Way back, in 2009. my name was sent to three Baptist churches in Scotland, each of whom was, in theory at least, willing to call a woman minister.  The one pictured here (I stole the image from their website) discerned that they needed a youth worker instead, so withdrew their invitation.

Way back in 2009. on the 26th April, I preached for the very first time in Glasgow.  It was the start of an adventure that lasted near enough a quarter of my lifetime, and that has helped shape my to the person I now am.

This year on 26th April, after I preach in Railway Town, I'll travel the Aberdeen church for the second time ever, and for the second time it's for the funeral of someone whose story interconnects with my own.  It was quite sobering thinking of who was there then, and won't be now.

It's a long and beautiful train ride, and I have a lot of work that I need to complete as I travel, but I am grateful to be able to say farewell to the women who was my Pastoral Supervisor and who encouraged me to train as one. 

This week we were interviewing some prospective ministerial students - something I've been part of for many a long year, way before I ever considered a job with the college.

The photo is breakfast (and probably why I have gained so much weight) yesterday.

It's always a huge privilege to hear people's stories, to explore their sense of call, and to discern together what God just might be saying.

We do it all again (we hope) in June with another group of people, which is exciting and privileged.  And so good for Baptist churches that there are people hearing and responding to God's call to serve in this way.

This is the latest in my endlessly growing collection of bright pink tee-shirts - a reflection of charities merging, changing their logos and updating their slogans.  I have a drawer full of such tee-shirts collected over fifteen years or thereabouts (with other charity tee-shirts as well).

Opting for a pretty simple sponsored event, committing to walk 100 miles in May (hoping to do around 250), share some stories and raise awareness and funds.  Look out for regular updates once May begins...

Sponsor link here if anyone feels they'd like to donate (but please don't feel obliged)

This week, our service reflected on the stories of the disciples hiding away in rooms with barred doors - with a slight detour into the second ending of John's gospel, which we'd looked at on Easter Sunday. 

We noted that Thomas simply said the things and asked the asked the questions no-one else was brave/daft enough to voice (noting that we don't speak about Doubting Peter even though he clearly didn't believe the testimony of the women).  We thought about the place of questions, about the fears that stop us being more bold, and touched very briefly on persecution and religious freedom.

For our intercessory prayers, people were invited to write/draw/symbolise their prayers based on prompts by me.  We then folded the papers so that the prayers were hidden inside, and did some very simple origami to make 'houses'.  These houses of prayer were then brought together to build a village of prayer.

It all went well, with high levels of participation.  A simple activity, but one worth keeping in mind for a future occasion.      

A lot of my reading happens on trains... this book arrived yesterday, which I have been asked to review.  So far, it's very accessible and interesting.  A lot of practical stuff I have known for a very long time, but some nuance that's worth being aware of.