Today I was in Bulford church. This morning’s service was an intimate one as we were few in numbers, didn’t have an organist and decided that we would all sit in the sanctuary. We said the service omitting nothing including the sermon, there were times of silence when we reflected on what had been said. In fact the pace of the service was a refelctive, slow one giving a much different feel to it.

Afterwards we spent more time talking, hearing about someone’s job interviews in this coming week and another’s grandchildren. One item of discussion was the fact that they had managed to pay their share last year – this was a remarkable achievement as they are a very small congregation who are not wealthy.

They had achieved this by having many fundraising events throughout the year, but I was told that the stress was on FUN. Listening to all that they had done last year I was very aware that it really was FUN first and money second. This approach not only saw them being able to pay their share but also new people had started to attend the church and take an interest in the way it is run etc.

Although it had been hard work there was no drop in enthusiasm for this year, in fact there are many more ideas to be put in motion if not this year then in the years to come. I think they are a great example of how people keep on keeping on, putting their faith in God and being pleasantly surprised at the outcomes.

One of the responsibilities of Archdeacons is the support and advice to Churchwardens and clergy concerning the care and maintenance of Churchyards.  It is an important public place where communities can come and remember and pay respects to the friends and families of past generations.  Churchyards, and especially graves are sensitive pastoral areas of our common lives, and it is with great care that regulations are created to preserve that pastoral sensitivity.

I visited a churchyard recently as was very taken by the number of small items that had been left on certain graves.  Recent burials are always emotionally charged, with flowers and cards and tokens of love and remembrance.  I was particularly drawn to one grave, which was not marked by any stone yet, but the family had left a Christmas present, partially unwrapped, and some packets of sweets.  It was no doubt the favourite confectioneryof the child, and the toy a gift, perhaps that had been left unopened.  I was reminded of the death rituals for the Ancient Egyptians, who would bury the deceased with all kinds of effects, and food to see them into the afterlife.  As Christians, we pray that those who die, journey with Christ, who died and rose again, that we might have eternal life.  It is an aspect of our humanity that we struggle to make sense about life, as we also struggle with the inevitability about death.  Even Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early on the third day, bringing with her spices, intended to annoint the body of Jesus.

Death is nothing at all?  Oh yes, death is certainly something, something we all have to attend to in our own way.  Our message of hope and love depends on us knowing that death is certainly not any easier, but our faith offers us strength and comfort, and that makes the something bearable.

On Sunday I enjoyed being a member of the congregation at All Saints, Durrington. Not only because I could sit with my mother but I could allow myself to think about the sermon as it was preached. This Sunday we celebrated Candlemas and Mark preached a sermon about candles.

Now I know he said more than I am going to mention and I hope that he will put it on All Saints website.

The things which made me think were that a candle is used both for celebration and in times of mourning, candles help us smile as well as reflect. Candles give of themselves whilst providing light for us and that they are affected by even the slightest difference in the air around them and can be snuffed out so quickly.

Whilst Mark asked us to consider the similarities to Christ I also pondered on the fact that we are asked to be God’s lights in the world and how these thoughts about candles can be related to us. If that is the case then we ought to treasure each other and ourselves far more than we do. For example recognising how vulnerable all people are to the atmosphere around them not least in places like Haiti where a few moments of change can have such a devasting affect or in families or communities were individuals are subject to oppression.

Thanks Mark for a thought provoking sermon.

No it is not a new town nor is the Rasmsbury office relocating.

Tuesday saw John, Danela and me in Durweston Village Hall ( that’s near Blandford in Dorset for those whose geography is nearly as bad as mine). We all had parts in workshops which were beginning the discussion around clergy terms of service and common tenure – terms we will get to know better this year.

Danela had organised this one of three and was there to welcome us with wonderful cups of coffee, or in my case ( having learnt from Sally to take a mug) a mug! John lead the workshop ably assisted by Paula Gooder, a theologian, who began the morning with some thoughts about ministry. I was a participant and enjoyed the discussions in both the large group and the small group. I aslo enjoyed catching up with people who I hadn’t seen for some months.

There were lots of things I took away from that morning two of which were:
1. Ought it to be called work/life balance or something like coomunity/personal balance ( a suggestion from the small group discussion)? When considering ministry or work it is often difficult to separate the two neatly. For example I enjoy my work (both roles) and gain a lot of energy from the people I meet. I also enjoy being quiet and being with my family and friends. I know that some of my learning and energy from work helps me in the personal and vice a versa, so there are somethings that cannot be separate. However, I know that when I don’t have time for me then my work is impinging too much into the personal. For each person it will be different and, whilst I am a great believer in having a balance of both, how this is acheived needs to be left to the individual.

