... and a time to every purpose under heaven.

This post is decidedly late in the day, as the news it contains has been public domain for some time now... I have been, and continue to be, super busy.

Anyway, as per the picture above, I have been appointed as the Tutor for Ministerial Formation at Northern Baptist College, in Manchester, a half-time role that I will begin in September.  I am currently in conversations about another half-time role to sit alongside it, and hope to have some news in the not too distant future.  At the moment I have no idea where my cats and I will be living in September, but I do have a sense of peace that God will sort it out - probably at the last minute.

In the meantime, I am kept busy at the Gathering Place as we prepare to go our separate ways after as near as makes no odds 14 years together (my call was June 2009, I arrived in October 2009).

I am cautiously hopeful that this blog might find new energy as a personal space for reflection once I am not looking after church social media (though I may yet have that to do in other contexts).

Life in Scotland has been good to me, and I will carry many precious memories back to England when the time comes.

The weather forecast is pretty grim - rain all day - but I have waterproofs and I'm not made of sugar!

And the 24 mile walk to raise money for Breast Cancer Now is worth getting a bit soggy!

This week a friend I made during treatment days died of secondary breast cancer.  At the time of her scecondary diagnosis, two years ago, she noted how far things had progressed since her primary diagnosis in 2011.  That's thanks to the research made possible by cancer charities.  So my walk tomorrow is dedicated to the memory of Jane, an Anglican priest, hospital chaplain and all round good egg.

If you feel so inclined, you can sponsor me here, but there is no pressure, honestly

Yesterday I was asked to represent the charity I volunteer with, Breast Cancer Now, to receive a massive £1k donation from the Clyde Valley 'Ladies of Harley' - an amazing group of women who ride big bikes!  As you can see, I am little under-dressed in my picnk tee-sirt and flowery skirt.

This rather wonderful version of 'One More Step' was used for the film 'My Old School' (which you should wacth in BBC iplayer if you can).  I love it!

The photo is me on the summit of Ben Nevis in a blizzard, September 2012.  It's the photo I chose to share this morning as part of our serivce for Transfiguration Sunday.

Eight people, including me shared stories about mountains or hills; about walks, about the struggle and exertion; about the beauty - or the enveloping clouds; about memorable moments, and much more.

It was a great way to approach the three stories of Moses on Sinai (God's presence signalled by cloud, earthquake, wind and fire), Elijah on Sinai (here called Horeb; God's presence not being signalled by cloud, earthquakes, wind or fire, but instead in silence/whisper), and Jesus, Peter, James and John on a nameless mountain/hill in Galilee or thereabouts.

Intentionally going onto the mountain... meeting God somehow or other... and having to come back down again to where life goes on.

What we do Sunday by Sunday.  And whether it's a wow-that's-awesome-moment, or whether it's a where-on-earth-are-you- God moment, it's authentic and God is there.