This week I have been on retreat. a chance to get away from it all, think about nothing else but me and spend time with God and other youth workers from across the diocese.
After 4 years of doing this and seeing people regularly in that time, we're starting to feel a lot like a family. We are relaxed with each other, we laugh and joke a lot of the time, and I do go back to normal life very relaxed.
Andy, Rachel and Alice do a sterling job as our youth advisers (and all the other things they do!) and being on a retreat with them makes all of us realise that we are very fortunate to be in jobs that we love doing. We are ready to pray, listen, help each other out in the best way.
It is really nice to catch up with people as well and spend the time getting to know others.
We were really blessed this year by a guy called Andy Freeman, who is the author of Punk Monk, he's involved in 24/7 Prayer and knows one very important person who set me on my youth work way - Carrie Hayward! He gave us time, to sit and listen to God, to go through our thoughts about things, to pray for those things that we had given up on.
I did come away content, happy to move on and ready. There is a lot to do over the next month or so and then we'll be getting ready for Easter!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Thursday, February 02, 2012
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
I had another chance to go to the cinema yesterday - this time with someone - huzzah!!
We had decided that we wanted to see Chronicle, and forgetting entirely that it was Orange Wednesday's, we didn't buy our tickets when we decided, but waited until just before the start of it to buy our tickets, which meant that we missed out. So instead, with caution on my part, we opted for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
We settled with ice cream and a little bit of hope. It started exactly like a Bond movie, and a dark one at that and with Daniel Craig popping up as the main character, it feels like Bond, but without the gadgets. You still fear for his safety and hope that he will come out saving the world in the end, without the world actually being at risk.
A young girl goes missing and the task is to find who killed her and why. Daniel Craig is employed for the task and asks for help, which comes in the form of a woman who is described as insane by the state. These two characters are leading very separate lives, you find out about them, and they are thrown together, they solve the mystery and everything, sort of, turns out ok.
Now, this movie is an 18 certificate and for the first half an hour we were wondering why and then you find out why, it quite a dramatic way. I am pleased I am 27 and not 18, this is not a movie I would watch again, and it does worry me that the scene was allowed into the final cut, but then, it is an 18. I did not look at the screen for the duration of some of the movie.
And the use of the Bible and the law was interesting. I don't want to give too much away, but I can see why the writer has used it and how it will come across that this is a very wrong use of scripture.
A well structured movie, that is easy to follow and pulls together well in the end... could've removed the scene that I have spoken about, but it would still be an 18. Be prepared is all I can say.
We had decided that we wanted to see Chronicle, and forgetting entirely that it was Orange Wednesday's, we didn't buy our tickets when we decided, but waited until just before the start of it to buy our tickets, which meant that we missed out. So instead, with caution on my part, we opted for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
We settled with ice cream and a little bit of hope. It started exactly like a Bond movie, and a dark one at that and with Daniel Craig popping up as the main character, it feels like Bond, but without the gadgets. You still fear for his safety and hope that he will come out saving the world in the end, without the world actually being at risk.
A young girl goes missing and the task is to find who killed her and why. Daniel Craig is employed for the task and asks for help, which comes in the form of a woman who is described as insane by the state. These two characters are leading very separate lives, you find out about them, and they are thrown together, they solve the mystery and everything, sort of, turns out ok.
Now, this movie is an 18 certificate and for the first half an hour we were wondering why and then you find out why, it quite a dramatic way. I am pleased I am 27 and not 18, this is not a movie I would watch again, and it does worry me that the scene was allowed into the final cut, but then, it is an 18. I did not look at the screen for the duration of some of the movie.
And the use of the Bible and the law was interesting. I don't want to give too much away, but I can see why the writer has used it and how it will come across that this is a very wrong use of scripture.
A well structured movie, that is easy to follow and pulls together well in the end... could've removed the scene that I have spoken about, but it would still be an 18. Be prepared is all I can say.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
The Artist
The Artist (2011) - IMDb
If you haven't seen this movie yet, I would wait a little longer and get it on DVD. It is a piece of genius - but only because it is different from all the 3D out there at the moment. It is not new, it is nostalgic. It is clever, but at the same time there are little niggles. Little niggles like not having enough time to read some of the dialogue and spotting mistakes, because sometimes there is little else to do.