The other is that I was inspired by listening to Paula and am now considering doing further study. For those who know me this will be a little shock as I always said that once I was ordained I would not go back to formal study – how I may have to eat my words!

I left after lunch before the second workshop began but hope that other particpants found it as interesting as I did and not only because of the subject under discussion.

During the past 48 hours I have experienced two different forms of rejuvinating which did not include any surgery proceedings or loads of money.

The first was at Netheravon on Sunday, I was invovled in what is known as The Triple Decker. At one point in the service there are three different activities happening in the church for three different age groups – a creche,a Sunday school and the main service which adults attend. We are joined at the beginning and the end. This Sunday the music group played (I can’t remember if they play for every Triple Decker) and it added another dimension to the worship for me. There were electric piano, accoustic guitar, clarinet, (and here I show my ignorance) I think there was a violin and viola but it may have been two violins. With them were two singers. I was able to hear them run through the music before the service and knew that they were good but it was not until the serive that I realised how much they added to the whole. Not only with their musical skills but with choice of music. – Thank you.

The other time was Monday evening when I began my evening class in jewellery making. I was quite nervous at the beginning with the usual feelings of will I like the others, will I be less able than them, will I be able to find the place etc. By the end of the two hours I realised that all my fears were groundless and that I had spent two hours talking about creative things and finding that I can cut glass. If the rest of the weeks are like this the benefits will not only be new pieces of jewellery but a rejuvinated Rachel.

Both experiences have underlined the fact the I don’t need anything more drastic to regain my sense of balance and that for me music and creative are elements that I have to have in my life. My own small Fully Alive programme.

The Parish Church of St Mary and St Melor in Amesbury provided the backdrop for a service of Celebration for our Associate Clergy, and the Licensing of the Rev’d Jenny Taylor, and the Rev’d Laurence Mathew, as the Associate Ministry Support Officers for the Sarum and Wilts archdeaconries respectively.

The Bishop of Ramsbury presiding and licensing, and the Archdeacon of Sarum preaching on the Gospel of Luke; suggesting that Associate Ministry was at last becoming recognised for the sacrificial and incarnational ministry rooted where people both work and play.  In conclusion Alan suggested:

So what will this mean for us all gathered here tonight?  We celebrate all that has been—the struggle to get Associate ministry recognised and rooted into the church as a equal partnership in word and sacrament, in gospel proclamation and lived experience, in all places within community and beyond.  On behalf of the church catholic and apostolic—thank you, and please, please continue in the obedient and sacrificial way that you have companioned and partnered until now.  Our past has shaped us, and today is God’s day.  Rejoice, and give thanks.

But what about our future?  Where is that liberation in Jesus, that the church and the world long for?  That is  what I’d like the Bishops to hear from our Associate priest and deacons. I have been privileged to see Associate Ministers uproot themselves from the familiar and comfortable, and allow themselves to be replanted into new contexts of parish and workplace.

That is why we are here to celebrate—and pray that Jenny, and Laurence, with Alan, encourage and equip you in all you seek to do.  Dare we take that risk?  My biggest fear is if we do not take the risk.  Perhaps someone might dare to suggest that it is those who receive a stipend should properly companion and partner those of you, who minister in the market places and gathering spaces in daily life. But what will happen when the churches become places of freedom, healing, and proclamation of God’s today? That’s a question for all of us tonight, reflecting on our past, moving into our future, and living each day in the presence of God who sets us free, to serve him, in every place, in many ways.         Amen

Thank you to those who braved a late Sunday evening, and a cold night to pray with Jenny and Laurence as they begin there new ministry among us.  Thanks too to the people of Amesbury for their generous hospitality in hosting the service.

Day two of the conference and as is usual we have a break in the afternoon, normally I dislike these breaks not least because we are expected to work into the evening which I find difficult. But this time it’s different as it gives me time to write this blog – yes I will get a life one day!

We’ve had an intersting day thus far with two bishops reflecting on two different aspects of safeguarding. The first raised the issue that too many systems often stop people from thinking for themselves which can lead to the thought that if the boxes are crossed then we have done all we need to do. Obviously this is not the case, partiucalrly in safeguarding, as we need to be able to think outside the box (or silo as Bishop Stephen says) in order to think the unthinkable.

