lives with and how it is bound to come out. It was great! There were only about 12 young people there, and it would be nice ot have a few more even though it is optional, but it was a bit chattier than normal and that made a nice change.

Next Sunday is The Mix, and I'm sure numbers will pick up for then! I'm speaking at it, and nowhere near ready! I'm sure I'll get there by Sunday...?