College life is very full... lots of words, lots of ideas, lots of doing. Yesterday our Baptist MiTs and Interns led a short, reflective act of worship themed for Candlemas (script partly borrowed from the NAMs!) which offered a space to slow down, to be still, to be...
I was mildly amused to realise that there are people who have never used a hymnbook before coming to college! It shouldn't surprise me because I haven't been in a church that uses them for over a decade, but even so...
It was much needed, and much appreciated by all who took part. Thank you to C, D, J, E.
It's an old photo (the last time I visited Glasgow this signage had been removed and the building looked incredibly forlorn) and a great message... it really is the people who make Glasgow, just as it is the people who are a church (pace building lovers with place attachment).
Yesterday came the good news that The Gathering Place has called a new minister to journey with them into the future. I am glad... glad for her, glad for them, and glad for Glasgow.
My prayers for them are simply that they will know joy, love and flourishing in the living out of their faith in this place at this time.
My Vicar School role is very full, and sometimes very full-on. It can be simultaneously energising and exhausting, fulfilling and frustrating, and a whole lot more words that don't fit neat alliterative pairing!
This week was especially special, and in the words of a former Regional Minister, 'if you were religious, you might think God had something to do with it'. Students led our shorter prayer times with gentleness and sensitivity, our guest speaker helped us reflect thoughtfully on 'vision and change', NAM-led workshops/talks were superb, and our co-created act of worship inspired by the festival of Candlemas that ends the Epiphany season (with a few thoughts around wintering, and the ancient pre-Christian festival of Imbolc,) was simply incredible.
We may not have the largest number of NAMs of any Baptist college, but we have those with the biggest hearts and some of the keenest minds. That one NAM at their last conference before full accreditation said 'I don't want to leave' says something profound and important about this place.
We didn't use the Nunc Dimittis, but I think we caught its essence. Here is a version (apologies for any weird adverts that pop up) that is rather lovely imo.
Yesterday afternoon, a very dark, dreich one at that, around fifty of us gathered for a Taize style service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It was lovely... gentle, low lighting, harmonies and cantor for the chants, and the opportunity to light candles as a symbol of unity. By the time the service ended, and I was able to snatch a photo, the candles had almost burned down, a flaming mass of candle wax that could equally have symbolised Pentecost. It was a lovely occasion, and really did offer light in the darkness.
Here is one of the Prayers from the CTBI material that accompanies the week...
Lord Jesus Christ, You bring us together in all our diversity, as family and church. In the face of so many situations on earth, where hope has given way to despair and hearts are wounded and emptied by disappointment, renew our strength and unify us. Help us to share Your hope wherever we find ourselves. You are the true Light, who casts out the darkness of sin, despair and brokenness, who shines into our hearts, releasing the joy and the true hope of Your eternal love for all. Amen.
A full day, with eight participants and me facilitating as we scratched the surface of thinking about leading public worship. A great group of people, some of whom have lots of worship leading experience, and others for whom it is all new. Some good conversations and gracious engagement. Someone said that they had found it useful, and I'll take that... if someone felt a bit more confident or encouraged in what they already do, that's a 'win' in my book.
It's been a crazily busy couple of weeks (hence absence of blogging) and it's unlikely to let up in the next little while. Today was a good - if fairly long and very full day... and one that feels as if it was time well spent.
