On my last Sunday before I returned to work, I went down to St Oswald's - a church we have link with through Mothers' Union and one of our nearer neighbours (it also saved on petrol!).
I joined a group of about fifty people, mainly older, but some quite a bit younger than me! About twenty were robed - the choir and others, who mainly had official roles in the service. The words of the service were used fully, though it did not drag in any way. We sang a mixture of traditional hymns and older contemporary song - some I hadn't sung for a while, but remembered from my teens.
It was the partronal festival of St Peter - the church calls itself the community of St Peter and St Oswald, recognising those who have their roots in the now closed church of St Peter, Abbeydale. Over in the hall afterwards there was cake and sherry to mark the occasion of the festival!
Iain Lothian who is the curate was presiding at communion and also preached - all decked out in a splendid red chasuble! He preached from the floor in front of the fan shape of chairs we on which we sat, which felt very immediate and natural. He spoke about keys - the traditional symbol of St Peter - and invited us to bring our car keys forward and place them on the altar. Then we were asked to think how we felt - a bit powerless and bereft, it certainly reminded me of times when I have lost my keys!!
The main challenge of his sermon was for us to think of the power we have over other people - through our work, family and friendships - which could be symbolised by our keys. Then to think how we might be tempted to abuse our power and how we could use our power for good in the coming week. Some profound things to think of there - and well illustrated.
I enjoyed talking to people after the service - I was taken over to the hall for a drink and found the congregation keen and alert to welcome new people in sensitive ways. The building is amazing - huge, but sitting together on comfortable chairs (everyone gets the armchair sort of which we only have a few), I was just impressed by the sense of space. It did not feel crowded or cluttered, just plenty of space which showed off things like the dramatic colours of the rearados (the screen thing behind the main altar).
it was a good last Sunday. I have learned a lot from visiting other church and hope to have conveyed a bit of my enthusiasm through these blogs. Some people from the churches visited have found out about the blog, and I think they have been encouraged by my visitors eye view.
Thursday, 3 July 2008
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Sunday 15th June - St Chad's Family Worship
I was a bit sorry not to get to church this weekend. We had a flying visit to see my Aunt in Sevenoaks who is over 90. She does very well, but doing a few jobs for her meant that there was not time to get along to St Nicholas - the church where I came to faith getting on for 35 years ago!
However, I get get down to St Chad's the Sunday before and attended their Family Service. The theme was Father's Day and I was very impressed with the way Matthew drew out the joys and difficulties of being a Dad from the congregation and I was very touched to receive some chocolate towards the end of the service!
The thing that struck me most was how little we sang. We had a children's song, sung to a CD (which worked well), quite a few minutes into the service, then two songs after the talk and a hymn at the end. I wondered if this was a deliberate policy as visitors are far less used to singing these days. The two songs and hymn were led by a small band consisting of keyboard, rhythm guitar (played by a Scouter in uniform) and drums (played by a Scout) - they made a good sound and drove the songs with energy. I would have liked to have sung more!
The talk was quite long, but felt interactive as Matthew drew the answers out from us and the key points all came up on the screen from the video projector. It was based around four points about the way children should love their fathers and four points about the way fathers should love their children, both spelling the word LOVE. The fathers and children who were there together were encourage to tell each other that they loved each other (too much for one teenager near me, but her dad did rise to the challenge!). Children were also able to nominate people for the Dad of the year award which was duly presented at the end of the service.
In the notices we heard about St Chad's wonderful campaign to brighten up Woodseats by growing Sunflowers. Now that the plants were growing a bit, canes were being issued with brightly coloured balls to go on the top - these can be seen outside the church house on Abbey Lane.
However, I get get down to St Chad's the Sunday before and attended their Family Service. The theme was Father's Day and I was very impressed with the way Matthew drew out the joys and difficulties of being a Dad from the congregation and I was very touched to receive some chocolate towards the end of the service!
The thing that struck me most was how little we sang. We had a children's song, sung to a CD (which worked well), quite a few minutes into the service, then two songs after the talk and a hymn at the end. I wondered if this was a deliberate policy as visitors are far less used to singing these days. The two songs and hymn were led by a small band consisting of keyboard, rhythm guitar (played by a Scouter in uniform) and drums (played by a Scout) - they made a good sound and drove the songs with energy. I would have liked to have sung more!
The talk was quite long, but felt interactive as Matthew drew the answers out from us and the key points all came up on the screen from the video projector. It was based around four points about the way children should love their fathers and four points about the way fathers should love their children, both spelling the word LOVE. The fathers and children who were there together were encourage to tell each other that they loved each other (too much for one teenager near me, but her dad did rise to the challenge!). Children were also able to nominate people for the Dad of the year award which was duly presented at the end of the service.
In the notices we heard about St Chad's wonderful campaign to brighten up Woodseats by growing Sunflowers. Now that the plants were growing a bit, canes were being issued with brightly coloured balls to go on the top - these can be seen outside the church house on Abbey Lane.
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Holy Trinity service and lunch!
1 View from the restaurant - horrid isn't it!!
2 Conversations over lunch.
3 The end of the service at Holy Trinity Cannes (Peter in the top left corner).
Monday, 16 June 2008
Sunday 8th June - Holy Trinity Cannes
Finally getting round to writing this up! It was great to be back in a service led by Peter Anderson who was my training vicar and a great inspiration to me in many ways.
First you are struck by how many people there are! They normally have around 160 to Sunday services, 30 of these are visitors, staying in the area and the rest more regular, though many go back home to where ever they come from at times through the year. And it has not always been like this. There are some who remember when the congregation had dwindled to about 30, the previous chaplain revived the fortunes and Peter has seen continued growth.
As you would imagine the average age is rather senior - with so many coming to live in the area in retirement, but there are also a good number of younger families with children and they have recently attracted a number who are in their early twenties.
So what is the secret of their success? It is a complex interrelation of a warm caring fellowship, the desire of English speakers to get together, tremendous energy love and care injected by Peter and the workings of God in their midst. Even in his sixties Peter works at a tremendous pace, every week he produces in effect a little magazine which is part notice sheet, part introduction to the service, part collection to wise sayings and jokes. It is called the Opener, the Cannes Opener (as the French don't pronounce the last letter of the word, this is very much a 'Peter' a joke in its self!). He preaches with vigor and passion and has an encyclopedic memory of all various people's needs and spends a lot of time chatting to people on the phone.
People commute some distances to come to church, quite a few will live about an hour's drive away, some further - up in the tranquil hills above Cannes where the property prices are more realistic! There are four home groups, one in Cannes and three out nearer to where people live. On Wednesdays the church is open for a painting club, a pretty large library of English books, as well as newspapers and lunch. Everything in France revolves around food! The home groups all meet to eat first, and on Sunday nearly thirty of us went down to a beach side restaurant for lunch after the service - and great fun it was too.
The service was Communion, following more or less the pattern we are used to in Common Worship, though the liturgy was more sparingly (and appropriately) used. We had just one bible reading - which was the one peter preached about, and, as in Dubai, a children's talk before they went out to their classes. Our singing was led by grand piano and flute by very competent musicians and their was a good volume from the congregation's singing!
Afterward the service there was coffee, cold drinks or wine to drink (well it is France!), then some of us went down to The Rado, a beach side restaurant where tables were pushed together for getting on for thirty people to have lunch. It was lovely getting to know people in this relaxed atmosphere with wonderful views across the sea to the mountains the other side of the bay. What a difference from the grey clouds I can see from my window back home today!!
First you are struck by how many people there are! They normally have around 160 to Sunday services, 30 of these are visitors, staying in the area and the rest more regular, though many go back home to where ever they come from at times through the year. And it has not always been like this. There are some who remember when the congregation had dwindled to about 30, the previous chaplain revived the fortunes and Peter has seen continued growth.
As you would imagine the average age is rather senior - with so many coming to live in the area in retirement, but there are also a good number of younger families with children and they have recently attracted a number who are in their early twenties.
So what is the secret of their success? It is a complex interrelation of a warm caring fellowship, the desire of English speakers to get together, tremendous energy love and care injected by Peter and the workings of God in their midst. Even in his sixties Peter works at a tremendous pace, every week he produces in effect a little magazine which is part notice sheet, part introduction to the service, part collection to wise sayings and jokes. It is called the Opener, the Cannes Opener (as the French don't pronounce the last letter of the word, this is very much a 'Peter' a joke in its self!). He preaches with vigor and passion and has an encyclopedic memory of all various people's needs and spends a lot of time chatting to people on the phone.
People commute some distances to come to church, quite a few will live about an hour's drive away, some further - up in the tranquil hills above Cannes where the property prices are more realistic! There are four home groups, one in Cannes and three out nearer to where people live. On Wednesdays the church is open for a painting club, a pretty large library of English books, as well as newspapers and lunch. Everything in France revolves around food! The home groups all meet to eat first, and on Sunday nearly thirty of us went down to a beach side restaurant for lunch after the service - and great fun it was too.
The service was Communion, following more or less the pattern we are used to in Common Worship, though the liturgy was more sparingly (and appropriately) used. We had just one bible reading - which was the one peter preached about, and, as in Dubai, a children's talk before they went out to their classes. Our singing was led by grand piano and flute by very competent musicians and their was a good volume from the congregation's singing!
Afterward the service there was coffee, cold drinks or wine to drink (well it is France!), then some of us went down to The Rado, a beach side restaurant where tables were pushed together for getting on for thirty people to have lunch. It was lovely getting to know people in this relaxed atmosphere with wonderful views across the sea to the mountains the other side of the bay. What a difference from the grey clouds I can see from my window back home today!!
