LIFE
I think the life of a parish minister must be one of the most engaging and priveleged of all professions. Now, that is if you really want to call what I do a profession. I think its a calling! You find yourself being opened up to new experiences and emotions snd situations because you've been given by the community a position of trust. What I'm getting round to say is I try hard not to take all that I've been given by this comminuty I work in for granted. I guess it is as you serve others you find yourelf becoming much much richer.
I had an interesting day yesterday. I spent part of the morning with a friend who has been bereaved recently. Later I looked in on our Tuesday Club. This is the church in action in the comminity. We have an amazing team of volunteers who give respite to those who are engaged in caring for family and friends who are suffering from memory loss. You know this little club is one of the happiest places in the parish on a Tuesday morning. Its also a place where you find yourself caught up in a conversation that is engaging and meaningful. I spoke with Lynn yesterday, she's hoping to stand as a candidate in the local Council election. I think meeting her as a volunteer caring for those with dementia said more about her than a thousand words spoken or written on an election leaflet.
In the afternoon I spent three hours preparing a very intertesting service for this coming Sunday evening. We will be dealing with the very controversial subject " End of Life Issues". We've decided to engage with topical themes once a month. This month its about dying. I was glad to have the input of the local Baptist minister to help create a service that will be engaging and meaningful to many.
I'm looking forward to the keynote speaker Dr Murdo MacDonald who is coming to help us reflect on the whole topic. Remember it is an issue that concerns all of us. We as Christians need to reflect on the moral issues that surround our ministers, doctors and nurses and carers as they seek to help people die not only with dignity but with grace.
What of the evening? Well I attended the management group of our "Bounce Higher Programme" which is one of four social outreach programmes we run in the community. Last night we were writing up the job description for our vacant post of family worker in the church. All in a days work!
Oh yes in between all these experiences I managed to write a few emails, do a bit of thinking and praying and most of all sleeping. Have a good day! I intend to have a great day.
Posted By: Hazel On: 24 Oct 2009 At: 7:01am
Just had a text yesterday re a 90 yr old male friend who is v. poorly. In response to the news he has 3 months left, and an offer of an operation he has told his medics he doesn’t want it as he is looking forward to dying because he is a Christian. Giving them food for thought? He is always talking about Jesus so he will die as he lived…