I am two-thirds of the way through a very hectic weekend during which I have undertaken something like 300 chair-movements so far, with the possibility of another couple of hundred tomorrow.  I have I spent three hours solid doing face painting this afternoon!  My year as chapel steward at college trained me well for the former, I feel the latter is an important core competency for Baptist ministers missing from the current list.

The wedding went well, and, compared to the host ministers anyway, I am apparently quite normal and not too scary.  When I arrived for the walk through, he asked, quite seriously, whether my theology was suuitably 'half decent' to be in his church.  Cheeky monkey.  At least, unlike his at a mere 30 years old, my denomination has a scriptural pedigree, if you contort it slightly!  Anyway, bride, bride's parents and visiting minister arranged almost 100 chairs, tidied up and even found a cloth for the scabby table before entering into the choreography of the actual service (thanks Stuart, you taught me well).  Eeyore and Pooh went down well, and most people took away their three strands of embroidery silk to plait into a keepsake/reminder to support the new couple.

Today was our Pentecost Party - at least 200 chairs shifted (not just by me I admit) along with a few dozen tables, several gazebos, 400 scones [don't talk to me about scones!!!! More another time maybe] and various other sundries.  My people worked phenomenally hard and achieved a great event.  The whole afternoon buzzed from beginning to end and people were thrilled and curious that anyone would offer them something for free!  Some tentative links made and it'd be great to write tomorrow that some of them came to our open air service - we'll see.  As people left they were asking about next year - we even had offers from some more trade stands to come along.  It could be the start of something good.  We had a rock band, called (Sex) In the Attic who'd written five new songs specially for us and generously agreed to omit the first word for fear of upsetting the old timers, over 30 girls from a dance academy, spinning, flower arranging, card making and who knows what else.  We even managed to get the local rag to come along to report and the deputy chair of the Council to drop in.  Our mission adviser told us we needed to "make Jesus public" and I think we achieved that incarnationally today.

Now, after having my lunch? tea? supper?  (What do you call your first meal since breakfast when you eat it at 7:30?) I am, as the saying goes kn*ered, but nice ministers don't use such words - though I did to one of my tea ladies, who clearly was, and she was quite relieved to answer with a smile, 'yes, completely.'