Thursday, 12 June 2008
The Retreat
This morning I arrived back in Cannes after leading a three day retreat on the Island of Lerin, also called St Honorat. The boat trip takes under half an hour, but you are transported to a tranquil oasis of calm!
In the fourth century Honoratus was on his way to join a desert monastery when he landed on Lerin, and because of other things he stayed and started his own monastery on the island. Having experienced desert conditions recently, I think he made a wise choice! Indeed he became so wise that he was later made a bishop, and lends his name to the island. It is said that St Patrick did some of his training in the first monastery there.
The Island is dominated by a Cistertian Monastery, built in the middle of the nineteenth century, which is home to about twenty monks. They keep the monastic offices in the Abbey and work on the farm land, mainly tending vines to make very expensive wine (over thirty pounds a bottle!). The remainder of the island is a wooded nature reserve with some unusual wildlife. I was most aware of the pheasants which were plentyfull, even coming into the grounds of the monastery where mother pheasant walk protectively with her growing offspring. (Males seemed less interested in their families but were good at strutting about looking important!)
On the island there are Scopes Owls - what ever they are! All I know is that they make sharp tooting noises which ware a little disturbing on the first night! Brian one of the organisers encouraged my to get my snorkel and mask out and come and see the fish - it was fantastic! The sea was clear and there was so much too see. As another person said 'the fish are very tame!' And that just about summed it up, you could swim to within arms length of some of the fish (but by the time you moved your hand out to them they had shot away). Quite a few were only inches long, but some were getting on for a foot, though everything appears magnified under water.
The monastic day begin at 4.00 am with the rising bell (the first morning I saw the sun rise at six, but otherwise I went back to sleep after this!). The first service, vigiles, is at 5.30 (can't comment on that one!) Laudes is around 8.00, which is a slightly longer service than some, a bit like our morning prayer. The monks work for a few hours before the focus of the day which was Mass around 11.30, which had much the same shape as our communion services, but a much longer communion prayer. This service was usually packed with visitors to the island who treat it as a sort of pilgrimage. They fit in another two shorter services before and after lunch (sexte and none) vespers at 6.00 and compline after the evening meal at 8.00. The focus of each service is the chanting of psalms - in French of course - they get through three or four per service which enables them to go through all 150 ever week! There are usually some other bible reading, though these are short, one or two hymns, chanted prayers and a hymn to Mary at the end. They follow the rule of Benedict, though most strictly than the Benedictines, and wear white robes.
Our accommodation was in a pleasant L shaped cloister all around a garden and very close the the abbey bell tower! Rooms were simple but perfectly adequate, though I can't complain as I had the Bishop's room, with en suite shower! Meals were served in the guest refectory and were much enjoyed, even though eating was in silence - we were supposed to keep silent in the cloister and certainly in the abbey. I led most of my sessions in the large walled meadow, a large area of rough grass with a few trees and bushes. Others who were staying seemed to see monks for spiritual direction out here too, finding, as we did, whatever patched of shade there might be!
It was very hot and on the first few days we were threated to clear blue skies. It clouded over a little on the last day, but the rumbles of thunder later on did not amount to anything, so we enjoyed a simple open air communion followed by candle lit worship in one of the small chaples which are dotted around the island.
My sessions seemed well received. 27 is a large group, so I did my half hour presentations, gave them prayer exercises to do and encouraged people to share their experiences in small groups. The group was a bit more high powered than I had expected! A few retired computer engineers, a retired GP and her husband who was an eye surgeon, a retired Colonel from the US Airborne Rangers and a ex Church of Ireland minister who is now chaplain to the band U2! Not to mention my old boss Peter Anderson, with whom I had quite a bit of friendly banter as I shared some of my struggles and learning about prayer (we know each other too well!) Having said that, they were all absolutely delightful, and great fun to be with, a tremendously warm fellowship of friends, many from Holy Trinity Cannes, who meet up each year for this retreat. I think that many had not come across much about finding God in silence and contemplative prayer before, but everyone seemed to have warmed to my themes by the end of our time together.
In the fourth century Honoratus was on his way to join a desert monastery when he landed on Lerin, and because of other things he stayed and started his own monastery on the island. Having experienced desert conditions recently, I think he made a wise choice! Indeed he became so wise that he was later made a bishop, and lends his name to the island. It is said that St Patrick did some of his training in the first monastery there.
The Island is dominated by a Cistertian Monastery, built in the middle of the nineteenth century, which is home to about twenty monks. They keep the monastic offices in the Abbey and work on the farm land, mainly tending vines to make very expensive wine (over thirty pounds a bottle!). The remainder of the island is a wooded nature reserve with some unusual wildlife. I was most aware of the pheasants which were plentyfull, even coming into the grounds of the monastery where mother pheasant walk protectively with her growing offspring. (Males seemed less interested in their families but were good at strutting about looking important!)
On the island there are Scopes Owls - what ever they are! All I know is that they make sharp tooting noises which ware a little disturbing on the first night! Brian one of the organisers encouraged my to get my snorkel and mask out and come and see the fish - it was fantastic! The sea was clear and there was so much too see. As another person said 'the fish are very tame!' And that just about summed it up, you could swim to within arms length of some of the fish (but by the time you moved your hand out to them they had shot away). Quite a few were only inches long, but some were getting on for a foot, though everything appears magnified under water.
The monastic day begin at 4.00 am with the rising bell (the first morning I saw the sun rise at six, but otherwise I went back to sleep after this!). The first service, vigiles, is at 5.30 (can't comment on that one!) Laudes is around 8.00, which is a slightly longer service than some, a bit like our morning prayer. The monks work for a few hours before the focus of the day which was Mass around 11.30, which had much the same shape as our communion services, but a much longer communion prayer. This service was usually packed with visitors to the island who treat it as a sort of pilgrimage. They fit in another two shorter services before and after lunch (sexte and none) vespers at 6.00 and compline after the evening meal at 8.00. The focus of each service is the chanting of psalms - in French of course - they get through three or four per service which enables them to go through all 150 ever week! There are usually some other bible reading, though these are short, one or two hymns, chanted prayers and a hymn to Mary at the end. They follow the rule of Benedict, though most strictly than the Benedictines, and wear white robes.
Our accommodation was in a pleasant L shaped cloister all around a garden and very close the the abbey bell tower! Rooms were simple but perfectly adequate, though I can't complain as I had the Bishop's room, with en suite shower! Meals were served in the guest refectory and were much enjoyed, even though eating was in silence - we were supposed to keep silent in the cloister and certainly in the abbey. I led most of my sessions in the large walled meadow, a large area of rough grass with a few trees and bushes. Others who were staying seemed to see monks for spiritual direction out here too, finding, as we did, whatever patched of shade there might be!
It was very hot and on the first few days we were threated to clear blue skies. It clouded over a little on the last day, but the rumbles of thunder later on did not amount to anything, so we enjoyed a simple open air communion followed by candle lit worship in one of the small chaples which are dotted around the island.
My sessions seemed well received. 27 is a large group, so I did my half hour presentations, gave them prayer exercises to do and encouraged people to share their experiences in small groups. The group was a bit more high powered than I had expected! A few retired computer engineers, a retired GP and her husband who was an eye surgeon, a retired Colonel from the US Airborne Rangers and a ex Church of Ireland minister who is now chaplain to the band U2! Not to mention my old boss Peter Anderson, with whom I had quite a bit of friendly banter as I shared some of my struggles and learning about prayer (we know each other too well!) Having said that, they were all absolutely delightful, and great fun to be with, a tremendously warm fellowship of friends, many from Holy Trinity Cannes, who meet up each year for this retreat. I think that many had not come across much about finding God in silence and contemplative prayer before, but everyone seemed to have warmed to my themes by the end of our time together.
Thursday, 5 June 2008
Not sure what these will look like on your screen, but they are:
1 Looking back along the Croisette towards the centre of Cannes. The building with small domes at either end is the Carlton Hotel, which is at the end of the road down from the church.
2 From the Croisette looking across the bay to the mountains beyond with that day's cruise liner anchored out to sea. in the foreground is the Seaside Restaurant - one of many! plus a small pier which belongs to one of the hotels. (Today it is over cast and these mountains have their heads in the clouds and this afternoon it has rained! So I have discovered that in can rain in Cannes!!)
3 Holy Trinity Cannes with flats attached. Behind the church is Peter and Helen's flat, my little flat is around the other side of the building.
Sunday 1st June
Last Sunday I was not very well and so did not get to church - my usual problems of the guts! However, a visit to the consultant that week did reveal (at last) a possible cause for much of my troubles. They need to do some more tests though before we they can be sure which treatment might be best for me.
But on Sunday 1st June I was better and went to All Saints Totley where my friend David Rhodes is vicar. Their main Sunday morning service this week was a Family Communion with a children in the service rather than attending their classes as it was part of the school holidays. There were a lot of children there, quite a few young ones and some older.
Our singing was lead by David's wife Sally who plays their fine sounding electric piano and she was accompanied by two girls who used microphones, the more traditional hymn Sally played on the organ.
It's all very high tech at Totley! The hymns and songs were projected onto screens, as were the few parts of the communions service we used, which I think was only the communion prayer. The rest of the service was a mix of songs, a bible reading, a talk from Sue Hope and prayers led by a member of the congregation. (They do have a more formal service in the afternoon).
