Mike's musings

Assignment

I've just finished an assignment on using a model of theological reflection within a placement context. I used the Pastoral Cycle - everyone does - within the context of my hospice placement. It doesn't quite fit, but was useful at the same time. Anyway, some useful insights, and the essay's now finished. One more to do by the 7th January, a verbatim, and a goodly amount of the preparation is already done for that.

Tomorrow I'll sanity-check this one, and send it off. Thanks be to God!

Labels: ERMC, essay, placement

Migraine

I've never had one, thanks be to God, but Moo gets them from time to time, and today's one of those times. I've sent her to bed, and thankfully she was able to eat some toast before she headed upstairs.

Had a fascinating chat with a couple in their late 80s from Long Melford today about their lives. They've lived through some very interesting times in some interesting places, and I learnt more about them than I think they expected me to - they seemed worried that they'd just chatted to me a bit!

Labels: illness, Moo, placement

Justification by faith alone

That's what I'm going to be preaching on tomorrow. Anyone reading this is, of course welcome: 1030 at Holy Trinity, Long Melford. I've preached a similar sermon before, and I believe that it's an important thing to preach about, so that's the plan. Preaching is a big responsibility for me, it'll be one of the biggest congregations I've ever preached to, it's my first one on my placement, and it's the first time I'll have preached micced-up.

Labels: faith, placement, preaching

Renewal of baptismal vows

Went with Jo (who slept through past 0600 today, as did the dog!) to a service at Long Melford today which including a renewal of baptismal vows. Ian, the Rector, had worked very hard not only on the liturgy, but on the numbers. He told me that he'd personally invited at least 300 people, and there must have been around that number there. The service was very good, and even though, at an hour and a half, it was long for the younger members of the congregation, it all went very well, and there were things for them all to do. We all trooped past the font - and a mini-font for children - signing with the cross ourselves with the water that was there, and after communion, we were all given a candle, and they were lit from a flame which started at the Easter candle. We sang a hymn, and finished off the service with a blessing. It was a very good service, and I was very impressed.

After that, I picked up Moo and Miri and went went to Freeport, via The King's Head at Gosfield, where we enjoyed a very good meal (particularly the puddings!), despite some rather weird company on neighbouring tables... Only bought a pair of sunglasses at Freeport, and Moo spent most of the time feeding Miri in Starbucks. It was beginning to rain harder and harder, Moo lost it a bit with Jo (who was playing up), and we went home. Jo watched a little TV (CBeebies), and then, despite the rain, came outside to play on her new bike.

Once Jo finally went to sleep, I took Buster out for 50+ minutes. It rained very, very hard. No, really. My Akubra (hat), Drizabone (coat), Brashers and moleskins (trousers) did stirling service, but by the time the dog went into the lake, it was unclear whether it was making him wetter, or the other way round.

Labels: baptism, bike, dog, placement, services, weather

Placement #1

Today I met my supervisor for my first placement: Ian. I'm going to be spending time at Holy Trinity, Long Melford, where Ian's the incumbent, and he came round to meet me and Moo, and to get a feeling for whether things will work. I think he's happy, because he's agreed to go ahead. We'll pick up after Easter, and after my paternity leave's finished.

I'm really looking forward to meeting a new community and interacting with it. And to more fellowship, which, as I've mentioned before, is an area which Moo very perspicaciously (yes, I had to check the spelling, but I did have it right!) identified as one which I'm lacking in at the moment. Ian, Moo and I got on very well, and I'm pleased it's going to work out.

Labels: ERMC, Moo, placement