Glen is my line manager in my new role, a wise and thoughtful person, a good theologian and a caring pastor.  Here he shares the story of his journey to becoming an Affirming Baptist...

https://www.facebook.com/AffirmingBaptistsTogether/videos/1616435605550398

My own story is not very different, except it probably took longer in my case (I'd say it was about 13 - 14 years ago I reached an affirming standpoint).  On another day, I will share my story - not delaying for any other reason than I want you to hear Glen's story 'stand alone'

Like many Christians, I have failed our LGBTQ+ siblings, and have much of which to repent.  I am grateful for the gracious LGBTQ+ people who have stuck with the church, and stayed in relationship with me as I travelled along this path.

This morning I was received into Membership at Railway Town Baptist Church - it was very moving, especially being on the 'other end' of words I have led so many times over the years.

The service seemed to go well - people were very kind in their comments, and no-one seemed to object to the service lasting 1.25 hours including Communion.  The musicians did a great job with a blend of live and recorded music, so all was well.

When we were locking up, we discovered we were inside a police cordon, with a fire engine parked right outside our gate.  A partial building collapse had occurred opposite us (probably only a chimney, and no casualties,thankfully).  Hopefully my preaching didn't actually bring the house down! 

Tomorrow will be my first preach for six weeks.

Tomorrow will be my first preach with my new congregation.

Tomorrow will be the first time in three and a half years since I preached without using Zoom (so my first non-streamed service in that time).

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Tomorrow I will be welcomed into Covenanted Membership

Tomorrow I will preside at Communion

Tomorrow I will do what I have been doing for half my adult life

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Tomorrow I will preach in the sanctuary of a church I serve for the first time since 2004!

Tomorrow I will preach in the building of a church I serve for the first time since 2016!

Tomorrow I will preach from a lectern on a platform, and thankfully not from a pulpit...

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Tomorrow I will preach... 

New home, new to me oven... new church, new relationships to build... so cake had to be made.

It was a challenge - the oven is extremely fierce  and the new non-stick cakes tins weren't.  But after I had cut off the charcoal, sandwiched it with srawberry jam, smothered it in cream and topped with strawberries, the cake looked okay.

As it turned out, it tasted better than okay, and today's visitors ate half of it, along with some Tunnock's wafers and some fruit cake.

Hospitality isn't about perfect baking, it's about opening homes and hearts  - certainly this is just as well when using a 'new' oven!  It went well, even if relatively small numbers came to visit... I need to ponder some of that... but it was good to open my new home to new people, and to let them eat cake!

In 2007 I walked Hadrian's Wall with my good friend Jean.  We had a great time, an undoubtedly enjoyed passing through Sycamore Gap, as well as visiting various other famous landmarks.  I was really sad today to read the news that someone has cut down the sycamore - why? And even more sad that it was someone so young.

Anyway, here's what I wrote on this blog all those years ago... I was a lot more erudite back then!