last choir standing

A few of my friends are in Sense of Sound Choir who have been doing very well in the BBC Last Choir Standing show...tonight they gave a blinding performance of "Cry me a River" - which got me crying a small stream. How proud am I of them! Very very proud! If you want to hear/see them perform "such a good feeling" then go to this link and push play on the mini-tv on the screen...

We have had a great time at the Sewsy Fair today (Mark won the guess the weight of the cake competition!) but now I am feeling a bit coldy so after I have just one more tweek of my sermon for tomorrow I will be having an early night.

first sunday

Well, today has been my first proper Sunday in Everton as a rev...and it has been great. I am very tired and my poor old brain is fried with names, events, traditions, directions, readings, prayers and lots of other new stuff - But, I was expecting all that so that's all fine. I will sleep well tonight particularly as Mark is home and I don't have to get up early to take Eva to school.

The first of three services today was a baptism, which after the wedding that took place at St Peter's yesterday was a great way to meet a load of very well dressed people who live in the parish. Everyone was in their finery for both services and the church looked great. Welcoming in a small child into the church family is always a pleasure particularly when the parents are able to come to the vows with such clarity and down to earth commitment to church, God and their child. I had the privilege of leading the prayers - my first intercessions as a curate!

Eva has had to follow me around all day and she has been very very good. I am proud of her resilience. We had a great lunch then at 4.30pm we went to St John Chrysostom for their evening communion followed by the 6.30pm communion at St Peter's. I returned home at 8.30pm very hungry and grateful that rain had suspended play at Wimbledon and I got to see the last set of the mens final. They might have had a miserable day trying to dodge the rain but it was great for me to catch it live as I ate my chicken and avocado sandwich. I must get an early night as I have a sermon to start to write tomorrow - Romans 8...and looking at my diary for the next week I will be needing every minute I can get tomorrow!

first week

I have got half way through my first week as a Deacon and I am having a blast. I am not saying it is laugh a minute because it isn't but it is fantastic!

Today I went to see Sister June in Formby to have a pray and a chat. June is affectionately know as 'the healing nun' as she is an excellent healer (I know God does the healing! but you know what I mean?) - she uses bach flower remedies to promote self healing. Now, I haven't worked all this completely into my theology of healing but I have always found going to see June, praying and focusing on healing very useful. I have been to visiting June for about 8 years and her support is invaluable. June came to my ordination on Sunday and wanted to have a chat about a few things (she is concerned that I get enough space to myself, say no when I need to and look after myself). I accept all June's advice even if I am unable to take it!

Having made the journey to Formby it was rude not to stop into Waitrose for Key Lime Pie (not on June's list of advice), I will be enjoying a slice soon!

In other news...I found out be theology degree results today. I got a 2:1...and I am made up! After all that stress - particularly over the exam - it seems a bit of an anti-climax. I can't believe that I am not dancing in the streets of Everton but it doesn't seem all that important any more. I am sure it will come in useful. In fact I am going to be preaching on Romans 8 in a couple weeks so I will be grateful for Steve Finemore and his exacting exegesis bootcamp. Perhaps later I will allow myself to celebrate with a glass of wine and a few nibbles. Yes, I think I will!