Christmas services and beyond

One of my favourite services has always been midnight communion Christmas eve. As a student returning home I would go along to a local Anglican church as very few of the local methodist churches held one. In my early days of ministry I would drive out to my Hilton chapel in Cambridgeshire , the roads very empty and a sense of expectation in the air. Again it always seemed very special and the focus very different from a Christmas morning service. It's not about presents or food , just a moment to reflect on a God loving the world and all very vulnerable.

This year again worship down at out Pitsmoor church had that lovely feeling of expectation as we passed from christmas eve to christmas day , and bread broken and wine poured, and the mystery continues.

Christmas day at Firth Park was great as well with our two congregations gathering, and as the service progressed, and more joined us over 120, it felt to me like the gathering of the nations. Now thats an image to hold onto, peoples of the world  coming together because of Jesus.  

Then it was time to travel to London to spend the rest of  the day with family especially our grand daughter. Though she had lots of presents she didnt need any , 

Time for a cuddle out on a walk what more does a granddad need?

Well the holiday time soon moves on and back to routine and life in Sheffield.

The battle to save trees is an ongoing issue and good to see the protest outside the town hall.

The council really have misjudged this one. It can only be hoped that sense will prevail. Yet its good to see that the city of Sheffield that has always been a place of protest against injustice is alive and kicking. Especially in these uncertain times.

It was good in our staff meeting to worship and think ahead and symbolically express our thoughts, dreams and concerns. Laying them before both cross and candle.

  In sharing what they meant we learnt so much about one another. Being in community is of course about that willingness to  be open to another so we can grow closer together. Its not about agreeing. Its  about in love holding the tensions and not falling out. In a world of uncertainity when language used is so designed to divide. The Jesus community needs to be a cause of hope that walls do not have to be built because wallking and living Jesus life people can with justice live together. 

So a Christmas day service with people from around the world becomes the reality of what God is doing.

Nativity and Christingles

The nativity set has come in very useful this year.

At Firth Park we sought to make the link between Christmas and Easter with our nativity communion. Building up the scene with various members of the congregation and holding onto the fact our shared faith story does not stop at the manger.

No need for fancy  clothes / costumes just ordinary people for whom God comes and believes in. Well ordinary people do extraordinary things every day especially when they know their creator believes in their potential.

Then at St Peters from the nativity we moved into our christingles being shared but not before the young children showed they knew what following Jesus really means. Forget fancy talk of what we believe, rather how do you show love? Well without prompt they moved to hug people , family, friends and strangers . Yes Jesus did say 'unless you become as little children.....' Did he not mean they get it. To follow is to do rather than talking about doing, 

So already for me some special services to prepare afresh for  the news that God comes to be one with us.

The hard working team just chilling at the deep car band evening. 

A variety of experiences

Well the scene was all set for the visit of year 1 from Hinde House school.

They were coming to find out why christians celebrate Christmas. So one class in the morning and one in the afternoon. Extremely well behaved and fun to be with. Of course at their young age the building itself had a wow factor , plus the usual off the wall questions ' how many lights are there?  Just normal inquistive minds. We explored the advent ring and then the christingle and they all went home with a christingle kit less the orange.

So what a delight to be in school today Monday leading assemblies for key stage one and key stage  two. In came year one with hello Mark and three of the many christingles they had made.

So we played a pass the parcel  game to talk about christmas and had Jesus Christmas party story.

Then it was onto key stage 2 and again lots of familiar faces , not least year four who had visited the church earlier in the year.

Its a wonderful diverse school and I Look forward to going in next week for the key stage 1 nativity which the children had been keen to tell me all about.

In between these events we took the opportunity to visit the victorian market on Saturday down on Kelham Island.

It was a really busy event and amazing we had never been before. We even managed a couple of christmas presents .....

Set within and around the industrial museum the atmosphere was great. Next year we will have to go along early evening to gain a different  perspective and perhaps then a glass of mull wine will seem appropriate 11am was just a bit too early.

Well tonight we  held our BB Christmas informal service. Great turn out filling our hall with the  youngsters and parents. With a couple of carols, the making of advent dice telling the story, and an improvised nativity a good time was had followed of course with food.

 

Sheffield supers retreat Whitby

Hardly seems like a year since we were all here last year.

Our theme this year being 'Soul care for busy leaders' 

Exploring afresh the need to make time for ourselves if we are to be of any use to anyone. One important aspect of our time being able to just stop and go for a walk.

