Thoughts From Just Another Passer By

Lord help me to be creative in all seasons of my life. Amen

 Lord. Feed us with manner from heaven, share with us your daily bread. Amen

My university degree assignments were largely theological reflections, and I largely hated writing them. But as I reflect I have or I have a responsibility as I get back on the train. What do I have to do now. My response to these two and a  bit days. I have had a strong renewal in my passion for theology, and I don't want to keep this to myself. This has an impact with my ministry with families and young people. To help the, engage with theology, the communion of saints the richness in grappling with the big questions. Moving to not have a shallow ministry but a deep ministry allowing God to reach deeply in my life and of those around me. Being aware of the Wesleyan quadrilateral in the work I do not just as a a useful tool for graduating from a college with Methodist tendencies. There needs to be an investment in theology in the local church and I have a chance to facilitate this. Theology is integral to our faith and walk as Christians, I think people do want to engage wit...

Lord bring bring discernment in our business  Help us to work up your will for theology, faith and life. Help us to build an identiy based on your light  And love others according to your grace to us Amen

I am currently in attendance at the Faith and Order Network conference of the Methodist Church. I was terrified on Monday, the day before, as I hadn't the confidence in my theological grounding, even after finishing my undergrad degree in theology three months ago. Even throughout my degree I put down my ability to be a theological thinker because I could never respond quickly enough with what I wanted to say, I also felt paralysed by the expectation to need to formulate or have a view and not be able to take time to think first. But I am a theological thinker.  My degree was worth it.  Amongst what is described as theological conference I have some understanding of what is happen.  We can all be theological thinkers. We all are theological thinkers.

Inspire us God to think about you. To be sure of our identity in you. Secure in those who have carried your cross before us and challenged us to move for you. Help us to not contain you or limit you to our understanding, but to be free with in your mystery. Help us by your Spirit to be inspired you. Amen 

Lord give me a vision for this land a story of yours to share  a heart of compassion to live by  and your commission to stand on By your grace and your might only Lord Help me serve Amen 

Even when I walk through the darkness, lead me by your light.  Amen

So today came another first.... I have never used a laundrette outside the Christian Bubble, and sadly I did not go in time to also dry my clothes. So now they are haphazardly hung around the flat. When you make minor mistakes like this your glad of a flat three flights up so that no one can see the trouser hung in the window. I can imagine some of you laughing at my misfortune... please do as I am laughing at myself to. The small mistake, mishap, mad moment, I'm know is not my first mistake here in the North of Wales, and I am aware that in my ministry wherever I am it is not likely to be my last, i doubt it will even be my funniest! I mean I'm catching a train on Tuesday and I am rubbish with trains. I wonder how when we are faced with failure and upset do we keep moving forward. Humanity keeps on going, no matter what the upset or the hardship or the mistake. It reminded me of a piece of wall - its not often you can say that. Love will win! This is a picture of the Peac...

Father God  Be with my brothers and sisters as they work for your glory  Help us to share each others burdens in prayer When distance separates us and we speak no words to each other  Allow us still to remember fellowship shared with you and your saints. Amen

I remember writing a theological reflection for Uni on my travels to India and the dificultes of cross cultural ministries, and one of the quotes I remember directly - to the point I can see the page in front of me - was to do with Stress. They say that moving jobs, moving house, is stressful enough without moving countries. Therefore for a cross cultural missionary the first few months are often the worst thing ever. Now I am in no way going to claim that I am a cross cultural missionary I have only moved to Wales, but moving to a new area, moving out from my parents, starting a new job does seem quite an achievement, and there is a language barrier especially with place names! Its daunting and it has been at times lonely, especially after my family left to go back to there respective homes, work and study. The church that I have moved to are so friendly and aware that moving can be lonely and I love my Tuesday Coffee morning, not that many there come under my...

Dear Lord  Hide me in the shadow of your wings.  Allow me to rest upon you  and live in the strength of your protection and grace Amen 

Lord fill me with peace  Amen

Lord thank you for the beauty of your creation  and the splendour of your community as we await your kingdom Amen

Lord you care for the birds in the sky and the flowers in the meadow.  Thank you for your care of us and the care of the world. Help us share this love with all we meet.  Amen Lord give me patients as I sleep To ignore these seagulls as they cheep Amen 

Lord set your light upon us  Amen

Lord fill this world with colour colour it with your peace your grace and your love  Amen

Lord fill this Land with your glory  The people with your spirit  And the streets with your love. Send revival O Lord our God in the communities we live Amen  (This is a photo of my new home taken from the castle walls. My flat is in this picture)

So I have apologised for the lack of internet. But I have moved to Wales. Conwy to be precise and I started my new job yesterday. I am the Families and Youth worker for St John's, Conwy. Watch this space on more about that and how the role takes shape etc. If any of you wish to know it started well and within my comfort zone with the Methodist Church Safeguard training Creating Safer Spaces . The daily prayers should also return now and I have had some beautiful photos from the wonderful Welsh surroundings.