Are you old enough to recall 'management by walking about'?  It was one of those late 1980s initiatives that ran along the lines that visible managers were better managers.  Whether visible ministers are better ministers probably depends on how you define 'better' but this week is a lot of ministry by wandering about.

Today was a one-to-one in a coffee shop followed by the ladies' summer party; tomorrow is the Coffee Club (followed by sermon writing); Thursday I'm seeing my Manchester based research supervisor to explain my persistent lack of progress (train gives reading and blagging space... I actually do now have a germ of an idea for chapter 1; only two terms late...); Friday a couple of dozen of us have an outing 'doon the watter' before an evening with the new BUS Gen. Dir.; Saturday some work for next week as I'll be out for three of days; Sunday worship and West End Festival event 'lurking with intent.'  So I reckon that's a pretty 'wandering about' model of ministry one way and another.

This afternoon I have to speak at the ladies' summer party.  At least I think that's what it is, and I hope that's what it is because my level of preparation is pitifully little.  This morning I thought I'd probably go with Hebrews 11 (and I still will pretty much) and its thread of faith.  Then I happened across Nick Lear's post for today, which reminded me of a newspaper cartoon that appeared at the time of the Apollo 13 difficulties (that's the real thing, not the film - I'm just old enough to remember it) that showed the 'ghosts' of past astronauts willing on the stricken craft to return safely to earth.  The idea of the cloud of witnesses urging on the folk on earth (or orbiting it) is a good one, and one I hope will connect with the ladies before they munch too many cakes and other sugary treats.

So, read Hebrews 11 and a bit of Hebrews 12, ask people who their heroes of faith are and imagine them as part of the great cloud doing the urging.  In the words of the meerkat, simples.