I might just be annoyed because the seat was £8.95, the screen was badly proportioned and the room was so warm, I feel asleep. It takes away from the experience a little. The cinema should be enjoyable.
Anyway, see it, but on DVD, enjoy it for the storyline, the dream sequence, every moment the leads meet and the mild camp-ness that is silent cinema. All that was missing, was the orchestra!
If you haven't seen this movie yet, I would wait a little longer and get it on DVD. It is a piece of genius - but only because it is different from all the 3D out there at the moment. It is not new, it is nostalgic. It is clever, but at the same time there are little niggles. Little niggles like not having enough time to read some of the dialogue and spotting mistakes, because sometimes there is little else to do.
I might just be annoyed because the seat was £8.95, the screen was badly proportioned and the room was so warm, I feel asleep. It takes away from the experience a little. The cinema should be enjoyable.
Anyway, see it, but on DVD, enjoy it for the storyline, the dream sequence, every moment the leads meet and the mild camp-ness that is silent cinema. All that was missing, was the orchestra!
When extreme goes too far
Have a read of this article for a moment and tell me what you think...
Damage To Dummies Prompts Ride Rethink
I am all for extreme rides, I am yet to get to America to try some of the really extreme rides, but this is crazy. Having to re-think a ride because the dummies limbs have been damaged? Surely, in the first place, that is a design failure?
When I first went on Nemesis I though we were going to get smashed into the ground, I still think that we will every time I go on that ride, and that is enough for me. Really.
From the outset rides should be about thrill, closely followed by the safety of riders... if those two aren't at the top of the list, you end up with a boring ride or a death trap!
Damage To Dummies Prompts Ride Rethink
I am all for extreme rides, I am yet to get to America to try some of the really extreme rides, but this is crazy. Having to re-think a ride because the dummies limbs have been damaged? Surely, in the first place, that is a design failure?
When I first went on Nemesis I though we were going to get smashed into the ground, I still think that we will every time I go on that ride, and that is enough for me. Really.
From the outset rides should be about thrill, closely followed by the safety of riders... if those two aren't at the top of the list, you end up with a boring ride or a death trap!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A reflection
I'm having a moment of reflection, quiet contemplation whilst the world falls apart, financially, in front of me. Debt is the headline and no doubt the world will struggle for a while yet, but as for me, I have looked at a previous blog post and been reminded of the Christmas period, that rushed past me, without much of a comment.
In Blooming Christianity I said that I had never felt what it was like to be in an over-flowing church. Chinese church (Happy New Year, by the way) is experiencing a boom in numbers, which is brilliant news for the people who live there, quite frightening, I imagine, for church leaders. It made me think of Christmas Eve at Christ Church, when we hold our Christingle services.
As a church many hours go into preparing one service, that happens three times. The first one this year, everyone had a seat, everyone, who wanted one, got an orange and it was a pleasant service. The second one was over-flowing. I stood in the corner, by the band, and looked at perhaps 350 people, lots of children sitting on parents laps, and one huge opportunity to tell the message of Jesus' birth. The third one was quieter and everyone had a seat again.
Only now, looking back, I realise that a church that is over-flowing is a beautiful thing. I was happy to be stood up for the whole service, to hear the band play Once In Royal David's City, all the way through, twice, and to see that so many people are coming to church.
It is exhausting, exhilarating and by the end of it, I am often pleased it only happens once a year.
In 2012 we are looking at how Christmas works, with the schools ending so late, we already need to start thinking about it. Forward planning though, means we can have the right conversations with the right people to make the week up to Christmas smooth and as stress free as possible!
In Blooming Christianity I said that I had never felt what it was like to be in an over-flowing church. Chinese church (Happy New Year, by the way) is experiencing a boom in numbers, which is brilliant news for the people who live there, quite frightening, I imagine, for church leaders. It made me think of Christmas Eve at Christ Church, when we hold our Christingle services.
As a church many hours go into preparing one service, that happens three times. The first one this year, everyone had a seat, everyone, who wanted one, got an orange and it was a pleasant service. The second one was over-flowing. I stood in the corner, by the band, and looked at perhaps 350 people, lots of children sitting on parents laps, and one huge opportunity to tell the message of Jesus' birth. The third one was quieter and everyone had a seat again.
