No blogs lately

Those who check in from time to time have noticed that The Rev and her Dog have been rather silent of late. This state of affairs comes from a rather more busy than usual time when blogging takes the bottom place. The last week in pictures would be a good place to start. So, working backwards:

There aren't any of Sunday - in the evening we (The Four Churches) had our last (ever) Harvest Thanksgiving in Ulsterville Presbyterian Church. Special music was provided by Fane Street Primary School Choir and it was lovely to see them in that context. Usually I'm the one at the front in School Assembly. It is sad to see what was once a thriving church work towards amalgamation with its neighbour in January 2010. The son of the first minister of the church preached the semon!

Saturday was totally different. Christmas was celebrated at the Rectory! Yes, Christmas! This was part of the Confirmation Class programme when we looked at the life of Jesus and together celebrated his birth. In addition to the traditional Christmas items there were reminders of his life, death and resurrection. Learning through play and activity is a great way to help remember that which is important. The pizza tea that we shared simply added to the fun of being together.

The contrast between that and Saturday Morning is marked. The Church of the Epiphany (the adjacent parish) were celebrating harvest with a flower festival so over a hundred photographs are now in my collection from that. One of the most memorable of the displays was a representation of the separation of light and darkness during creation.

The Confirmation Class met not only on Saturday afternoon and evening but also on Friday Evening. No photographs record that gathering as we took time to consider human beings and how we were created in God's image but also how that image was marred by sin. We are learning so much together and the prayers that the young people write at the end of each session show a deep understanding and personal response to the topic.

It is always good to prepare for a busy time by having a day of rest - so Thursday was, as usual, the day off. In spite of the mist and dullness Eliot and I set off for Murlough. Sadly, the camera battery was almost flat so the photographic record of a wonderful walk is rather thin. The beach was deserted and there was a great stillness with the Mournes shrouded in low cloud. A totally restful time followed by corned beef hash in Newcastle. The "rest" continued in the afternoon as I watched "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from which we planned to show the Stone Table scene at Confirmation Class. Going to the ballet (Cyrano) completed the perfect day.

So what do clergy (and their dogs) do? Probably much the same as everyone else. We work hard, play hard and get tired! Visiting, sermon preparation, leaflet production and general household things were also part of those days too. So now, with Eliot wondering if his morning walk is going to happen, I'd better finish off and find his lead.

Things that parishioners send....2

The Obedient Wife

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money and was a real "miser" when it came to spending anything.
Just before he died, he said to his wife..."When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the coffin. I want to take it all to the afterlife with me."And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put his complete fortune into the coffin with him.
Well, he died.
He was stretched out in the coffin, his wife was sitting there - dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the lid, the wife said,"Wait just a moment!"
She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and put it beside him. Then the undertakers locked the top down and they rolled it away.
So her friend said,"Girl, I know you were not fool enough to put all that money in there with your husband."
The loyal wife replied, "Listen, as promised; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the coffin with him.
"You mean to tell me you put that money in with him!?!?!?"
"I sure did," said the wife. "I got it all together, put it into my account and wrote him a cheque.... If he can cash it, then he can spend it."

Things that parishioners send....!

Oh, to be twelve again

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off he asked what she'd like to have for her Birthday.

'I'd like to be twelve again', she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her Birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Coco Pops, and then took her to Alton Towers theme park.

What a day!

He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Corkscrew, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster, everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down..

He then took her to a MacDonald's where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake.

Then it was off to the cinema with popcorn, a huge Cola, and her favourite sweets............M&M's.

What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.

He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, 'Well Dear, what was it like being twelve again?'

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed. 'I meant my dress size, you idiot!!!!'

I hope you also enjoyed this short story sent by a parishioner!

Seek and you will find...

...if you look in the right place!

Oh yes...the rectory turned upsidedown, every socket checked every likely and some unlikely corners searched...and it couldn't be found! Then, today, a ninety mile round trip to Kilkeel just in case it had been left there in August. Another house searched from top to bottom and still no sign of the missing object.

Where could it be? Into which drawer, box or other container would someone put a camera battery charger?

Having just about given up and decided that a new one might have to be purchased I decided to pack up the car and return to Belfast. That meant putting some things into the back and, there it was! The missing lead: neatly coiled under the seat.

How did it get into such an unlikely hidey-hole? Who knows?

Suffice to say that I'm now watching it do its job so that the camera is ready for the next trip out into the autumnal sunshine. All I had today was the mobile phone and the photographs aren't anything to write home about. There'll have to be a return journey to take some proper pictures.

Seek and you will find if you are looking in the right place!

...things left undone...

This little blog is a quick reaction to an article in the current issue of the Church of Ireland Gazette. First day of term for the new Institute...and all is well. Refurbished buildings, students arriving from the Foundation Course and a good atmosphere (with a few glitches to be ironed out). The NSM students are continuing as well and under the new system they'll be able to mix with the new intake.

However, and there was obviously going to be an "however", no mention is made of those diligent souls now in their third year who have had the trauma of transition thrust upon them. They too have started a new term, a new year - and for them a most significant and stressful one. They too are part of the Institute - and will contribute much to the life of the community through their varied experiences of parish life already.

What happened? I hope this will be picked up and an article written about "The Invisibles"! Those of us not so long out of college remember well the final year pressures of exams, curacy interviews and many other struggles too personal to be aired in public. The last thing you want is to be "Invisible", to feel that no one notices that you exist, and to believe (falsely) that no one cares!

Don't take away from the exciting future of the Institute. Don't diminish the NSM programme. And don't forget about the final year students either!

And, if you can find opportunity, pray for each person at the Institute: the pastoral team of cleaners, caretakers, caterers and administrative staff, the principal, lecturers and visiting speakers, librarians and the students - ALL of them!!

Harvest

In Saint Nicholas' the services are over and the harvest produce in the process of being distributed. For the "Four Churches" celebrations continue for another two weeks as we join with one another to remember God's faithfulness. There is challenge as well. We, who enjoy so much, have responsibilities to share with others and to work for justice throughout the world. How easy it is to become inward looking and concentrate on our needs. forgetting the community around us and people in other places too.

Somehow we need to allow the Holy Spirit to rekindle a spirit of mission within our fellowship. More than a token "support" which is sometimes only a financial gift. More than just a head knowledge of "our partners" in Kenya. Mission is a way of life not just for the church but for each life as well. Mission is being who we already are - disciples of the Lord Jesus - sent into the entire world with the Good News!

"The Ragamuffin Gospel"

Members of the Book Club at Saint Nicholas' are busy reading this Brennan Manning text for our October meeting.

"Inspired" is how one reviewer describes it. A book about how much God loves us - 'warts and all'. Even if we are "ragamuffins" God's love for us, and acceptance of us, are presented with clarity.

The author tells us that the book is not for the super-spiritual or the people who have their lives all sorted out. It is for the "sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other... the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it altogether... the inconsistent, unsteady disciples... the poor weak, sinful men and women.. for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags..."

Brennan Manning uses many short illustrations and memorable stories to engage the reader and each chapter has something significant to say about a person's journey of faith. Towards the end he tells us, "The ragamuffin church is a place of promise and possibility, of adventure and discovery, a community of compassion on the move, strangers and exiles in a foreign land en route to the heavenly Jerusalem... ...The worshipping ragamuffin will not be mummified in middle age by living in the past and refusing to attend to the present. Creativity and flexibility will not give way to repetition and rigidity..."

It is a book to buy, to read, to give away...and then to find another copy and read it again! Eugene Peterson writes, 'This is a zestful and accurate portrayal that tells us unmistakably that the gospel is good, dazzlingly good.'