The service had a relaxed and friendly feel, though I found myself designing a few simple alterations in my mind that could really make a great difference. The considering reordering and I feel it would make a great difference. The chairs they have are not very comfortable and are held in rows by wooden slats. There were a lot of people squashed together one side of the chancel screen and no-one the other side!
People at St Paul's may remember Sue from the day she led for us in the autumn of 2006. As ever she had powerful things to say! She was speaking as part of their series of sermons about the Lord's Prayer and her title was 'Give us today our daily bread'. Sue encouraged us to ask God for what we need, but to be careful that we actually need it! The subtitle she was given was 'need versus greed'. What struck me most powerfully was they was she encouraged us to find God's 'enough' and to rejoice in and celebrate that 'enough'. We live in a world which is always seeking more and consequently is never satisfied. As followers of Jesus we can learn to glory in the good things we do have.
Sue was not speaking from a position of wealth. By a strange turn of events she finds herself currently unemployed (she had move on from her post as Diocesan Missioner in between). She is now living on job seekers allowance, so there were many things she said she would like but could not have, yet still she is learning to delight in God's 'enough'.
But on Sunday 1st June I was better and went to All Saints Totley where my friend David Rhodes is vicar. Their main Sunday morning service this week was a Family Communion with a children in the service rather than attending their classes as it was part of the school holidays. There were a lot of children there, quite a few young ones and some older.
Our singing was lead by David's wife Sally who plays their fine sounding electric piano and she was accompanied by two girls who used microphones, the more traditional hymn Sally played on the organ.
It's all very high tech at Totley! The hymns and songs were projected onto screens, as were the few parts of the communions service we used, which I think was only the communion prayer. The rest of the service was a mix of songs, a bible reading, a talk from Sue Hope and prayers led by a member of the congregation. (They do have a more formal service in the afternoon).
The service had a relaxed and friendly feel, though I found myself designing a few simple alterations in my mind that could really make a great difference. The considering reordering and I feel it would make a great difference. The chairs they have are not very comfortable and are held in rows by wooden slats. There were a lot of people squashed together one side of the chancel screen and no-one the other side!
People at St Paul's may remember Sue from the day she led for us in the autumn of 2006. As ever she had powerful things to say! She was speaking as part of their series of sermons about the Lord's Prayer and her title was 'Give us today our daily bread'. Sue encouraged us to ask God for what we need, but to be careful that we actually need it! The subtitle she was given was 'need versus greed'. What struck me most powerfully was they was she encouraged us to find God's 'enough' and to rejoice in and celebrate that 'enough'. We live in a world which is always seeking more and consequently is never satisfied. As followers of Jesus we can learn to glory in the good things we do have.
Sue was not speaking from a position of wealth. By a strange turn of events she finds herself currently unemployed (she had move on from her post as Diocesan Missioner in between). She is now living on job seekers allowance, so there were many things she said she would like but could not have, yet still she is learning to delight in God's 'enough'.
Cannes
As before it takes time to get computers linked up, but here I am in Cannes! Despite a bit of fog at Luton airport the flight was great with good views as we came down over the sea into Nice airport. It had rained hard the morning of my arrival but by the time I landed it was warm and sunny.
Wendy, who arranges the retreats, met me at the airport with two friends and her dog! She drove us back along the coast road which was lovely and stageringly beautiful in part. As we passed through the walls of the old town of Antebes we were suddenly in a square with a cafe surrounded by narrow streets and the mellow dilapidation so characturistic of the old Riviera. Greame Green (the novelist, however his Graham is splet) used to stay up that street and drink at this cafe!
My little flat is on the first floor and has a north facing balcony. I am a couple of minutes from the Croisette - the promenade road. So I go down to wander along or sit on the public beach further along. Wandering on the Croisette is clearly the thing to do. You join the galmourous, the would be glamourous and a few of us who are far more tatty! Though there are many who have retired here, there are also younger people and families with toddlers. The Croisette is not only used my walkers, you have to watch out for cylists and rollerbladers who whistle past with little warning.
Much of the beach is taken over by resturants, some of which are part of the grand hotels across the road along the Croisette. Often these are taken over for very grand 'dos' - wedding receptions and parties it seems. People arrive, all dressed up in their finery, and can dine and dance with a live band with amazing views across the bay to the mountains beyond.
It is a very beautiful place and I am finding the beauty conducive to more of a retreat time for myself - which I hope will continue over on the island when beauty will be
added to by silence in the monastry and our joining in the monastic times of prayer. It is strange leading a retreat in a place I have not visited but I am getting a good picture from my conversations with people here.
I don't have my camera with me as I type, but I will post some pitures next time, now I have a computer which is talking to the outsideworld!
Wendy, who arranges the retreats, met me at the airport with two friends and her dog! She drove us back along the coast road which was lovely and stageringly beautiful in part. As we passed through the walls of the old town of Antebes we were suddenly in a square with a cafe surrounded by narrow streets and the mellow dilapidation so characturistic of the old Riviera. Greame Green (the novelist, however his Graham is splet) used to stay up that street and drink at this cafe!
My little flat is on the first floor and has a north facing balcony. I am a couple of minutes from the Croisette - the promenade road. So I go down to wander along or sit on the public beach further along. Wandering on the Croisette is clearly the thing to do. You join the galmourous, the would be glamourous and a few of us who are far more tatty! Though there are many who have retired here, there are also younger people and families with toddlers. The Croisette is not only used my walkers, you have to watch out for cylists and rollerbladers who whistle past with little warning.
Much of the beach is taken over by resturants, some of which are part of the grand hotels across the road along the Croisette. Often these are taken over for very grand 'dos' - wedding receptions and parties it seems. People arrive, all dressed up in their finery, and can dine and dance with a live band with amazing views across the bay to the mountains beyond.
It is a very beautiful place and I am finding the beauty conducive to more of a retreat time for myself - which I hope will continue over on the island when beauty will be
added to by silence in the monastry and our joining in the monastic times of prayer. It is strange leading a retreat in a place I have not visited but I am getting a good picture from my conversations with people here.
I don't have my camera with me as I type, but I will post some pitures next time, now I have a computer which is talking to the outsideworld!
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
Visit to St Mary's Bramall Lane Church Centre
Today I went to see Graham Duncan who is the Centre Manager of St Mary's. He has been a great help and inspiration to us at through our re-development project at St Paul's, and has preached and led services for us in his role as a non-stipendiary priest (and is coming on 22nd June).
In the eight years of its existence, St Mary's Centre has grown to a large enterprise with a staff of thirty people. When I arrived I could see that the building was full with conferences and within a few minutes someone arrived to arrange another booking! It was wonderful to see so many people coming in and out of the building and clearly appreciating it so much.
Graham says that the staff have a real sense of doing their work for the good of the church - knowing that profits from the centre are used to do important work in the community.
It does mean that everything has to be done on a very professional basis because the building is competing with other commercial venues. This means that homemade displays, such as might be created by Sunday School children, just cannot stay around - it would give the wrong impression to conference delegates who attend through the week.
Inevitably there are tensions between the needs of the church congregation and of the centre users and these have to be carefully worked out. The centre staff deal with all the cleaning and maintenance and the redevelopment has provided a light, up to date and inspiring place for worship with excellent facilities, but it is easy to get used to all of this!
Most people recognize that the centre gives the church great publicity, both locally and across the city. It is so important that St Mary's is there, doing what is does and that it has a thriving congregation at its heart. But this does not mean that the people who work in and use the building are necessarily drawn to worship there.
At St Paul's we have had to work very hard in our first two years to get things up and running. Graham spoke encouragingly about our progress, recognizing the competitive market we are in.
We are different from St Mary's and will develop in different ways. Our emphasis is more local and we do not have the same connections with the city centre, though some people do travel significant distances to use our facilities.
It seems to me that we will have to keep thinking about our vision as the work develops. I am sure we can make a success of running St Paul's Centre, and that we will find the income needed to maintain and develop our facilities.
The opportunities for change are not huge - we are limited to certain sorts of activities and lettings - but we can still give direction to what we do. I come back to the question we have been grappling with for so many months: 'what is God calling us to do - as individuals and as a church?'. We will have to return to this time and again but I feel sure that, as we do so, the vision will become clearer and we will sense more of the path which God is leading us along.
St Paul's Centre is no magic answer to our needs as a congregation, but it has provided us with brilliant facilities which we can share with our community and place to meet people and convey our faith. Opportunities are there, but we need vision both to use them to the full and to give direction to all that happens in our building.
In the eight years of its existence, St Mary's Centre has grown to a large enterprise with a staff of thirty people. When I arrived I could see that the building was full with conferences and within a few minutes someone arrived to arrange another booking! It was wonderful to see so many people coming in and out of the building and clearly appreciating it so much.
Graham says that the staff have a real sense of doing their work for the good of the church - knowing that profits from the centre are used to do important work in the community.
It does mean that everything has to be done on a very professional basis because the building is competing with other commercial venues. This means that homemade displays, such as might be created by Sunday School children, just cannot stay around - it would give the wrong impression to conference delegates who attend through the week.
Inevitably there are tensions between the needs of the church congregation and of the centre users and these have to be carefully worked out. The centre staff deal with all the cleaning and maintenance and the redevelopment has provided a light, up to date and inspiring place for worship with excellent facilities, but it is easy to get used to all of this!