Only now, looking back, I realise that a church that is over-flowing is a beautiful thing. I was happy to be stood up for the whole service, to hear the band play Once In Royal David's City, all the way through, twice, and to see that so many people are coming to church.
It is exhausting, exhilarating and by the end of it, I am often pleased it only happens once a year.
In 2012 we are looking at how Christmas works, with the schools ending so late, we already need to start thinking about it. Forward planning though, means we can have the right conversations with the right people to make the week up to Christmas smooth and as stress free as possible!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Time to Talk
If you live or work in the Diocese of Chelmsford (and that is a pretty large area) you need to have a look at this website
Transforming Presence | Strategic Priorities for the Diocese of Chelmsford
And I mean have a serious look at it. This is what Bishop Stephen is all about at the moment, the discernment process has already started for what the Diocese might be doing by 2027.
Bishop Stephen has written this paper to inspire and begin to instruct the people in his diocese about how we begin to grow, rather than "managing our decline as gracefully as possible".
On Saturday, nearly 1000 people got together from across the diocese to answer a few questions about our experiences of church, past, present and future, and how we can change the face of the church.
The logistics of the day were the first impressive thing - what a way to start, I found my table and a seat straight away! Very impressed with the way the day was run, we started and finished on time, a few disappointing things though - there was no wifi to tell the outside world, I didn't have a hot drink as a tea and coffee abstainer and we always could've done with more time. However, I made new friends, I connected people so that they could be helped, and I got to reconnect with some I hadn't seen for a while.
The next step is wondering how this will filter down to church levels. Yes, we have a website, we have a diocese newspaper, we have vicars and youth workers, church wardens and readers, but all of these people and all of the congregation are busy with the things that we already do. What questions will the PCC's and DCC's have to ask to re-imagine church? What does it mean for the churches that didn't have a vicar or a representative at the meeting last weekend? And how do we recognize the works that are already changing the church?
The questions could keep on going - there are hundreds, to do with young people, schools, ecumenical views, at deanery level, and communities. There are definitely more questions than answers at the moment, but I hope you'll pray with me as the Bishop begins to meet with those who are boiling down what was said on Saturday, that the main themes will come through and the plan will come easily to everyone involved.
Transforming Presence | Strategic Priorities for the Diocese of Chelmsford
And I mean have a serious look at it. This is what Bishop Stephen is all about at the moment, the discernment process has already started for what the Diocese might be doing by 2027.
Bishop Stephen has written this paper to inspire and begin to instruct the people in his diocese about how we begin to grow, rather than "managing our decline as gracefully as possible".
On Saturday, nearly 1000 people got together from across the diocese to answer a few questions about our experiences of church, past, present and future, and how we can change the face of the church.
The logistics of the day were the first impressive thing - what a way to start, I found my table and a seat straight away! Very impressed with the way the day was run, we started and finished on time, a few disappointing things though - there was no wifi to tell the outside world, I didn't have a hot drink as a tea and coffee abstainer and we always could've done with more time. However, I made new friends, I connected people so that they could be helped, and I got to reconnect with some I hadn't seen for a while.
The next step is wondering how this will filter down to church levels. Yes, we have a website, we have a diocese newspaper, we have vicars and youth workers, church wardens and readers, but all of these people and all of the congregation are busy with the things that we already do. What questions will the PCC's and DCC's have to ask to re-imagine church? What does it mean for the churches that didn't have a vicar or a representative at the meeting last weekend? And how do we recognize the works that are already changing the church?
The questions could keep on going - there are hundreds, to do with young people, schools, ecumenical views, at deanery level, and communities. There are definitely more questions than answers at the moment, but I hope you'll pray with me as the Bishop begins to meet with those who are boiling down what was said on Saturday, that the main themes will come through and the plan will come easily to everyone involved.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Back against the wall
So I have seen an osteopath for my back. I have never seen anyone about my back problems, but after thinking about it and talking about it with the osteopath, it turns out that my history is longer than I ever thought and probably started with a car accident and therefore is definitely over 10 years old.
That worries me slightly. That something has been wrong with me for that long and I have not done anything about it in all of the time I have been walking around, in pain occasionally, and it could have been fixed with a couple of trips to see a professional.
I facebooked about my neck problem and lovely Georgina, who has been a young person and turned into a friend, through Guides and other family connections, said that I ought to book with her and she could see what she could do for me.
