Queens, a funeral and decorating again!

Tuesday saw a trip to Queens Fundation college with Jill who will be coming to serve in our Circuit the September. Always strange to go back to a place after many years. It was in fact 35 years ago I arrived  at the Ecumenical college set in Edgbaston. Predominantly in my day it was Methodists and Anglicans with the odd member of the URC training together and the wonderful opportunity to do an exchange in  our   final year with the Roman Catholic college at Oscott. Birmingham was a great city to train in with its diversity of culture. As part of receiving new ministers into circuit life the church likes to encourage  the chance to meet  them at their college. So it was good to meet up with Jill and chat through a range of questions and the circuit and her churches look forward in anticipation of what she will bring to our corporate life.

Friday saw a wide gathering of people meeting in Victoria Hall Methodist  church to celebrate the life of Vernon Marsh. While we remain shocked by the suddeness of his illness and death, with quite a few questions to ask of God, to be able together reflect on the meaning of his life was invaluable. The service was rich in music and much of it led by Vernon's son Tom with the whole family being the supporting   singers. To see Meg, Beth , Jo and Tom supporting each other yet helping orhers to grieve was very moving. The reflections on aspects of who Vernon was to so many , was finally brought together , when Roger Walton talked about the way memories cannot be held by all of us or one of us. In fact only God who brings us into existence and holds us can hold all the memories. Yet in the gathering a mutitude of memories existed, some overlapped, others not known by most, yet all contained part of who Vernon is. So into a tapestry of memories we added our own spoken and unspoken yet all known to God. And still we move on with serious questions to ask of God.....

Now its bank holiday Monday and once more in London as the date for the birth of our first grandchild draws closer. Today saw another bedroom decorated as the pace gathers to ensure as much can be done to have the home ready, because once the baby is born we all know DIY will come to a halt. So a full on day ending with a quick cut of the lawn as rain is forecast so my only chance to get it done and save them another job.

Of course there is something very poignant in reflecting on someones death and the awaiting of new life to be born. Vulnerability and the uncertainity of life really do come to the forefront of thinking.   

Tuesday again a bit of general tidying up and rubbish to the tip so tomorrow we can go and visit the RHS garden near Chelmsford before returning home. Next time we come to London it will be to see new life how exciting that will be.  The crib  is ready but we hope the baby looks nothing like this strange looking toy!