Most people recognize that the centre gives the church great publicity, both locally and across the city. It is so important that St Mary's is there, doing what is does and that it has a thriving congregation at its heart. But this does not mean that the people who work in and use the building are necessarily drawn to worship there.
At St Paul's we have had to work very hard in our first two years to get things up and running. Graham spoke encouragingly about our progress, recognizing the competitive market we are in.
We are different from St Mary's and will develop in different ways. Our emphasis is more local and we do not have the same connections with the city centre, though some people do travel significant distances to use our facilities.
It seems to me that we will have to keep thinking about our vision as the work develops. I am sure we can make a success of running St Paul's Centre, and that we will find the income needed to maintain and develop our facilities.
The opportunities for change are not huge - we are limited to certain sorts of activities and lettings - but we can still give direction to what we do. I come back to the question we have been grappling with for so many months: 'what is God calling us to do - as individuals and as a church?'. We will have to return to this time and again but I feel sure that, as we do so, the vision will become clearer and we will sense more of the path which God is leading us along.
St Paul's Centre is no magic answer to our needs as a congregation, but it has provided us with brilliant facilities which we can share with our community and place to meet people and convey our faith. Opportunities are there, but we need vision both to use them to the full and to give direction to all that happens in our building.
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Back home again
Just a quick post to say that I am back home again now.
The last few days in Dubai seemed to rush past without any time to blog, but I hope to catch up now I am back. I managed another trip over the mountains and drove up the east coast of UAE - on the Indian Ocean side of the country.
The flight home was good, seeing amazing land forms in Iran, snowy mountains in Turkey and in the Alps. It was a long day. I intended to get up early, but actually was disturbed by the prayer call from the local Mosque, which is soon after 5 am at this time of year! The flight was at 11.40, getting to Paris some 7 hours later (I saw 3 films in that time, has a snooze, listened to music and peered out of the window at some amazing views!) It is much more exciting being able to fly by day!
I got to Sheffield Station soon after 9.oo pm local time, though this was midnight Dubai time - Steve texted me from the airport, he was waiting to pick up another friend! Dubai is a popular place to stay! It has been a fantastic trip, and I hope to find an excuse to go and see Steve again before too long.
The last few days in Dubai seemed to rush past without any time to blog, but I hope to catch up now I am back. I managed another trip over the mountains and drove up the east coast of UAE - on the Indian Ocean side of the country.
The flight home was good, seeing amazing land forms in Iran, snowy mountains in Turkey and in the Alps. It was a long day. I intended to get up early, but actually was disturbed by the prayer call from the local Mosque, which is soon after 5 am at this time of year! The flight was at 11.40, getting to Paris some 7 hours later (I saw 3 films in that time, has a snooze, listened to music and peered out of the window at some amazing views!) It is much more exciting being able to fly by day!
I got to Sheffield Station soon after 9.oo pm local time, though this was midnight Dubai time - Steve texted me from the airport, he was waiting to pick up another friend! Dubai is a popular place to stay! It has been a fantastic trip, and I hope to find an excuse to go and see Steve again before too long.
Friday, 9 May 2008
Pentecost Service Photos
Top left: Steve with the children before they went off to their classes - a nice touch I thought, he just has a few words with them or tells them a story.
Top right: The Southern Africa table holding hands in united prayer.
Middle left: The Southern Pacific people Middle right: The Americas
Bottom: The Europe table - map, information for prayer, prayers and pictures of people at other global day of prayer events. (Do you reconise these as Gopack tables, just like ours - the same the world over!!)
Pentecost - the nations gathered!
Today is Friday, so it is the big day for worship again here in Dubai.
As I came back from an afternoon out, a huge Sri Lankan congregation were coming out of the front part of the main church (it can be partitioned into two). There were a great many young adults, both men and women, though these are the ages when you are likely to be working here in Dubai. I have heard that many Sri Lankan women work as nannies, though this may be because they can earn so much more than they would at home.
At the back of the main church another congregation were getting ready for worship which seemed to involve a curtained area and carpets to sit on (this may be an Orthodox group who are famous for setting off the fire alarms with their incense!).
Other congregations were meeting in the larger halls upstairs. Both took their shoes off to worship (well either that of they were organising a massive shoe sale!). I noticed that one was divided with men on one side and women on the other - but there were far more men present. This struck me as a real contrast to church in the UK! Though it may be that there were more men because of those who stay in the nearby labour camps.
The meeting room by my room is also in use, so I am unable to get back in until 10.30 tonight! Fortunately, I had been shopping at Ibn Battuta this afternoon and got a bit more food to last me the last few days here, which has had to be turned into my evening meal!
Pentecost Friday Morning Worship at Christ Church
This morning Steve led us in a memorable and moving Pentecost Service centered around the global day of prayer at Pentecost.
Earlier in the week he had mentioned that he wanted maps of the world so I suggested organising his own from Google Earth (like the one I produced to show how far away I am here in Dubai). Steve does not do things by halves, so had the maps specially printed up at a shop on A0 sheets of paper - about 3 foot by 4 foot!
After a short beginning to the service, we gathered around the map of our home continent. The largest number of people present were from Europe, but there were a good number from Asia, the Americas, Africa, Australia and so on - it really is a global congregation! We used the confession and creed to pray over our continents, then we were encouraged to move around to pray for other parts of the world. We could pray extempore or use the prayers that Steve had found in books for people to read out. It was somehow simple, yet powerful and moving.
We sang a mix of hymns and songs, much as we do at St Paul's. Steve had picked out 'Let the flame burn brighter' for us to sing, as he liked the words, but had never actually sung it. I told him how good it was, but did warn him that it was not easy to sing. He has a number of good musicians and is quite musical himself, but I was roped in to help their singers get to know it before the service as no-one has sung it before!
I am very impressed with Steve's creative use of liturgy. We began the service with 'Great is the darkness' (chorus 'come Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit...'), and between the verses he had inserted some words for us to say, while the pianist played in the background. This worked really well and gave even more meaning to a great song.
I will put the photos on a separete post as that will be easier.
As I came back from an afternoon out, a huge Sri Lankan congregation were coming out of the front part of the main church (it can be partitioned into two). There were a great many young adults, both men and women, though these are the ages when you are likely to be working here in Dubai. I have heard that many Sri Lankan women work as nannies, though this may be because they can earn so much more than they would at home.
At the back of the main church another congregation were getting ready for worship which seemed to involve a curtained area and carpets to sit on (this may be an Orthodox group who are famous for setting off the fire alarms with their incense!).
Other congregations were meeting in the larger halls upstairs. Both took their shoes off to worship (well either that of they were organising a massive shoe sale!). I noticed that one was divided with men on one side and women on the other - but there were far more men present. This struck me as a real contrast to church in the UK! Though it may be that there were more men because of those who stay in the nearby labour camps.
The meeting room by my room is also in use, so I am unable to get back in until 10.30 tonight! Fortunately, I had been shopping at Ibn Battuta this afternoon and got a bit more food to last me the last few days here, which has had to be turned into my evening meal!
Pentecost Friday Morning Worship at Christ Church
This morning Steve led us in a memorable and moving Pentecost Service centered around the global day of prayer at Pentecost.
Earlier in the week he had mentioned that he wanted maps of the world so I suggested organising his own from Google Earth (like the one I produced to show how far away I am here in Dubai). Steve does not do things by halves, so had the maps specially printed up at a shop on A0 sheets of paper - about 3 foot by 4 foot!
After a short beginning to the service, we gathered around the map of our home continent. The largest number of people present were from Europe, but there were a good number from Asia, the Americas, Africa, Australia and so on - it really is a global congregation! We used the confession and creed to pray over our continents, then we were encouraged to move around to pray for other parts of the world. We could pray extempore or use the prayers that Steve had found in books for people to read out. It was somehow simple, yet powerful and moving.
We sang a mix of hymns and songs, much as we do at St Paul's. Steve had picked out 'Let the flame burn brighter' for us to sing, as he liked the words, but had never actually sung it. I told him how good it was, but did warn him that it was not easy to sing. He has a number of good musicians and is quite musical himself, but I was roped in to help their singers get to know it before the service as no-one has sung it before!
I am very impressed with Steve's creative use of liturgy. We began the service with 'Great is the darkness' (chorus 'come Lord Jesus, pour out your Spirit...'), and between the verses he had inserted some words for us to say, while the pianist played in the background. This worked really well and gave even more meaning to a great song.
I will put the photos on a separete post as that will be easier.
Thursday, 8 May 2008
Shopaholics Paradise and Desert Surprises!
The main leisure activity here seems to be shopping! There are a number of malls the size of Meadowhall - I don't know how many, but lots. Our local is Ibn Battuta, named after an Islamic explorer who visited Spain, and then journeyed from Persia right through to China. There areas themed around these places, and it is all very well done (though you may detect here my basic dislike of the whole concept!!).
I nipped in one day with Steve, so he could get something for work. Here is the outside of the Spanish area and me standing outside the Egyptian area. Inside the wall painting were truely amazing - reminding me very much of the tomb painting we saw in the Valley of the Kings twenty years ago. But in the end shops are shops, and you can go to Boots at Heeley Retail Park (less glamourous, but the same stuff!) maybe this is a gender thing, because I don't quite get it!!
