A day in the life
This is the week when old rockers like myself are reminded that it was 40 years go since Sergeant Pepper was released. So where did all the days in that life go? I remember thinking this is brillant. I don't think I had ever heard anything quite like it. [kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/gZez_k4vAzU" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
Let me tell you about my day 40 years on. I write a small column for the local newspaper every week. I try to write it before I go off to the 10.00am service on a Wednesday morning. Well, I got engrossed in the subject I was writing about. I decided to write a piece about encouraging marriage as opposed to living together. I got so caught up in the perfecting of the item and ended up being late for the service. It was just one of those days, I couldn't find the car keys, and when I did George the gardener was looking for his money.
When I arrived at the church everything was buzzing including the congregation. They were singing all things bright and beautiful. I stumbled in with my shoe laces undone but I felt good at least my column had been e-mailed to the editor. I'm sure some people thought I'd slept in. I gave a short exposition on Daniel chapter 1 then it was coffee time and into a short mentoring session with a member of the congregation.
Wednesday is a busy day at the church, we have the Parent and Toddlers group and also an Intercessory Prayer Group meets. I was privileged to join the group this morning. What an encouragement to be with these praying people. I feel so blessed to have such a team of praying and holding up the work of the congregation before the Lord each week.
It was back to my office in the manse to follow up some phone calls. (Unfortunately I don't have a desk in the church, desk space is at premium), then it was back down to the church for a meeting to clarify the budget for the CWW National Event at Ingliston 2008. This took up most of the afternoon. I got a chance to call into Rae's office/studio to check out our presentation for our visitors tomorrow, then it was off to do a short visit, before leading the Alpha Group at the Inchyra. Now who ever said parish life is boring.
Tomorrow will be an interesting day. I'm at 121 George Street in the morning, then showing our VIPs from the Lloyds TSB Foundation around our project here in Bo'ness. Rae has been working on the keynote presentation and it looks pretty good. If I get an opportunity I'll put it up on the blog. There are just so many opportunities for congregations to partner with funders to develop and deliver quality community based work. At the present moment we as a local congregation have a cocktail of funding from a number of trusts and we are grateful for the opportunities that have been coming our way. Being a Church Leader today calls for a set of skills that never appear in the formal training of ministers. I believe we need a whole new approach to the way we train and develop our ministers. I'm more and more convinced of the importance of local training centres of theological excellence working out of parish churches. I notice the extra ordinary work that Chris Vermulen is trying to do in this area over in Orchardhill Giffnock
