What does a minister do on Saturday evening?  Some, I am told, write their sermons (if I don't have a draft by Wednesday I'm anxious!).  Some collate topics for intercessory prayer (I tend to check the news Sunday morning and tweak what I've already prepared if needed).  Some go out!  Usually I do the ironing - but this time it was way too hot.  Tonight I did proptypes for tomorrow's craft activities... and here they are:

Given our theme of stories Jesus told about plants, it seemed appropriate to use seeds and pulses (all from my store cupboard and all past their use by date!) to make photo frames and cards.  Hopefully there will be some children to make them...

Eagle-eyed readers may recognise the photo of the Gatherers (taken about 3 years ago) which I printed off to put in my frame.

So, this afternoon I am in the local stationery shop looking for PVA glue which I need for tomorrow's craft activity.  There is also a family in there - Mum, son (about age 7) and daughter (about age 3).  The little girl started following me around the shop and chatting to me.  Eventually her brother came to find her.  As she wandered back to her mother she said, in a clear, loud voice, "I was helping man find glue."

I know I still have very short hair, but I have clearly got a female form and was wearing a cream sports top with a pink and purple floral design on it, to say nothing of carrying a handbag.  I am still chortling to myself now.  Just better not tell my plastic surgeon, she'd be mortified!

Every now and then someone asks why I 'decided' to be a minister... and I tell them I didn't.  Indeed I never 'wanted' to be a minister, I just know, beyond anything else I've ever known, that this is my calling.

I know that in some ways I'm a hopeless heretic (but a happy one) and that I have times when spiritual is the last thing I am, let alone feel, but every now and then something reminds that 'here I am , I can do no other.'  Today is such a day.  A phone call.  An email.  A friend.  A stranger.  But in both, there is God saying 'for this I called you.'

A few intriguing little hints going on just now about some possible future thinking for research and extra-church ministry - strange where following links on websites takes you...

So, off to do what I have to be, or be what I have to do...

Last night I watched a BBC 3 biography-cum-documentary thing about a young man with terminal cancer.  It was tenderly done and, although I did find my working class origins outing themselves (he came from a privileged background which gave opportunities only money can buy), it served as a good illustration of someone living life in all its fulness.  He did seem to be a lovely, genuine and courageous person, and his family very loving and supportive.

Today Annie has her follow-up appointment at Christies - a scary prospect (thought of course she doesn't say that) as she will be making important decisions that will potentially impact both the quantity and quality of her life.  So if you're having a cup of tea then spare a thought for her, and if you do praying please give her a mention.

Another person I'm in contact with has her breast cancer surgery today and has asked me to pray for her... maybe you could too?  God knows her name and circumstances, and what she really needs is peace and reassurance.

Late (by my standards) last night Annie posted this little picture:

Strive to be happy - do star jumps?  Not with a cup of tea in my hand!  And actually, without being too indelicate, since my surgery, erm, no (one of my exercise videos has them, I tried and ...ouch).  But maybe a little bit of skipping or hopping or whirling round and round.

Have a hope-filled day, have fun, do star jumps (or equivalent), live life to the full... and have fullness of life (John 10:10 for those do chapter and verse!)  In the words of the Chris Evans' breakfast show "happy Friday everyone."

The title is probably the best bit of this post... three days into my drug experiment (read that as you will!) I have had three nights of very poor sleep and my brain is maybe not as functional as I'd like.  Anyway, today I've found a few recent (and not so recent) TV adverts going through my mind and making connections with things I've been thinking about.

The first is the current Persil 'mini miracles' series - well actually they seem to have found two ideas - which makes me smile as it echoes two of my 'stories Jesus told' all age service threads... a 30 minute herb garden (reckon I can do it in 5-10) and 30 minute bread (BUGB had this recipe almost two decades ago!) each of which I will be incorporating into upcoming services.  Gatherer's beware!

The second arises from being sent a 'sneak preview' of cancer research UK's new advert by email, reading an inpsiring blog and recalling the blood donor campaign that was aired over Christmas/new year 2010/2011.  Alice's bucket list is a gracious and mature blog being written by a 15 year-old with terminal cancer.  It reflects the confidence and uncomplication of youth, as well as courage, determination and acceptance that not everything she wants is achievable.  The second item on her list is 'to make everyone sign up to be a bone marrow donor.'  This one reminded me of the blood transfusion service advertisement - whether actors or 'real' people, I don't know (cancer research makes a point of not using actors) - in which the person told the viewer 'it is you I'm talking to'; you who should give blood now.  I'd love to play my part in fulfilling Alice's wish to get everyone to sign up - but I can't, I'm ineligible.  I'd love to respond to the blood donor advert, indeed I used to be a blood donor, but I am no longer permitted to do so.  I am currently on the organ donor register, have been for years, but now not even my corneas are safe to transplant 'just in case'.  All of which leads me to a bit of Pauline theology, 'the good I want to do I find I cannot do.'  I know he wasn't talking about this kind of thing, but it did get me thinking - there is going to be good, of all sorts, that we'd love to do but cannot for one reason or another.  I have a suspicion John Wesley had it about right when he said:

Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.

Best, I reckon not to lose sleep over the things we cannot change (I did afterall give a good body's worth of blood in my time!) and concentrate on the things where we can make a difference... which is why later on I will be heading off to buy compost and plants for Sunday!