This picture appeared on college social media yesterday.  I am pleased and proud to announce that, from September, I have been called to serve a congregation just two miles away from Vicar School.

This a story of a beautiful circularity and the God who weaves wonders from the threads of the ordinary.

Back in my student days we had a thing called 'College Sunday' where you would be sent off to preach at various churches who, in turn, would make a financial donation to the college.  From Wales to Yorkshire, down to the Midlands and almost up to the Borders, I preached in all sorts of places.  One of them was this church in Manchester - and I recall being terrified because not one but both of the college New Testament tutors were in membership (fortunately neither was there the week I preached!)

When I was called to my first pastorate in 'Dibley', I asked one of those tutors to 'preach me in'.  I can't recall very much of what he said, apart from that his observation that 'she's not the Messiah, she's a very naughty girl' went over the heads of most of the congregation. 

Now, I find myself working for the college that formed me, and called to serve the church with whom so many tentative links already exist.

From college in Manchester to Dibley to the Gathering Place to Railway Town and now to bi-vocational ministry in Manchester... a delightful circularity that brings me back to where it began... a lived pastoral cycle... a spiral staircase of learning and growing... lots of 'things that make you go 'hmm''... a weaving of thread into a Persian carpet... and in it all a God whose essence is unchanging even as everything continues to change.  

This morning the cats had a vet appointment for routine vaccinations and also follow up blood tests following their recent diagnoses (Sophie has hyperthyroidism, Sasha had raised inflammatory markers).  To help with stress, the vet prescribed gabapentin... Whilst Sasha was zonked, Sophie is wired and clearly has hallucinations in which she is a ballerina, and somehow turned her soft collar into a tutu!

They had to be issued with new vaccination cards, as theirs were full... in the very unlikely event that they fill these, they will be very, very old cats indeed!

A day early, since Sundays are strangely busy in this household, I ended my 'No Mow May' having not cut the grass for six to seven weeks.  I couldn't quite bring myself to mow all the buttercups (sorry landlady) and the cats are very fond of nibbling the tall grass at the front of this photo, so I left a couple of wild areas for the mini-beasts to enjoy.

I also cut my side of the hedge (local hedge trimming etiquette is very odd, in that you only seem to go 90% of the width - hopefully my neighbour will cut their 10% soon...) and replanted the pots.  A lot of weeding of paths to be done (I refuse to use nasty chemicals) but it's looking half decent.

I'm reminded of the old tale about the person out walking who paused to admire a garden, where there was a person hard at work. They commented 'you and God have done a great job'. Immediately the retort came, 'yes, but you should have seen it when God was doing it all alone...'  God and humanity in partnership, creator, creature and creation... the world could be so beautiful if only we could play our part better.

This morning I completed my personal challenge to walk 200 miles in May (I had originally hoped to do 250 but it became clear that wasn't viable so I revised it down - an average of around 7 miles a day is not too shabby)!

Massive thanks to everyone who has donated, I have raised a whopping £500 which will make a huge difference.  The challenge as a whole has evidently has nearly 7000 participants and raised almost £350,000, all with a few days still to go.

My usual end of challenge nag... whatever your sex or gender, check your bits and bobs... if something doesn't seem right, get it checked out - most likely it's nothing nasty, but it just might be, and early detection really does save lives. 

If you wish to, you can donate here but more importantly, stay safe, love deeply and laugh often.

Simply take...

49 people (someone keeps a careful count!) representing around a dozen nationalities

Add some choral music, some craft, some scripture, and some congregational singing

Sprinkle with love and creativity (thank you to G who led our service) and allow the Spirit to stir joy, laughter and hope

Then share an amazing bring and share meal spanning the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa 

And there you have it, Pentecost with the little Railway Town Baptist Church, being not quite so little (a quick tot up suggests at least a dozen regular folk absent) and enjoying being Community in Christ.