Tonight the D+2 Girls' Brigade met for the first and last time this academic year - a party to celebrate 46 years of witness and service which ended today. Around fifty folk, including the founding officers, were present for an evening of food, chat and, for the girls, games.  At the end of the evening we gave each girl an age-appropriate Bible story book; many of them asked us to sign them as a keepsake, which I found rather touching.  I returned home with arms-ful of flowers and no more vases in which to put them. Alas neither 28 years a GB leader nor Baptist ministerial training/experience have equippped me to conjure up vases ex nihilo, shocking I know, but there you have it.  Various containers have been press-ganged into service to hold the blooms overnight until I can sort out something better.

As someone for whom GB was very formative in her faith-story, I am sad that D+2 comapny has closed, though I do appreciate and understand the reasons.  I am glad that we have been able to show these girls something of God's love, which never fails, and pray that one day the seeds sown will burst forth into glorious bloom.  In the meantime, I am looking forward to getting to know Girls' Brigade Scotland, Greater Glasgow Division.

Phew!

On Thursday night this computer died - or so it seemed - all the tricks I knew for managing to get it work failed and I was left wondering how I could recover all my essential files, contacts and the like when my tame computer experts were all away for the weekend.  In one last attempt I managed to boot it into set-up mode (it had been 'hanging' at the end of the boot checks just before the 'clunk' that tells you it's going into windows (if this sounds ancient technology, it is, but at least it's user fixable!)) tabbed round the options changed nothing whatsoever, then it slowly but surely opened up windows and so far so good... not that I'll be shutting it down in a hurry!

The hope was that it would see me through my move north and give my time to decide what new hardware will best serve my needs - what can connect to my equally old but reliable and really cheap to run HP laserjet 5 A3 printer, what has enough USB ports for the umpteen things I conect (I currently have a powered 7-way USB hub!) and so on.

Anyway I now have, so far as I know, the world's only Lazarus computer, busily printing off essential documents and waiting for me to back-up (again) and copy/print absolutely everything I might possibly want, just in case...

Yesterday one of my tasks was to work on the liturgy for my final Dibley service - during which we will declare our belief that our time together is complete and release each other from the covenant we made nearly six years ago.  It took a while to find the right word to describe what it is we are declaring, but in the end 'complete' seemed the best, and today as I was mulling it over the Greek 'tetalestai' floated into my conscious.  Fulfilled, completed, accomplished, done, finished...

In my experience we aren't so good at endings, at least liturgically: we make a right song and dance over inductions (which is good, I like it and am looking forward eagerly to my next one!) but leaving tends to avoid any acknowledgement of the commitments that are now being un-done.  Once it happens, I will post my words and you can see what you think.  Thanks to Jim's comment on my previous post, I think I now have the last line sorted.

Good job we don't have a Dibley Supper Club really!

Pre-prandial

This bit is written before I go to do my pick ups, because suddenly I find myself dreading this last lunch, with its farewells and inevitable gifts ("Do you know if they have Boots the Chemist in Scotland?"(!)) and the dear, sweet, wrinklies being sad at my departure.  I'll be sad too, because they are dear and sweet.  I will miss the man with one leg, the women on their zimmers and walking sticks, the couple who won't talk to anyone and always moan, the person who complains about draughts and the couple who have been married for 70 years.

Each one will be given a fridge magnet with a paraphrase of Lamentations 3:22 - 24 "God's wonderful love never ends - each morning it is as fresh as a daisy."  I hope they can trust this promise is for them.

After lunch I will type part 2, then I'll post...

Post-Prandial

So, all wrinklies safely home in time for bingo or a nap or a nap during bingo and all was, in the words of Julian, well, and indeed all manner of things shall be well.  I was humbled by the generosity of the gift (which came in the form of those brown and purple stirling gift vouchers you can use in any shop), the flowers, chocolates and card, and by the good wishes offered by various folk.  A hug from the man with one leg, a handshake from a volunteer driver, endless wishes of 'good luck' and the assurance that if I had a free 'first Wednesday' any time they could fit me in.  But actually the greater gift is the confidence that the club is in safe hands, that the next 'Songs of Praise' is in hand, the Christmas dinner booked and a future venue secure.  A good job jobbed I reckon.

I will miss them all, especially next month when I sit down to my piece and cheese (I'm learning...) and recall them, tucking into their lunch, laughing, grumbling, and generally enjoying fellowship, but it is time to move on, and I do so with gratitude.

Posting is likely to be sporadic for the next month or so due to the nature of clearing, packing, ending, moving, beginning and sorting internet connections near D+300.  I will probably post  the various 'lasts' if only as a way of 'anchoring' the memories of them, but probably not a lot else.

Today is my penultimate preach at Dibley, the last 'normal' service, and a day that is manic in extremis - an away evening preach, lunch with my musicians and a 50th birthday party all on one day.  Hopefully the stress will offset the calories!

If it is quiet around here I haven't got bored with blogging just extra busy with other stuff.