What I did enjoy most was my drive across the desert to the mountains! I got up at five, so as to cook breakfast and lunch and be on the road for 6.30 - before the traffic jams start building up. The roads were fine and despite taking a few wrong turnings I did not manage to be really lost! I was in the mountain town of Hatta by 8.00 am, and though it was already very hot, I climbed to a small viewing point in a park (though how you can call it a park with so few plants beats me!). You will see that the mountians are totally barren - close too they have no vegetation at all. The hat is not just for effect, the sun was belting down at me and I took the picure of myself which is while I look a little odd!
I then drove over a mountain pass to another valley and came back round on a smaller road across the desert. I had seen some 'beware of camels' signs, and managed to stop and picture this one, but the real shock came later when I came across a really live camel standing in the middle of my side of the road! He had important cud chewing to do, and was not moving for anyone! This did mean I could drive up close to take the picture - without leaving the cool of the car.
It is a land of sharp contrasts. There is rocky desert, desert with yellow sand which us quite flat, then the red sand you see on the camel picture, undulates into dunes sometimes a hundred feet high. Then out of flat plain and the mountains suddenly sprout. But it would take too long to insert all the pictures, you will have to wait for the slide show!
You just have to get used to how hot it is. I was just about OK in the shade at 8.00 am, but by lunchtime it was so hot that I could only sit in the car with a the engine and airconditioning on while I ate. Still it has been an amazing experience. I hope to get across to the east coast which is the other side of the moutians and supposed to be nicer than the coast here, but I am running out of days!
I will stop now before the picture placement on this blogger drives me mad - it will not do what I tell it to!!
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Sunday - an ordinary day in Dubai!
It is a bit confusing! Friday is the Sunday out here, which is followed by Saturday, which is like our Saturday, just it comes after the main worship day! (I think that works better!!) So Sunday is like Monday, everyone is back at work and off to school. So I went along for the school run, taking Stephen and Betty to The English College and The Dubai College respectively.
There are rather a lot of large and expensive cars in Dubia. As Steve said the school gates look a bit like a 4x4 showroom. The Jumeira Janes drop off the kids at school, then go off to Spinney's for some shoppping, perhaps have a coffee with friends or go to a nail appointment, then there's only just time to check the maid has done all she should in your large air conditioned home, before picking up the kids again. The trouble is that you husband has to work very long hours, so you hardly ever see him. That's the life out here, some love it, other's don't.
Having no maids or nail appointments, Steve and I took Buddy the dog to the vet for a check up on the way back. As Steve was driving, here are a few views of the newer part of Dubai from the 14 lane highway. Almost all of these buildings were not even started four years ago!
But it's not all like this! The vet's was on a back street, and you could just see Burj Dubai, looming out of the mist - this is currently the world's tallest building. I saw it a bit closer coming from the airport, and was more impressed than I thought I would be. Here is the photo I look, you should be able to make it out, with the cranes still working on the top. The final picture in the meeting room by my room set up for another congregation this evening.
Today was a bit hot. It's only been about 35C (!) as there has been a lot of dust in the air, but that was clearing a bit, and the sun became like a blow torch - pushing the temperature over 40C! Steve had me walking about in that heat visiting a cemetry, and I was really glad to be back under cover again.
And, as it is Sunday, we did have an evening service, really a re-run of the service on Friday, but a different feel, with different people (and not so many because of work committments). But it was good to hear one of the church members trying to set up a scheme to help the men who live in the labour camps - just with simple things like providing books to read and a way of collecting their wages without walking miles in the heat, so that they can send their money home to their families in India etc. After the service I met someone who usually worships at Holy Trinity Cannes - my next exotic destination - isn't it a small world!
Saturday, 3 May 2008
This is looking back on the complex of churches, from left to right they are the Catholic Church, the Dubain Evagelical Church (American in style), Christ Church and another under construction.The forground is sand!
I was awake early this morning so had a walk before it got too hot. Here is a picture of the nearest (and best looking) labour camp, the ones further away are much more scruffy. Men have bunk beds in the cabins and go to central building (far left) to wash and to eat.
It must be quite a grim existence, I saw them pilling into buses to got off to the building sites to work (this was before 6 am), they will not be back till late evening and have to work through the heat of the day. Yesterday was their day off, so we saw hundreds walking about, going to the nearest shops.
Still they seem to be able to send money home to support their families.
Friday - the day for worship!
It is peaceful again today (Saturday)! Yesterday the church was heaving with congregations! To get to my room you have to go through one of the meeting rooms, so I knew that I had to be up and about early, so as to be breakfasted before the first congregation arrived. I then walked down the corridor past the three large meeting rooms on the top floor, the first had people getting ready for a service, and second a had a few people praying quietly, and the third was jam packed with people and had a man shouting into a mircophone at the front. I was please not to be in there, though those I could see of the congregation looked very enthusiastic.
I went down to the main church where Steve was getting ready for Communion. The PA system was playing up a bit (same the world over!), but Royston the wonderful caretaker seemed to manage to sort it out. Steve explained that it is a very good system, he just has not had time to read the instructions - I am with him on that, five years is not long for something as tedious as reading instructions!!
Worship was led by an electic keyboard / organ (it could make both sounds) with a small informal choir. The words of the service and hymns were projected onto four screens around the church - no expenses spared! - and this worked well. Steve is creative and sparing in his use of liturgy.
Sitting near the front I was not able to count the congration, but it felt like getting on for a hundred. In the picture above, the core of the congregation are having a drink at the back of church, but they were less than half who had been in the service. As you can see it is an eclectic mix of nationalities!
In the service we heard from a visiting priest from South Africa who told us of her work amongst very needy people, many of who are suffering from AIDS - which is supported by the congregation here. Steve also preached, urging us to look forward to our celebration of the the coming of God's Holy Spirit.
I enjoyed chatting to people afterwards. One man lives in Dubia but works in Saudi Arabia as a chemical engineer. He prefers to commute as he can at least come to church. In Saudi it is even against the law for Christians to meet as a house group - they did so, but always in fear of the authorities.
Steve is a busy man - after the serive he was bombarded with questions, while trying to get ready for weddings at 12.00 and 1.00 - he had already taken two earlier in the week! I stayed for the first in which a German man married a Chinese woman. Steve coped with considerable international chaos with remarkably good humour and spoke passionately about the need for us all to carry on expressing love to one another in our marriages.
After the wedding I found a second service blocking access to my room, but eventually I got in and could make my lunch! - but did not have much time before service 3 and 4! I invited myself over to Steve's house and later drove Steve, Jo, Stephen (16) and Betty (12) to a gathering at a church member's home some miles away. This worked well, as Steve was able to coach me on the perils of Dubai driving (including an experience of a 14 lane motorway!) and he could have a glass of wine at the party (driving with any alcohol in you system is against the law!).
It was lovely to sit out late in to the evening, though I did go into the house to cool off for a while!
Thursday, 1 May 2008
Arriving in Dubai
At last, I am here! And yes it is hot!
The journey went really well. I set off from a very wet Sheffield station soon after three on Tuesday afternoon and enjoyed the views of the Peak District as I sped through Hope and Edale valleys. The trees were amazing, bursting into a profusion of greens as the English spring worked it's magic yet again. Being an English spring the views were set against leaden and angry skies which doused us a number of times before we got to Mancester Airport.
I had plenty of time to check in then wait around for my flight to be called. It was a relatively small plane to Paris, where I had an hour to change to a much larger one to Dubai. I just love flying, so I had secured a window seat to take it all in. The surge of power as the engines catapault you down the runway it so exhilarating, and the views of Manchester were good. We then broke through the clouds and entered the soft evening sunshine which reached orange across the billowing cloud-fields!
We were soon on our way down to Paris where the towns lay as clusters of jewels picked out in sodium street lighting. It was an eiry experience walking through the corridors of the, by then, deserted airport as I trecked from one terminal to another - hoping that I was going in the right direction - Charles de Gaulle is huge! When I arrived at section 2F, I was unerved by an entrance sign which said 'staff only'. Clearly this was a notice that the French knew to ignore (or more likely would not even notice!!).
We set off around 11.30 French time and the seven hour flight did not drag too much. I watched a film, listened to music, saw the sun rise about 4.00 am and even slept a little because breakfast was suddenly in front of me at around five - and I was hugry and pleased to eat! We touched down at 6, but this was really 8 Dubia time, and your body soon gets used to it being daytime again.
Steve ferried me the twenty or so miles from the airport past Dubai city to thier home near Jebel Ali. In the four years since I was here last, the place has grown enormously. The cluster of towerblocks in Dubai has spawned a number of other clusters - including one at Jebel Ali Marina not far away. Steve tells me that none of these tower blocks there would have been even thought of in 2004. Slowly more and more of the sandy scrub is being covered with concrete. First a yellow crane sprouts from the ground, followed quickly by grey contructions which are finally glazed to produce yet more offices, apartments and hotels. If you think there is a lot of building going on in Sheffield, you ain't seen nothing!
We drove past the massive Burj Dubai, which is, for now, the tallest building in the world. It is in various stages of contruction, looking almost ready at the bottom, but with cranes still working at the top. I muttered cynically to Steve that it was a modern day tower of babel, and he went on to say that it was just for show as the saleable space does not match the huge construction costs - imagine the problems of pumping concrete over 600 m up in the air - that's not far short of half a mile straight up! I have to say, though, the more I looked at the tower, the more impress I became.
I have a spacious room in the church flat with efficient air conditioning and I am gradually getting used to the shock of the heat hitting me when I step outside. The church building is about six year old and is a very international place. This evening I can hear a very livley Indian service gettting going in the room next door, they are singing worship songs in English with a loud band and even louder worship leader who are equipped with a massive PA system (for a room no larger than our Old Vestry).
