Hurrah!  I have completed my essay.  It isn't a piece of work I'm especially proud of - the haste of researching and writing (25 hours or so including the tidying up) is self evident - and I sincerely hope I haven't left in any howling typos.  Anyway, it is done and it pretty much covers the required ground so it will have to do.  In order for it to arrive by post by the deadline I have to send it tomorrow.  Just so long as I pass and am thrice-qualified in this particular field I'll be happy.

Whether this qualifiation justifies the better part of 100 hours it has taken to put together the assignments is debateable.  Anyway hopefully a few donuts sent in a certain direction may help...

Time to celebrate with chocolate methinks.

I decided I needed a blog break because this morning was singularly hectic and utterly unproductive.

Then I decided that actually this morning would make an ideal Work Based Learning (WBL) opportunity for someone being formed for pastoral ministry.  Never mind 'I want to learn about preaching' or admin, or pastoral care or anything on the list of core competencies, more along the lines of 'things they don't teach you at college' (of which my friends and I already have an enormous list).  It was fine, nothing that couldn't be done, and it did include pastoral care and admin along the way.  Just didn't do anything I'd planned or anything that was urgent (so why you wonder am I taking five just now); that seems to me to be an important experience for any would-be minister even if it can't be conjured ex nihilo for a placement.

Hurrah for Amazon MP3 downloads; hurrah for email, hurrah that the church phone can only receive one call at a time!!

Now, back to work and finishing that pesky essay.

If you want a chuckle, follow this link

HT Neil/Tim and others

(Essay progressing slowly - just spent an hour tracking down a reference on online!)

Busy week in prospect... an essay to write from scratch and submit by Monday* (not the way I like to work... had hoped to write it on the train last week but the editting job took sooo much time it didn't happen).  Also pastoral care needs are currnently high (like 4 hours of hospital visiting one day last week).  Hence less twaddle writing.  Sorry 'bout that but the day job beckons!

* I am so glad I was introduced to Endnote referencing software having seen how much tweaking people end up doing otherwise.  Even so, it'll be tight to get a half-respectable essay done.

Now I am off to 'be' the BUS at a reception for the Moderator of the Church of Scotland (in Glasgow) ... as one does.

Yesterday I was out with the walking group, and was asked to lead communion on a hillside.  It was with some trepidation that agreed - many folk have precious memories of one of my predecessors doing so, what if I mucked it all up?

A lovely spot was chosen, just beyond the head of a reservoir near Dollar Glen.  A memorial cairn acted as a communion table, and my plastic picnic goblet and plate served as chalice and paten.  Around twenty of us gathered in a beautiful spot, broke bread, shared 'wine' and remembered the mystery of a God who would destroy death through death itself.

A special moment.  A couple of people commented they'd found it meaningful, one being especially struck by me tearing and scattering the left over bread for the birds.  As John 3:16 says 'God so loved the cosmos....' it is fitting that the birds are included in the remembering.

Photo (c) Ken Fisher

PS I'm grateful to the Gideon's for my 34 year old New Testament which was ideal size to fit my pocket!