Given the proximity of Pentecost it seemed a good word to use... it just means 'gifts' or 'graces', nothing weird and wonderful, but what today offered.

The gift of space - two long-ish train rides gave me time to read a whole book (not one I "should" have been reading cos I inadvertently left them at church) and part of another.

The gift of a beautiful book that gave me those all important 'what, you too' moments as I read it.  Renita Weems is a black American Pentecostal-cum-Methodist minister married to a Baptists whose vocation is as a Biblical scholar and a mother (not necessarily in that order).  Listening for God is an incredibly honest book about coming to terms with the challenges of being a Christian and a Theologian, of learning to live with a faith based not on 'feelings' or obvious answers to prayer, even of the struggles to maintain a prayer life at all when God is seemingly silent.  Published by Touchstone in 2000, this seems like it ought to be mandatory reading for all NAM-type ministers, giving them freedom to be real if only with themselves and with God.  Thanks Jim for the recommendation.

The second book seemed less lovely to read, perhaps I was tired by then, but still worthwhile, with its affirmation of busyness as OK for Christians.  You don't have to be contemplative if you aren't... sounds obvious but people need to be reminded.  Here is another woman minister-cum-theologian, British,  mother, married to a minister, being honest about the struggles of ministerial self-care.  Busy Christian Living by Emma Ineson (Continuum 2007) endeavours not to be a 'how to' book and not to present the sorted answers of someone who's found the path of success but an invitation to share the journey.  Not quite sure it entirely succeeds, but still very honest and quite useful.

Is it that women are a little less fearful of this kind of self-disclosure?  Don't know.

The gift of friendship as I met with women mainly from BUGB and a few from BUW (I think; Wales anyway).  The input was solid and practical, the worship creative and gentle, but it was the relational that seemed to be most valuable.  Of the 250 women ministers invited around 25 attended.  Maybe only 10% find it valuable (I suspect its nearer 25% as relatively few go every year) but it's good to know it's there.  I made a few new contacts which may prove useful, who are 'only' in Lancashire.

The gift of perspective even as we met, over in Prague a whole range of European (Baptist?) women ministers were donig something similar. We hard of one minister who had travelled from the Mongolian border in order that she could meet with other women at the five day event.  It put the four to five hours from Glasgow into perspective; it put everyone's sense of challenge or isolation or whatever in to perspective.  It also reminded us that God is calling women to service all over the globe.

The gift of hope not something I feel in short supply of, but some may well have done.  Being reassured that there are people to turn to, that the Union(s) is (are) supportive (and talking to  each other!), that the so-called kairos moment might finally be nearing (if of course that is theologically feasible; exercise to reader) and that even if God is sometimes silent, yet God's still 'speaks.'

So, a good day all in all.  Train arrived earlier than I thought so I can get to bed at a relatively sane hour... just as well as I now need the gift of sleep!

(And the time is now right on this blog platform, being ~ 22:40)

Despite what the blog clock says it is now 04:20 (for some reason the where with all to change the time has vanished, possibly as I'm too mean to pay for blog provision!)  Anyway this is me in mischief mode posting even earlier than Jim who has usually read and digested something deep and meaningful before I've even woken up. ;-)

I'd love to know how the human psyche manages to wake us up ludicrously early on days when we know we need to be out at a certain time and how on normal days we can struggle to wake up at the usual time.

Anyway, its time to sign off as the taxi will soon be here and I have tea to drink first!

Off to IMC, the BMS training facility, in Birmingham first thing tomorrow to meet with other women Baptist ministers at the annual BUGB WIM day.

First thing means first thing... taxi at 5a.m. to the railway station in order to arrive in time and I get back about 11 p.m.

So why go?

Firstly because it's good to connect with other people who understand my context of ministry... this is not women over against men, it is women being women together.  There's a difference.  It is not some kind of holy coven and we don't all think alike on anything... well except that God has called us of course.

Secondly both BUGB and The Gatherers have very graciously allowed me to.  Maybe this should be number one really.  It is important.  For important theological reasons, even though I could have been a BUGB minister of the dual-denominationality Gathering Place, I was transferred to BUS.  Hence I have no 'right' to go to this BUGB-accredited ministers' event (I'm not on their list anymore) and the Gatherers don't have to let me go.  So I am privileged and grateful.

Lastly maybe I will gain some new insights, seeing from a different place that (BUGB) which was once normal, being a (BUS) minority wthin a (female) minority.  One of the things that so easily happens is that we get self-obsessed and it is good to see a bigger picture.

Anyway, she says modestly, I think it's good for people to see a real live historical person!!

PS If I see God in the divine dressing gown first thing tomorrow I'll be sure to let you know.

The sun is streaming through the windows of my office, and I sweltered on the walk to work... summer must be coming.

This post is a bit of an advert really.  Advertising a couple of upcoming summery events with which we have connections.

First is the Glasgow West End Festival for which we have organised a couple of events and are hosting one or two others.  Lots of things for people of all ages and interests, so should be something fun.  I am trying to shape my services around a 'festival' theme and our choir is offering a musical midsummer communion as a evening act of worship.  There are due to be two 'Philosophy Cafes' at the Gathering Place with great speakers, but no so highbrow I won't understand it!!  Check the website and come and say hello - we'd love to see you.

Then there is SOLAS a sparkly new Christian Arts Festival for Scotland (welcoming people from Ireland, Wales and England too) which sounds great (even if it clashes date-wise with the above).  This is not just Greenbelt with a Scottish Accent, although Greenbelt is one of the partners (with Christian Aid) and there will be some similarities.  One of our folk is part of the planning team; we have made a small financial donation for this year are seriously contemplating supporting/partnering/"sainting" for next year... watch this space.

Meanwhile enjoy the sunshine

I thought I ought to post this one to balance the last one... even if both are really 'against' myself.

This morning I popped into the cafe over the road from church, the propriertors of which have just returned from a fortnight's holiday, cunningly avoiding the ash cloud by flying from Doncaster apparently.

Anyway, they said, 'oh we were talking about you while we were on holiday.'

Ulp, I thought.

'Yes, we were commenting on Leicestershire dialect and how food is called 'snap' '

To which I added, something to the effect of, 'yes, I know, and they also mash tea.  How does anyone mash tea?'

All of which made us laugh... and the other customers probably thought we were mad.  Especially those from the south of England.

Anyway, all went off alright today (even if I was glad I'd been lied to that the slot after us was taken) and I attended the purvey... which of course in Leicestershire would have probably been termed a 'buffy' (pronounced as in Vampire slayer) as the local variant of buffet (as in buffay not buff-et which is what storms do to small boats).  Silly language we use isn't it!!