Regretably, due to continued adverse weather conditions, we have taken the decision not to hold either of our services on Sunday.

We will rearrange the Baptism service as soon as we can.

I will probably post the morning service - in some form or other - on here, on the off chance anyone might want to read it!

I looked out at about 6 a.m. when I got up to feed the cats... there was no new snow, and the road is easily passable.  To my amazement there was someone running along the road, a refuse lorry backing into one of the nearby businesses and a few cars driving at normal speeds.

More recently I looked out to see the buses are running (4/4A) and there are a few more cars moving.

Still holding out on making a call for Sunday's services though note that there are no buses in some areas as yet...

May go out and do a little more snow shifting soon - some of my neighbours have cleared half the car park, and I reckon I could at least clear a narrow path to that bit!

I was meant to be leading prayers at Glasgow Uni this morning.  Due to snow, it the University is closed, so I'm staying home.

So, instead I'll do it from home!

The hymn I chose (but not the tune in CH4!)

The reading I was set:

Genesis 45: 16 - end

When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, ‘Joseph’s brothers have come’, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, “Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.” You are further charged to say, “Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” ’

 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel along the way.’

 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ He was stunned; he could not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Israel said, ‘Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.’

The thoughts I'd have 'blagged'

This is a story about reconciliation, about letting go of the past and looking forward. A story with a surprise happy ending (though of course because we know the story, there is no surprise). It's a story that can be heart-warming and encouraging, and can also be too-good-to-be-true leaving us dismayed by our own less happy stories.

On a snowy day, when our lives are disrupted by inconvenience, it is encouraging to hear good news stories of people handing out food and drink to those stranded in cars, of people taking in strangers for the night, of babies safely delivered by their fathers.  It is also sobering to hear stories of homeless people freezing to death because no shelter can be found. Perhaps the broader 'Joseph story' reminds us of both the good and ill of which people are capable, and the need choose the ways of peace, hope reconciliation and love.

The practice is then to pray for the University...

God of all times and all places, in this day when the University if closed due to bad weather, we pray firstly for the staff who have made their way into work despite the obstacles caused by the snow: may they be kept safe and warm, and return home without hindrance.

We pray for those who had expected to take exams today, or to hand in assignments, and may be anxious.  Grant them peace, a restful weekend and the assurance that all will be well.

We pray for everyone who is part of this university, cleaners, caters, security staff, estates workers, teachers, students, researchers, administrators, librarians, technicians... those we know of and those to whom we are oblivious.  Be with them and watch over them today and always. Amen

I always struggle with praying for myself or for 'my' church, it seems selfish and not quite 'right' somehow.  At the same time, when I pray for others, I always feel that in so-doing I accept the repsonsibility to act, to 'be' part of the answer rather than expecting God to magically (miraculously) fix things.

Today, I again cleared the snow from the steps and paths font and back of my 'close' and then gritted them.  The snow seems to be thawing, so my hope is that getting rid of it, and hopefully the paths drying out before sun down, we will avoid icy surfaces.  And at least I've done a little bit to help myself get out to church on Sunday, and others get out wherever they need/wish to go.

Clear roads, operating buses/trains and an open church for Sunday, please God... and I'll keep doing my little bit to help!

It snowed again - you wouldn't know I had cleared the paths yesterday, and no-one has done them yet today!

The sun is shining, and we have had no snow for a few hours now... maybe it will stay that way (no cars, buses or trains moving though).

I sent out a round robin message to church folk this morning just to check everyone was OK, and I have had some lovely replies, including people who offered to run errands for anyone who might need it, and the above photo from E who said 'me buried in the snow'.  E has a truly amazing sense of humour and is inspiring just by being who he is.

At the moment we are still hoping to go ahead with our baptism service on Sunday - if your theology allows for selfish prayers, maybe you could ask that the roads would be open and trains/buses running by then...