revmusings

Had a discussion at our minister's meeting about how we plan preaching.

Some use the lectionary - for ease, for discipline and the chance to preach on things we might otherwise avoid.
Some use a Gospel between Christmas and Easter as we Evangelcials get accused of preaching too little Gospel and too much Epistle.
I guess some wait for inspiration each week which is certainly how some of my church think preachers do it

I have jsut finsihed my preaching plan till the end of the summer: H

Having done Mark between Christmas and Easter I am moving to 1 Corinthians in the morning. (any recommendations on commentaries?)

We will be using the DVD of the BBC's The Passion for 6 weeks in the evening to explore the gospel stories of those last days a bit deeper and then 6 weeks on 2 Sam.

Add in Monthly All-Age series yet to be finalised with the team that come and help and our continuing Walk through the Bible which my other half does and is getting towards the end of the Old Testament and I hope we have a balanced diet which will feed us and help us in our knowledge of God and walk in discipleship.

All I have to do is preach it all!

The world moves at an astonishing pace and sadly many people get left behind.

My Treasurer has been sent a CD for her computer so she can do my tax on-line - just two problems: her computer only has a floppy drive and she has no connection to the internet. She is over 70 and has no intention of aquiring a new computer, or the internet, just so she can do my tax!

I hope there is a a way round this but increasingly people are being left out by the use of technology and its seems little or no provision is made for them to be kept in the loop and not made to feel useless just because they can't keep up for all kinds of reasons including financial!

I wonder how many small church treasurers are feeling anxious and put down by all this.

Update: It appears its only the end of year tax stuff she has to do on-line so we can relax till next April!

Off to Bournemouth tomorrow with several thousand other Baptists (don't know whhat you call that?)

I love Assembly: meeting my freinds , meeting new people, buying books and resources, listening to great speakers, and hopefully great worship - being inspired and equipped to go back to our varying situations and serve God.

I get my handshake this year - scary as it means the BU think I am fit to be let lose on churches with no-one looking over my shoulder! Just proves you can fool some of the people some of the time!

One moving moment is the In Memorium, especially, as with this year, there will be names of people I knew personally. I remember well ,the first year I was a ministe,r standing there thinking - one day my name will be there - a sobering thought!

Anyone I hope to meet some of you there, I hope in glorious sunshine!

A friend of mine phoned me last night to give me some background on the Labour-in-Vain hill - its used to have a a pub on the hill by the same name with a not very pc sign - see picture.

Been away for a week and seen a few odd things as we travelled around:

A street name sign that said: The Street with No Name

A hill named: Labour-in-Vain Hill

Going into a Service Station the car in front signalled left and immediately trurned right, it had a foreign numberplate: Irish!


But I've come back feeling quite unwell so its rest as much as possible today before church begins tomorrow

So why when people are reading in church do they choose to read from the small print bibles from the chairs rather than use the large print lecturn bible which is so mch easier to read? And then they have trouble reading cos they can't see it properly?

Looking forward to a break soon - time at our flat, relaxing and gettting my new laptop up and running. Then we move to London to see one of our daughters in a play and catch up with our eldest daughter and grandchildren and some friends - can't wait!

Then a few day back and its off to Assembly in sunny (I hope) Bournemouth to meet friends, get fed ( spiritually) and get my handshake!

I wonder what God may have in store?

I have just watched a You Tube video from Britians Got Talent - not a show I watch but I heard about this lady with an amazing voice singing a song from my favourite musical Les Mis. What I didn't expect was the amount of predjudice she encounters in the faces and hearts of the audience and panel and, I suspect, in our hearts as we watch....all becuase of the way she looks - watch the faces of everyone before and after she begins to sing

If you haven't seen it go here

I am sure this will end up in a sermon sooner rather than later!


For more info on Susan read an article here

We had a great Easter Sunday - all the various elements of the services came together well and lots of people were involved in both services.


Had one complaint though - this person hated it when we have to use modern versions of things rather than the old version;

My sin?

Using the 381AD Nicene Creed!

Not sure what the 'old version' of that is!

She didn't notice three words missing though!

Just got back from the annual Christ in the Centre presentation (for more info see here)

There were less people than usual, some put off by the forecast rain or the lack of publicity (no enough cash)

Every year it is fascination to watch the drama of the trial and crucifixtion played out on a big stage in the city centre - as would have been the case then some passers-by stopped and watched, others carried on seemingly ignoring both the specatcle and the masses of people - a complete irrelevance to their busy lives and the pressing need to shop.

The task to introduce the people to God who loved each and everyone of us so much that he took on the human condition and risked all to save us all remains

Its Friday...


But Sunday's comin.....