So up the 199 steps to the Abbey ruins

Take in the views 

And down again to the harbour

Then a walk out to the lighthouse 

And taking in the rolling grey waves

And  looking up again to the abbey.

The best thing I find about being with our fellow superintendents is to be with people who really do care about what they are doing. Laughter has been frequent as we now know one another quite well representing the eight circuits of the Sheffield District.  So eleven supers and the chair of district makes for an interesting mix of personalities.

So one more session tonight and then business meeting tomorrow followed by communion and then return home.  Our retreat is about investing in our well being. A reminder that we all need the ebb and flow of life to have fulfillng lives. 

Monday morning and another test

Sitting at the hospital waitng to undergo a test. Naturally a bit apprehensive . It feels that since  my TIA some 20 months ago I have spent a lot of time at the surgery and hospitals being the one getting sorted out. It still remains strange to be the one on the receiving end waiting with others. You see such a diversity of people of all ages trying to keep themselves preoccupied.  So some flick through the magazines, others are on kindles or tablets, while others check their mobiles or is it playing games on the   mobile? Always an air of expectancy of concern.

One consistent experience for me has been the helpful reassuring staff. Keen to put me at my ease  and explain what will happen. 

Well pretest check with the nurse saw the usual questions asked including has any one in the family suffered from a type of mad cows disease - No! 

Then I was taken through to get changed. Now I see what a friend meant by the pants!! Hilarious. And yes I will take the gas and air if needed! 

So far everything was  running to time which is fine by me. "You did well to drink all four litres' I was told. It was the stuff you had to take in preparation the evening before. I thought you had to drink it all the instructions were clear. A lot of people apparantly don't manage it which I can understand.  I wish I had been told that  I could have at least left the last glassful!

Getting a little bit nervous now so bring on the gas and air. But first it was time to put a line into my arm just in case. In case of what?

Back to the small male waiting room to find a man sitting there who was clearly nervous and wanted to talk about how bad it would be. I just wanted to get on with it. Thankfully his doctor came and then mine only a little behind schedule. 

It's a strange state of affairs that you have to go into hospital to learn how to wait. To not be doing which of course means time to think. We are of course people who fill our time  which can drive out the time just to be still.

Well into the room for the deed. It was going to be filled with folk. Two doctors and three nurses. The TV screen meant I could once I gathered myself after the initial beginning of the test , and a bit of gas and air, follow the procedure. Wow what clarity to be able to see inside yourself. What I was not expecting was the conversation with the nurse who I discovered did not like Donald Trump. Well we were on firm ground there. Then  I gained the impression she had voted brexit, liked Boris Johnson and Mrs May. So diplomatically I sought to avoid disagreement, and talk of a granddaugter was safer territory. Then it was all over and I could go home. I remain still a great admirer of our NHS which is worth fighting for and preserving.  

Mosborough Parents tots

A visit to Mosborough Parent and Tots group was once again a pleasure to see familiar faces and to be able to collect the wonderful selection of gifts for the children in Asebu, Ghana.  This group has proved to be very generous in their willingness to look beyond their own community and provide a sign of care for those who have so little.

The church here is so fortunate to have such a well led group and to see the way the parents support one another and the children interact is a delight.

While there I picked up an e.mail to let me know we had a problem with the false ceiling at Firth Park. So of course I had to go and take a look.

Sometimes you wonder what you have to do to get ahead on our building scheme. It transpired that a part of the plaster of the original ceiling had come down. Not quite heavy enough to break through and so we have replaced the damaged tile but of course the area is now out of action as we dare not use the space.

So the challenge continues to raise the funds and enable the main church building to be converted into two spaces for community as well as church use. Anyone with a spare £250,000 let me know!      

   

Sunday at Eckington

A Sunday morning drive to our church at Eckington with St Lukes LEP . It was their Sunday when they bring together the shoe boxes for "Samaritans Purse" which will bring joy to children in places where the reality is they have very little. 115 boxes had been collected which in prayer we trust will bring a ray of hope at Christmas. It will say you are valued and of worth. While we are not without challenges within our own society. Still the need for food banks, homelessness on the rise and again with some sleeping on the  streets, families living in B&B's, a crisis in social care for the elderly. We do remain a very wealthy nation, and while not always great at sharing it justly at home, we still have the capacity to recognise the need in places far worst. So it was good to have shared in a time of worship and sharing.