You can visit the church web site by clicking on: http://www.christchurchjebelali.org/index.html
You will see a number of pictures of Steve (and he did look even more like Jesus when he wore his hair long!) of the church. Just look at the number of congregations listed!
I have met three people from Russia, a Philippeano pastor and his wife (who are staying in the room next to mine) and seen many people from Asia and the far East.
Tomorrow, Friday, is the big day for worship. Being the Muslim holy day, the weekend here is usually Friday and Saturday. Steve will have his main services tomorrow, with a smaller one on Sunday evening.
Steve has also found me a car to borrow! And not just any car - its a Volvo S 40! I think it might be the same as Graham Blakey's. So I will be getting out and about once I have bought a map to help me navigate the nightmare road system.
The church is in a cluster of places of worship for other religions (than Islam) - most of which are churches. They sits beside a walled complex of homes for the wealthy ex-patriates, which is where Steve lives. There are a number of British living there, but also people from all over the world. On the other side of the churches are labour camps. These are fenced groups of portacabins for the labourers to live in - most of whom come from India. The contrast between rich and poor is very stark.
This afternoon I visited the rich. Steve invited me to swim in the pool in their complex (and admitted that this would ensure I gave him a lift round to his house! - it is often too hot to walk very far). It was amazing to dive into warm water in an open air pool, and glorious to swim looking up into a blue sky dotted with light cloud. The sun had by then sunk beneath a larger bank of cloud on the horizon, so I asked if that meant the weather might change. "Well," said Steve, "that means it will be hot and sunny tomorrow!". A pretty safe bet!! It did rain a bit last winter but some years it doesn't rain at all. The major change is the amount of dust in the air, which usually softens the full blast of the sun.
After a very muted sermon (last night the preacher was much more vocal) the service is coming to it's last songs - lively again. I am not sure if they are singing in tongues, or if that is their native language. Anyway they will be finishing by 10.30, according to the caretaker, which is in about 20 minutes. It is very dark outside now, but will still be warmer out there than in here - and I am warm enough as it is!
The church wireless network does not seem to connect fully to my computer, so I am having to borrow a machine in the church office (one of three!), so you may not get posts very often, but I will try to take my camera with me tomorrow, so that you can see what it is like out here!
The spell checker does not seem to be working today, so appologies!
Best wishes
The journey went really well. I set off from a very wet Sheffield station soon after three on Tuesday afternoon and enjoyed the views of the Peak District as I sped through Hope and Edale valleys. The trees were amazing, bursting into a profusion of greens as the English spring worked it's magic yet again. Being an English spring the views were set against leaden and angry skies which doused us a number of times before we got to Mancester Airport.
I had plenty of time to check in then wait around for my flight to be called. It was a relatively small plane to Paris, where I had an hour to change to a much larger one to Dubai. I just love flying, so I had secured a window seat to take it all in. The surge of power as the engines catapault you down the runway it so exhilarating, and the views of Manchester were good. We then broke through the clouds and entered the soft evening sunshine which reached orange across the billowing cloud-fields!
We were soon on our way down to Paris where the towns lay as clusters of jewels picked out in sodium street lighting. It was an eiry experience walking through the corridors of the, by then, deserted airport as I trecked from one terminal to another - hoping that I was going in the right direction - Charles de Gaulle is huge! When I arrived at section 2F, I was unerved by an entrance sign which said 'staff only'. Clearly this was a notice that the French knew to ignore (or more likely would not even notice!!).
We set off around 11.30 French time and the seven hour flight did not drag too much. I watched a film, listened to music, saw the sun rise about 4.00 am and even slept a little because breakfast was suddenly in front of me at around five - and I was hugry and pleased to eat! We touched down at 6, but this was really 8 Dubia time, and your body soon gets used to it being daytime again.
Steve ferried me the twenty or so miles from the airport past Dubai city to thier home near Jebel Ali. In the four years since I was here last, the place has grown enormously. The cluster of towerblocks in Dubai has spawned a number of other clusters - including one at Jebel Ali Marina not far away. Steve tells me that none of these tower blocks there would have been even thought of in 2004. Slowly more and more of the sandy scrub is being covered with concrete. First a yellow crane sprouts from the ground, followed quickly by grey contructions which are finally glazed to produce yet more offices, apartments and hotels. If you think there is a lot of building going on in Sheffield, you ain't seen nothing!
We drove past the massive Burj Dubai, which is, for now, the tallest building in the world. It is in various stages of contruction, looking almost ready at the bottom, but with cranes still working at the top. I muttered cynically to Steve that it was a modern day tower of babel, and he went on to say that it was just for show as the saleable space does not match the huge construction costs - imagine the problems of pumping concrete over 600 m up in the air - that's not far short of half a mile straight up! I have to say, though, the more I looked at the tower, the more impress I became.
I have a spacious room in the church flat with efficient air conditioning and I am gradually getting used to the shock of the heat hitting me when I step outside. The church building is about six year old and is a very international place. This evening I can hear a very livley Indian service gettting going in the room next door, they are singing worship songs in English with a loud band and even louder worship leader who are equipped with a massive PA system (for a room no larger than our Old Vestry).
You can visit the church web site by clicking on: http://www.christchurchjebelali.org/index.html
You will see a number of pictures of Steve (and he did look even more like Jesus when he wore his hair long!) of the church. Just look at the number of congregations listed!
I have met three people from Russia, a Philippeano pastor and his wife (who are staying in the room next to mine) and seen many people from Asia and the far East.
Tomorrow, Friday, is the big day for worship. Being the Muslim holy day, the weekend here is usually Friday and Saturday. Steve will have his main services tomorrow, with a smaller one on Sunday evening.
Steve has also found me a car to borrow! And not just any car - its a Volvo S 40! I think it might be the same as Graham Blakey's. So I will be getting out and about once I have bought a map to help me navigate the nightmare road system.
The church is in a cluster of places of worship for other religions (than Islam) - most of which are churches. They sits beside a walled complex of homes for the wealthy ex-patriates, which is where Steve lives. There are a number of British living there, but also people from all over the world. On the other side of the churches are labour camps. These are fenced groups of portacabins for the labourers to live in - most of whom come from India. The contrast between rich and poor is very stark.
This afternoon I visited the rich. Steve invited me to swim in the pool in their complex (and admitted that this would ensure I gave him a lift round to his house! - it is often too hot to walk very far). It was amazing to dive into warm water in an open air pool, and glorious to swim looking up into a blue sky dotted with light cloud. The sun had by then sunk beneath a larger bank of cloud on the horizon, so I asked if that meant the weather might change. "Well," said Steve, "that means it will be hot and sunny tomorrow!". A pretty safe bet!! It did rain a bit last winter but some years it doesn't rain at all. The major change is the amount of dust in the air, which usually softens the full blast of the sun.
After a very muted sermon (last night the preacher was much more vocal) the service is coming to it's last songs - lively again. I am not sure if they are singing in tongues, or if that is their native language. Anyway they will be finishing by 10.30, according to the caretaker, which is in about 20 minutes. It is very dark outside now, but will still be warmer out there than in here - and I am warm enough as it is!
The church wireless network does not seem to connect fully to my computer, so I am having to borrow a machine in the church office (one of three!), so you may not get posts very often, but I will try to take my camera with me tomorrow, so that you can see what it is like out here!
The spell checker does not seem to be working today, so appologies!
Best wishes
Monday, 28 April 2008
Sunday 27th April
Today (Monday) has been rather stressful! Getting the packing finished for my trip to Dubai was one things, but having problems with my computer was quite another! However, I am still very excited about the trip. Last week, my friend Steve mailed me to say that there might be a car I can borrow while i am out there - which would mean I can drive inland to the mountains. I have been looking at them on Google Earth - they are impressive, as are the huge dunes East of Dubai.
Christ Church Stannington
I really enjoyed my visit to this church, where Philip, my spiritual director is vicar. I was amongst a congregation of around 80 people with a good range of ages. Some songs were led by a worship group - electric piano and guitars - and the rest by the organ.
At the beginning we had a lovely little liturgy which involved the children. We reflected on God's light and a child lit the candles, the bible and bible was brought forward, finally the cross and the cross was brought forward. Philip welcomed us and said that if we were worshiping with flags we had to stand away from other people - sure enough a number of people and most of the children waves large flags as we sang the first song! There about a dozen children present, who then went out to their classes.
The form of Communion service was very much like ours at St Paul's, apart from the confession prayer which came later in the service - after the prayers - and this worked really well. Philip has a delightfully relaxed manner, drawing us into a meeting with God, and getting on with what was important - I noticed that he took quite a bit of time to pray during the hymn before he preached - leaving us to do the singing!
The sermon was about the lack of love in our world today. We focus on comfort and achievement, but are losing the art of loving people - and this causes so much heart ache. The reading promised that God will love us when we love Jesus - so lets get on and do that. Philip spoke from his own experiences and told us a lovely story of God's love in action and then challenged us to find ways to loving Jesus by making his love known.
I went this week in the month as I know they had laying on of hands and prayer for healing. This worked very naturally. As we came up for Communion we went one side just for bread and wine, and the other for bread, wine and prayer! It was so easy to receive this brief but meaningful prayer and lots of people took the opportunity. Pairs of people (including Philip) did the praying for people - without asking the specific need, so you didn't have to say anything. Though you could go into the vestry for more prayer after the service if you wanted.
