In the days when I was at university in London - a very long time ago now - the Fresher's event at my college was called the Freshers' Squash or more usually the Squashers' Fresh.  Today we had a brief after service meeting to talk about our student welcome event, to which I expected about half a dozen stalwarts to turn up.  In the end there were around 20 of us squashed in the church lounge, some on chairs, some on cushions, some standing... it was a proper studenty meeting.  And it was exciting, no, it was EXCITING.  Exciting because almost all our overseas students stayed to share and brought ideas of what they thought would be helpful and valuable.  Exciting because our home undergrads and post grads joined in.  Exciting because the oldest person involved was over ninety.  Exciting because it had energy and humour and drive

So...

On Saturday 18th September at the Gathering Place will be a drop in traditional British afternoon tea for any students who care to come along from University of Glasgow, Glasgow Caledonian University and Strathclyde University.  If you are reading this and know someone who ticks any of these boxes - fresher, returner, post-grad, under-grad - please tell them to get in touch with us cos we'd love to serve you our.... wait for it.....

Fairtrade, Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten free/Nut free*/meat-lovers/diabetic friendly/you-name-it-we'll-try-to-accommodate-it tea.

And it will be served on lovely three-tier cake stands to boot.  A free gift bag for students who turn up and maybe even a church mug...

*Freedom from nuts refers only the edible variety.... we'll be there after all.

This year it is seven years since my ordination - an anniversary I will be celebrating on 6th December.  I think the reason I've being recalling that is that most of my peers settled earlier than I did and had their ordinations between June and September; now most are beginning their sabbaticals.  For various valid reasons I will be deferring mine, not least because I will only have been in Glasgow just over a year when its earliest start date (1st January 2011) arrives.  Even so, as I pondered I found myself reminded of the pop song I used to frame my 'call story' in that service (see, I was a heretic even then!) and marvelling how parts of it have again and again proved to be pertinenet at times along the way.  I was a 'late settler' and the much loved little fellowship I served certainly had its struggles and dark days whilst I was with them, but, God (sometimes the 'me' and sometimes the 'you' as I read the song; such mixing of voice is OK it matches some of the psalms!!) was with us in it all.

Of course God speaks in Scripture, in whispers, in signs and in wonders... but for me its usually most clearly in 'things that make you go, hmmm' ...

When you're close to tears remember
Some day it'll all be over
One day we're gonna get so high
And though it's darker than December
What's ahead is a different colour
One day we're gonna get so high

And at
The end of the day
remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through the night
The end of the day
remember the way
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and you

'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high in the sky of love

Don't you think it's time you started
Doing what we always wanted
One day we're gonna get so high
'Cause even the impossible
is easy when we got each other
One day 'we're gonna get so high

And at
The end of the day
remember the days
when we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through the night
The end of the day
remember the way
We stayed so close to till the end
We'll remember it was me and you.

'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high in the sky of love (x2)


High, high, high, high.(x2)

And at
The end of the day
remember the days
when we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through the night
The end of the day
remember the way
We stayed so close to till the end
We'll remember it was me and you.

'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high in the sky of love (x3)

Lyrics: Tucker, source: here

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:30-31a)