Yesterday was our first valedictory service since the merger... celebrating Baptist and URC participants who have completed various formational programmes and pathways.  Continuing a long-standing tradition, those on ministerial pathways were invited to choose a book that would "nourish their ministry", and which would be presented to them during the service.

I always love seeing the books people choose, and how those choices reflect who they are.  This year was no exception... including tracking down one that was out of print (hurrah for Ebay and small book sellers who have stashes of niche books) and one that was 'used very good' but turned out to be good as new.

We dined well, we worshiped well, our guest preacher was awesome, and our leavers left with smiles on their faces.  This was the first cohort I have seen go right through college, the first group of Baptists for whom I was entrusted with developing their programme, and URCs for which I shared that responsibility with a colleague... I reckon that we - and I - did okay.  Actually, we did more than okay, we did a  great job! 

Go well, leavers, and to quote one of our former Baptist Principals "preach well and keep the faith".

Last week at church I gave people the challenge of finding a way to balance a large bar of chocolate on a sheet of paper (which was not allowed to be flat on the table!) this photo was the test of my prototype with a mug of tea.  Fitting, maybe, that it was a, now very old, church mug.

The past couple of weeks have been immensely full, all of it good, all of it important - and so blogging has fallen by the wayside.

June began with a Baptism service and reception into Covenanted Membership of two new people, as well as commissioning two new Deacons.  The there was the college retreat in the Lake District closely followed by a round of interviews for prospective new ministerial students.  Today is an infant blessing... and, next week, the start of July will see a welcome to a whole family with both an infant blessing and a reception in Covenanted Membership, with, hopefully, another new Member in August.  Added to this, are the beginnings of preparations for moving, an Induction at the new church that's not Dibley but sounds similar.

It is joyfully bonkers - and the more important to find a bit of balance.

Thank you, God, that as three years in Railway Town draws to its close, there is so much hope and new potential.

There is quote from Dag Hammarskjold that I have come to value: 

“For all that has been,
Thank you.

For all that is to come,
Yes!”

Amen to that!

This morning I have written a 500 word review of a recently published book for a journal.  I am not good at writing book reviews, I tend to lack the critical edge that others have, and something deep within me doesn't want to upset the author... It's even worse when I know the person who wrote the book!  Overall, since I've started to mark essays, I think I've got a bit better at it, and did raise a few small points on this book (which really is well worth reading)

Anyway, I have written it and in some months, if it passes muster, it will get published in a journal to be read by learned people!

The key take away from the book, and from conversations with disabled people, is that you can have all the ramps, loops and policies you like, but what really matters is authentic relationship.

Today was a very full day at Railway Town Baptist Church, and we welcomed a lot of visitors for a service that included a Baptism (hence the photo above, used with permission of the person who took it), reception into Membership of two other people, and commissioning of two new Charity Trustees.

I love this photo, taken from behind the baptistry, through the cupboard that is usually filled with tables, looking underneath the pulpit and capturing the reflection of the rose window in the southern wall of the church.  There is something strangely appropriate of the way that the mundane - a cupboard - and the symbolic - a baptistry are so closely aligned... There is something beautiful in the reflection of coloured glass in water waiting to welcome a Baptism... And there is something uniquely precious about our Baptist ways of doing things. 

We had a wonderful morning which included the sharing of Communion (using a gopak table at floor level, as the baptistry is right underneath where the heavy oak communion table usually sits!) and was followed up by celebratory Colin the Caterpillar cake.

As my time here draws to a close, as I and we reflect on what we have shared together, days like today are special and important... people still want to become part of the story of Jesus-followers, people still want to the throw in their lot with local churches, and people are still willing to do the work of Charity Trustees and Deacons.  All of this brings me joy.

Sunshine... singing... strawberries... a lovely way to spend an afternoon, and a great way to raise some money for BMS World Mission..  Great to hear news from the churches' link Mission Partner, and to have a blether and a cuppa.