The church building was reordered about ten years ago and has a good sense of space and the congregation gathering for worship around the (rounded) dais. After the service we went over the road for coffee in the church hall. It was a shame it was raining, but next week I will probably be longing for shade - it is hot and sunny every day in Dubai!
The next post will be from Dubai - I hope! It depends a little on the computer working properly!!
Christ Church Stannington
I really enjoyed my visit to this church, where Philip, my spiritual director is vicar. I was amongst a congregation of around 80 people with a good range of ages. Some songs were led by a worship group - electric piano and guitars - and the rest by the organ.
At the beginning we had a lovely little liturgy which involved the children. We reflected on God's light and a child lit the candles, the bible and bible was brought forward, finally the cross and the cross was brought forward. Philip welcomed us and said that if we were worshiping with flags we had to stand away from other people - sure enough a number of people and most of the children waves large flags as we sang the first song! There about a dozen children present, who then went out to their classes.
The form of Communion service was very much like ours at St Paul's, apart from the confession prayer which came later in the service - after the prayers - and this worked really well. Philip has a delightfully relaxed manner, drawing us into a meeting with God, and getting on with what was important - I noticed that he took quite a bit of time to pray during the hymn before he preached - leaving us to do the singing!
The sermon was about the lack of love in our world today. We focus on comfort and achievement, but are losing the art of loving people - and this causes so much heart ache. The reading promised that God will love us when we love Jesus - so lets get on and do that. Philip spoke from his own experiences and told us a lovely story of God's love in action and then challenged us to find ways to loving Jesus by making his love known.
I went this week in the month as I know they had laying on of hands and prayer for healing. This worked very naturally. As we came up for Communion we went one side just for bread and wine, and the other for bread, wine and prayer! It was so easy to receive this brief but meaningful prayer and lots of people took the opportunity. Pairs of people (including Philip) did the praying for people - without asking the specific need, so you didn't have to say anything. Though you could go into the vestry for more prayer after the service if you wanted.
The church building was reordered about ten years ago and has a good sense of space and the congregation gathering for worship around the (rounded) dais. After the service we went over the road for coffee in the church hall. It was a shame it was raining, but next week I will probably be longing for shade - it is hot and sunny every day in Dubai!
The next post will be from Dubai - I hope! It depends a little on the computer working properly!!
Tuesday, 22 April 2008
Sunday 21st April
Holy Trinity Millhouses and St Oswald Millhouses
Last Sunday was not brilliant one for my church attendance! I had something else to do in the morning, so tried to go to a reflective service in the evening - advertised on the church's web page - but it was obviously not happening - the doors were locked!
So today I joined the morning congregation at Holy Trinity Millhouses. There was a good number present - over 80 I counted. Mainly elderly, but a good few young families and children. It was a traditional communion service following common worship. We sang gently the hymns and choral parts of the service, led by the organ, with a good sound coming from the male dominated robed choir . In fact there were a good proportion of men all around!
Worship was led by the vicar Peter Ingram and his curate Sarah Hills and a speaker from the Children's Society preached. I know one or two people who go to Holy Trinity, so it was nice to be welcomed by them. Peter and Sarah have great personal warmth which lighten the formality of the worship and give a good welcoming atmosphere.
This was traditional Anglican worship done well - evidenced by the fact that two retired Archdeacons and a retired Bishop worship here.
I was impressed by the way the children were catered for, with activities in church - permanently set up, a creche well signed and I assume Sunday School in the church hall. Peter made a point on including the children towards the end of the service.
What stays with me is the beauty to the building. The church is described as 'a gem of the arts and crafts moment'. It has graceful arches, and delightfully stained glass windows in pastel shades. Everything holds together - including some fine modern fabrics which are in keeping with the architecture.
Afterwards I was invited over for coffee in their very pleasant church hall, which is clearly used a lot during the week by parent and toddler groups who are linked with the church. There was certainly a good sense of life and confidence around the church.
In the evening I attended Reflective Space at St Oswald's - and it did happen!
About 16 of us sat in a circle of chairs in the centre of the dark building bathed in gentle light and surrounded by candles. There were more candles up by the high altar - all very grand and atmospheric. Again I wish I had taken a camera!
Our time was led by the curate Iain Lothian. He helped us think about beauty and colour, with the aim of deepening our awareness of God's beauty all around us and in everyday things. The main activity was listening to a number of pieces of music - played on the piano for us - and then thinking which colour they made us think of. We then had some readings to help us think about this colour and some things to look at set out on the circular carpet around which we sat.
Afterwards we went downstairs to the crypt for a drink and food.
The style was gentle and inclusive. Iain told me that around 40 people attend the times but not each month. Some from the congregation at St Oswald's, some from other churches and some who do not worship anywhere else. I have to say that I struggled to think of our time was worship - and maybe it was not supposed to be. It was a good space to meet with God in prayer and we were certainly encouraged to think intuitively which is one of the keys to a deeper relationship with God.
Just a note about the fact that these two neighbouring churches both has curates. This is very unusual these days!! I was struck by how much more can happen when there are additional staff, but I won't be holding my breath for a curate!
I am just a week from my trip to Dubai now and getting very excited!
Last Sunday was not brilliant one for my church attendance! I had something else to do in the morning, so tried to go to a reflective service in the evening - advertised on the church's web page - but it was obviously not happening - the doors were locked!
So today I joined the morning congregation at Holy Trinity Millhouses. There was a good number present - over 80 I counted. Mainly elderly, but a good few young families and children. It was a traditional communion service following common worship. We sang gently the hymns and choral parts of the service, led by the organ, with a good sound coming from the male dominated robed choir . In fact there were a good proportion of men all around!
Worship was led by the vicar Peter Ingram and his curate Sarah Hills and a speaker from the Children's Society preached. I know one or two people who go to Holy Trinity, so it was nice to be welcomed by them. Peter and Sarah have great personal warmth which lighten the formality of the worship and give a good welcoming atmosphere.
This was traditional Anglican worship done well - evidenced by the fact that two retired Archdeacons and a retired Bishop worship here.
I was impressed by the way the children were catered for, with activities in church - permanently set up, a creche well signed and I assume Sunday School in the church hall. Peter made a point on including the children towards the end of the service.
What stays with me is the beauty to the building. The church is described as 'a gem of the arts and crafts moment'. It has graceful arches, and delightfully stained glass windows in pastel shades. Everything holds together - including some fine modern fabrics which are in keeping with the architecture.
Afterwards I was invited over for coffee in their very pleasant church hall, which is clearly used a lot during the week by parent and toddler groups who are linked with the church. There was certainly a good sense of life and confidence around the church.
In the evening I attended Reflective Space at St Oswald's - and it did happen!
About 16 of us sat in a circle of chairs in the centre of the dark building bathed in gentle light and surrounded by candles. There were more candles up by the high altar - all very grand and atmospheric. Again I wish I had taken a camera!
Our time was led by the curate Iain Lothian. He helped us think about beauty and colour, with the aim of deepening our awareness of God's beauty all around us and in everyday things. The main activity was listening to a number of pieces of music - played on the piano for us - and then thinking which colour they made us think of. We then had some readings to help us think about this colour and some things to look at set out on the circular carpet around which we sat.
Afterwards we went downstairs to the crypt for a drink and food.
The style was gentle and inclusive. Iain told me that around 40 people attend the times but not each month. Some from the congregation at St Oswald's, some from other churches and some who do not worship anywhere else. I have to say that I struggled to think of our time was worship - and maybe it was not supposed to be. It was a good space to meet with God in prayer and we were certainly encouraged to think intuitively which is one of the keys to a deeper relationship with God.
Just a note about the fact that these two neighbouring churches both has curates. This is very unusual these days!! I was struck by how much more can happen when there are additional staff, but I won't be holding my breath for a curate!
I am just a week from my trip to Dubai now and getting very excited!
Sunday, 13 April 2008
This week seems to have flown by! And I am pleased to say that I do feel really detached from what is going on over the road at St Paul's.
The main event has been the sudden appearance of tree surgeons who have taken taken down two trees in the vicarage garden. The first was a sycamore which was in the way - they are not nice trees. The main problem was the great big ash tree that hung huge boughs over the gennel and was in the habit of shedding branches in storms. We have been worried about it for years, and as part our inspection this year the Diocese took the view that it was best to remove it. It turned out to be rotten inside, so this was clearly the right decision.
Our lovely beach tree remains in pride of place, and looks better, if anything, now that it is not crowded in by the other trees.
We were pleased to have the work done, but it is good to have the garden to ourselves again, and not filled with branches lying ready to be taken away. Mind you, a lot of the grass is still covered with sawdust they did not manage to scrape up, so it will be a while before it is looking as it should.
On Thursday I went over to see my spiritual director and had a chat with him about how churches have been influenced by the spirituality movement. At his church there is reflective worship each week, on a weekday evening. Sunday worship has also been influenced, with more time for silence - even if they are only very short silences in Family Worship say.
The main effect, we reflected, was freeing leaders from the curse of doing things because they 'aught to be done' . This effects different people in different ways. For some it is following the rules of the church to the letter, for others it is following the code of their particular tradition within the church.
The result of being freed is a great trust in God. Trusting God to provide for the things which need to be done, and leaving the things which are just not possible for the time being - however desirable they might be in theory. Trust is at the very heart of the Christian faith, but it is a very heard thing to achieve - worry comes so much more naturally to us!!