The long and the short of it was that she spent an hour and a half with me - diagnosed my problem - stemming from my breathing and in the end I felt a lot better for being treated as a whole person. A doctor would've given me painkillers and told me to rest, Georgina gave me exercises and offered a follow up appointment in two weeks. And yesterday for the first time in a long time I had pain where I was supposed to have pain! It wasn't displaced, and it made all the difference for it being where it was supposed to be. I felt happier!
I have decided that I need to keep up with this and that private health care, for my toes and back at least, is the way to go about making life easier. I am not looking forward to seeing the podiatrist again, though he was funny and knew exactly was he was doing, it doesn't make injections any easier! I love the NHS, but I don't really want to have to wait - my Nan had her hip replaced last summer and she's only just seeing the osteopath, and only for 6 appointments. I can see Georgina at The Moir Health Clinic for as long as I want and she doesn't currently have a waiting list, though I think she soon will.
That worries me slightly. That something has been wrong with me for that long and I have not done anything about it in all of the time I have been walking around, in pain occasionally, and it could have been fixed with a couple of trips to see a professional.
I facebooked about my neck problem and lovely Georgina, who has been a young person and turned into a friend, through Guides and other family connections, said that I ought to book with her and she could see what she could do for me.
The long and the short of it was that she spent an hour and a half with me - diagnosed my problem - stemming from my breathing and in the end I felt a lot better for being treated as a whole person. A doctor would've given me painkillers and told me to rest, Georgina gave me exercises and offered a follow up appointment in two weeks. And yesterday for the first time in a long time I had pain where I was supposed to have pain! It wasn't displaced, and it made all the difference for it being where it was supposed to be. I felt happier!
I have decided that I need to keep up with this and that private health care, for my toes and back at least, is the way to go about making life easier. I am not looking forward to seeing the podiatrist again, though he was funny and knew exactly was he was doing, it doesn't make injections any easier! I love the NHS, but I don't really want to have to wait - my Nan had her hip replaced last summer and she's only just seeing the osteopath, and only for 6 appointments. I can see Georgina at The Moir Health Clinic for as long as I want and she doesn't currently have a waiting list, though I think she soon will.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
What's in an AOK?
With all things twitter - I have come across some lovely articles and some not so helpful - see previous posts!
Some times I have ranted, some times I have shouted 'look at this' and other times I have just smiled as I have shared.
This post is definitely the last two - read 12 Things Happy People Do Differently and you will be uplifted. I need to start doing more of this, particularly acts of kindness and practicing religion! I am grateful for an awful lot at the moment, the new year, the team that I work with and the parents who are supporting me during a transition that will change my life completely!
After worrying about what 2012 might bring, I am now certain that it is a year for moving on to greater things, to a more substantial foot on the ladder of so many things. It is exciting, all terrifying, but mostly a step in the right direction, and I am sure that there are doors that will shut, many that will open and lots of new friends to meet! Looking forward to it!
If you're in your 20's or 30's and want to meet new people and discuss the Bible, tonight, we will be meeting for the first time at St Mary's in Billericay, at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome!
(In other news though, I have a really bad back, so moving and breathing has been a bit tough. Going to see someone about it tomorrow morning who can perhaps diagnose the problem and begin to help me get well again.)
Some times I have ranted, some times I have shouted 'look at this' and other times I have just smiled as I have shared.
This post is definitely the last two - read 12 Things Happy People Do Differently and you will be uplifted. I need to start doing more of this, particularly acts of kindness and practicing religion! I am grateful for an awful lot at the moment, the new year, the team that I work with and the parents who are supporting me during a transition that will change my life completely!
After worrying about what 2012 might bring, I am now certain that it is a year for moving on to greater things, to a more substantial foot on the ladder of so many things. It is exciting, all terrifying, but mostly a step in the right direction, and I am sure that there are doors that will shut, many that will open and lots of new friends to meet! Looking forward to it!
If you're in your 20's or 30's and want to meet new people and discuss the Bible, tonight, we will be meeting for the first time at St Mary's in Billericay, at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome!
(In other news though, I have a really bad back, so moving and breathing has been a bit tough. Going to see someone about it tomorrow morning who can perhaps diagnose the problem and begin to help me get well again.)
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