Saturday evening.

 Continuing with the "framed" theme for 365Project my lunch today (individual pork pie) was framed with a drizzle of chilli oil on which very small tomatoes and bits of beetroot were arranged!  It did taste good!

As usual I took a run in to check out the Antiques and Collectables Fair ... and managed not to buy anything even though there were a few objects to which I returned for a second look.  It is great to see the hall so well used on Saturdays and folk enjoying themselves browsing and chatting.
My apologies to those (including Mrs McF) who checked in for Friday's blog to find only the picture of time/thyme.  I knew it was going to be a late evening but didn't expect to hear the midnight pips while driving along Stockman's Lane!  If only we could sell time in a tin!
I'd been to Impact, the CMSIreland evening at Magherally and then stopped for coffee with friends before coming home.  Eliot had stayed at their house while I was at the event - I don't know what he'd been doing but all the way home he was fast asleep, stirring only when the car slowed for the roundabout when we left the M1.
Impact was superb!  Not only was it organised to perfection it was also full of information and moved along at a good pace with changes in style and content to keep us engaged for the entire time.  At one point there was a "Roll of Honour" of all the CMSI Mission Partners who'd served over the last thirty years.  That was an amazing list.

 It was good too to meet so many Mission Partners and others who have worked for shorter or longer terms with partner churches.  What an amazing number of people at Impact had experience of living in another culture and working alongside the church there.
There were messages from many who couldn't be at the meeting and greetings from Global Partners in many of the countries where CMSI works.  Bishop Jeremiah Taama (Kajiado Diocese, Kenya) recorded a video message ... it was good to hear him again ... such a wise and godly man!

 The paper chain on the photograph with Ronnie Briggs (Mission Director) was made during the evening from individual pieces that each of us filled in.  On the strip we'd written the name of someone who'd influenced us and the name of a person whom we'd like to influence.

 It was both a fun and a useful exercise as prayer was linked to prayer around the room.

 I could see this idea being used and developed ... !
One of the Magherally parishioners had provided two wonderful cakes for the supper ... after we'd feasted on wheaten bread and cheese, sausage rolls and pancakes!
She'd given the bakery the logo of the evening and they reproduced it on the icing.

 One cake was a very light sponge and the other a delicious fruit mixture.  It was like being at a wedding ... only the slices of cake were considerably bigger!!

The cakes contributed to a sense of celebration.  There was laughter and fun, there were memories and stories ... and we came away with a renewed sense of engagement with CMS.  Those Mission Partners who have returned home face many challenges as they try to adjust to life back in the UK ... they have different roles here but we each continue to play our part in God's plan for the church ... the whole Christian church made up of men and women in every country.  The church is mission ... it isn't an optional extra for the "keen"!  CMSIreland's aim is "Equipping the church in mission" and Impact was a big step forward towards achieving that goal.
In an act of recommissioning and prayer for Mission Partners, those involved in short term programmes, office and volunteer staff and all who are involved with mission I quoted Psalm 32 verse 8 (NIV):
I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye.

In peace, we will lie down and sleep
for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night-watch looks for the morning,
so do we look for you O Christ.
The Lord bless us and watch over us;
the Lord make his face shine upon us
and be gracious to us;
the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.  Amen. 

Celebrating Common Prayer

Night Prayer.