At the heart of the spirituality movement is a deep conviction that we are loved by God, and that this love transcends all else. Most branches of the church talk about God's love, but I am not sure that many allow it to so deeply effect them.
It is so good to have time to think, and to read up on things - I am still reading up on St John of the Cross and his dark night of the soul. It is about finding God in those difficult times in our lives - and why God allows us to go through them. Yes even finding God's loving purpose in these hard times. But more of that anon!
The main event has been the sudden appearance of tree surgeons who have taken taken down two trees in the vicarage garden. The first was a sycamore which was in the way - they are not nice trees. The main problem was the great big ash tree that hung huge boughs over the gennel and was in the habit of shedding branches in storms. We have been worried about it for years, and as part our inspection this year the Diocese took the view that it was best to remove it. It turned out to be rotten inside, so this was clearly the right decision.
Our lovely beach tree remains in pride of place, and looks better, if anything, now that it is not crowded in by the other trees.
We were pleased to have the work done, but it is good to have the garden to ourselves again, and not filled with branches lying ready to be taken away. Mind you, a lot of the grass is still covered with sawdust they did not manage to scrape up, so it will be a while before it is looking as it should.
On Thursday I went over to see my spiritual director and had a chat with him about how churches have been influenced by the spirituality movement. At his church there is reflective worship each week, on a weekday evening. Sunday worship has also been influenced, with more time for silence - even if they are only very short silences in Family Worship say.
The main effect, we reflected, was freeing leaders from the curse of doing things because they 'aught to be done' . This effects different people in different ways. For some it is following the rules of the church to the letter, for others it is following the code of their particular tradition within the church.
The result of being freed is a great trust in God. Trusting God to provide for the things which need to be done, and leaving the things which are just not possible for the time being - however desirable they might be in theory. Trust is at the very heart of the Christian faith, but it is a very heard thing to achieve - worry comes so much more naturally to us!!
At the heart of the spirituality movement is a deep conviction that we are loved by God, and that this love transcends all else. Most branches of the church talk about God's love, but I am not sure that many allow it to so deeply effect them.
It is so good to have time to think, and to read up on things - I am still reading up on St John of the Cross and his dark night of the soul. It is about finding God in those difficult times in our lives - and why God allows us to go through them. Yes even finding God's loving purpose in these hard times. But more of that anon!
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Worship at St Mary's Bramall Lane and Whirlow
Sunday 6th April - St Mary's Bramall Lane and Reflective Worship at Whirlow
It was lovely to be at St Mary's! I found myself amongst a varied congregation of over sixty people and sat next to a young man in splendid African dress. The service had a very relaxed, welcoming and had a good inclusive feel, thanks in no small part to the vicar Julian's delightful style. At first a number of people were getting things ready. The number of people present grew steadily - quite a few arriving after the official start of the service.
Our singing was lead by just two people, one with a guitar and the other who sang. This worked well, but I did think how blessed we are with so many musicians and singers at St Paul's. We sang a number of songs using the overhead projector - which always gives the challenge of getting the right verses visible at the right time, but that didn't matter as we were singing songs from the sixties and seventies which people knew well.
Michael Jarratt, a retired vicar, preached a lovely sermon, short, direct and with a very personal feel. He was saying that after Jesus rose from the dead his appearances where specific to people needs who he met, and how we too can meet Jesus in our times of need.
There were lots of children at St Mary's! They stayed with us for the first few songs, and then went out to their classes, returning for a blessing at communion.
The notice sheet was attractive and informative - spread over two sides of an A4 sheet.
The words of the service were in a custom made booklet (like ours) and were used very sparingly, creatively and with a lot of opportunity for us, the congregation, to join in.
The church has chairs arranged like ours and the altar was brought near us for communion. I was impressed that Julian was not at the front on the dais all the time, but moved around us in the service leading from different places. (I wondered if I get a bit tied to my chair at the front.)
It was a really encouraging way to begin my worship away from home!
There is reflective worship in the chapel at Whirlow on the first Sunday of each month at 7.00 pm. There were not that many of us - ten of fifteen, but it had been snowing quite heavily in the previous few hours!
The worship last about forty five minutes and we were given ideas to reflect on, music to listen to and things to do in response, but most of the time we were together in silence meeting with God in our own ways.
The main theme was God call to simplicity and the way our lives become to tanged with different things. We each had a ball of wool to reflect on, and there was an arrangemnt different wool and candles in the centre for us to focus on. I felt that God was saying that during may sabbatical he wanted to unravel the threads of my life, so that some flaws in the pattern could be restored. I wanted this to happen, so I unraveled my ball of wool for a while, and then bound it up tidily at the end - in fervent hope...!!!
I came away partly thinking 'well that wasn't much of a service' and partly realizing that in the silence far more profound things had taken place inside me than would usually happen in a service of worship.
More reflections soon - I have been reading about 'The dark night of the soul', but I need a bit more time to think before I write about it! And I will try to remember my camera next time for a photo of the church I visit!
It was lovely to be at St Mary's! I found myself amongst a varied congregation of over sixty people and sat next to a young man in splendid African dress. The service had a very relaxed, welcoming and had a good inclusive feel, thanks in no small part to the vicar Julian's delightful style. At first a number of people were getting things ready. The number of people present grew steadily - quite a few arriving after the official start of the service.
Our singing was lead by just two people, one with a guitar and the other who sang. This worked well, but I did think how blessed we are with so many musicians and singers at St Paul's. We sang a number of songs using the overhead projector - which always gives the challenge of getting the right verses visible at the right time, but that didn't matter as we were singing songs from the sixties and seventies which people knew well.
Michael Jarratt, a retired vicar, preached a lovely sermon, short, direct and with a very personal feel. He was saying that after Jesus rose from the dead his appearances where specific to people needs who he met, and how we too can meet Jesus in our times of need.
There were lots of children at St Mary's! They stayed with us for the first few songs, and then went out to their classes, returning for a blessing at communion.
The notice sheet was attractive and informative - spread over two sides of an A4 sheet.
The words of the service were in a custom made booklet (like ours) and were used very sparingly, creatively and with a lot of opportunity for us, the congregation, to join in.
The church has chairs arranged like ours and the altar was brought near us for communion. I was impressed that Julian was not at the front on the dais all the time, but moved around us in the service leading from different places. (I wondered if I get a bit tied to my chair at the front.)
It was a really encouraging way to begin my worship away from home!
There is reflective worship in the chapel at Whirlow on the first Sunday of each month at 7.00 pm. There were not that many of us - ten of fifteen, but it had been snowing quite heavily in the previous few hours!
The worship last about forty five minutes and we were given ideas to reflect on, music to listen to and things to do in response, but most of the time we were together in silence meeting with God in our own ways.
The main theme was God call to simplicity and the way our lives become to tanged with different things. We each had a ball of wool to reflect on, and there was an arrangemnt different wool and candles in the centre for us to focus on. I felt that God was saying that during may sabbatical he wanted to unravel the threads of my life, so that some flaws in the pattern could be restored. I wanted this to happen, so I unraveled my ball of wool for a while, and then bound it up tidily at the end - in fervent hope...!!!
I came away partly thinking 'well that wasn't much of a service' and partly realizing that in the silence far more profound things had taken place inside me than would usually happen in a service of worship.
More reflections soon - I have been reading about 'The dark night of the soul', but I need a bit more time to think before I write about it! And I will try to remember my camera next time for a photo of the church I visit!
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Day 1
Just thought I should mark the day with a post!
My last official engagement at St Paul's was leading Tuesday Communion - and I was really pleased to be there! I spoke about doubts being like worm casts, a sign of something deeper and sometimes far more significant inside us - but I won't repeat the whole lot now.
Ann took a picture of my in my clerical clothes (dog clothes, as we call them - like the collar!!). Just so I can remember what I am supposed to look like! I will have a go at posting it up here.
We all had lunch with my parents, which was a lovely gathering, before James goes off to Cornwall in the next few days on his way back to university.
My great achievement was to book my flights to Dubai - on line! I could even book my seats and managed to get a window seat on the port side so that I can see the sun rise as we fly. I set off on Tuesday afternoon 29th April, arriving in Dubai at 8.00am the next morning. I return on Tuesday 13th May - a day flight this time, so better views.
I just love flying!
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Less than a week away now. I thought I should put up another post, so that if anyone does try it , there will be something to see!!
I am so much looking forward to the 'space', though a bit fearful too - that there might be just too much space!! I think I will have to have a list to tasks to do, just to keep me sane! There is a bit of church work to finish off, but the list is doing down nicely.
I have a meeting with Nick Helm next week, he will give me a list to churches to begin to visit, so that will feel like a start. I can also take the plunge and book the flight to Dubai and Nice.
But I do want to be at home for quite a bit of time, to be around for Ann and Clare. I might even do a bit of decorating! Though my aim will be to do it gently - I enjoy decorating, when I get round to it, but I can get a bit taken over by it.
I am so much looking forward to the 'space', though a bit fearful too - that there might be just too much space!! I think I will have to have a list to tasks to do, just to keep me sane! There is a bit of church work to finish off, but the list is doing down nicely.
I have a meeting with Nick Helm next week, he will give me a list to churches to begin to visit, so that will feel like a start. I can also take the plunge and book the flight to Dubai and Nice.
But I do want to be at home for quite a bit of time, to be around for Ann and Clare. I might even do a bit of decorating! Though my aim will be to do it gently - I enjoy decorating, when I get round to it, but I can get a bit taken over by it.
Friday, 25 January 2008
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