The other bishop raised the issue of forgiveness and how this is not a one off event but something we need to work at whether survivor, perpetrator or non-abusing family/friend/community. The idea of expecting the survivor to forgive immediatley is a wrong one and echoes what I have thought that we need to stop putting pressure on people to forgive and begin to listen to them and hear what they are saying about their hurt. We also need to be aware of how some feel less of a Chrisitan because they cannot forgive and that some times Christian teaching underpins this feeling. Again we need to be willing to listen and to try to understand the dilemmas others are having.

There were lots of other issues in the talks and the following small groups and workshops but not enough space here to mention them all. I suppose the theme from this morning has been that of listening and being open. Not a bad one to have in general

Nearly time for afternoon tea and, obviously, deep theological deabtes!

The month of January is over half way and I am sitting in my room at the beginning of a three day conference reflecting on what has happened. Why you might well ask? Well the journey here was interesting as I drove through rain, sleet, snow, sleet, rain and then on dry roads. it seemed as though I was in different worlds- a bit like Narnia and the wardrobe.

In the beginning of January I was in St Agnes, Cornwall watching the news of all the snow and not seeing any until the Thursday morning when I left. It seemed as though I was living in another world.

Then the following week I was watching the news about the earthquake in Haiti whilst sitting at home surrounded by snow and finding it hard to cope with the numbers of those killed or injured. It seemed as though I was living in another world.

This afternoon I met up with people some of whom I haven’t seen since the last conference and caught up with news from various places in the UK. It helped me remember that I am in the same world, it is the variety which makes it special and I only see a small part of it.

A terrific service in Downton yesterday saw a whole packed chuch finding out where its priorities will lie in fudnign the future church in their village.  I’ll let the local people have their  say, and then show you the celebration cake!

Downton Village News

Sunday 17^th January saw the Grand Launch of St Laurence’s Trinity FUNders –the FUNdraising team of St Laurence’s church in Downton. The service was extremely well attended and it had the feel of a wonderful family gathering overflowing in happiness. The total raised for the FUNd on the day via the collection, sale of cake and filled church-shaped collection boxes that had been made by the Sunday school children, was an incredible £3,150.00!! A tremendous thank you goes out for every single penny of this generous amount – a marvellous boost to the FUNdraising effort.

The FUNders were formed as a result of long term hope and prayer to open the church building to increased learning and social gathering for the wider community of Downton and surrounding areas whilst preserving the Christian and communal heritage in the centre of this historic village. The heating system breaking down was the catalyst to turn this hope into reality! The church dates back to the 12^th Century and is to be found six miles south of the cathedral city of Salisbury.

Their mission statement is Saving the Past…Thanksgiving for the Present….Legacy for the Future… This is based on the fundamental need to encompass God, in all his forms, in their efforts – hence Trinity. The wordplay on FUN in the title meaning everyone should enjoy themselves at the same time as raising FUNds, along with the heritage mission statement initials reflecting those of St Laurence itself.

The Rector of the Forest and Avon team, Rev Frank Gimson presided at the service. The Venerable Alan Jeans, Archdeacon of Sarum gave a wonderful sermon listing the history of the church back through the centuries and then leading right into the visions for the future. The previous incumbent – Rev Michael Gallagher, now the Rector of St Bartholomew’s in Crewkerne, led the intercessions and Mr Robert Key, Member of Parliament for Salisbury read the thought provoking lesson.

At the end of the service the team leaders were introduced to the congregation and this led into a special Ribbon cutting ceremony by the oldest member of the congregation, Mrs Florence Corbin, celebrating her 100th birthday on 18^th January. She was assisted by Miss Eve Lovell who is 1 year old this week and Mr Robert Plaskett who has been attending St Laurence’s since he was a lad. Robert first started ringing the bells when he was 13, he is now in retirement but the church and his family still keep him busy. He is Captain and Keeper of the Tower and a constant worker for the church. Downton Band accompanied the congregation with their usual musical expertise.

The service was followed by morning coffee and celebration cake that was made by volunteer bakers from the within the church family and was assembled into a replica of St Laurence’s church measuring 36” x 24” by Beverley and her daughter, Donna, of Beverley’s Creative Cakes in Downton. It all disappeared!! If you missed this service please look for future event advertisements in the local press and notice boards that will be placed in supporters gardens throughout the village.

A collection was also made in aid of the Haiti disaster fund – this raised around £230.  Check out the cake! It must be something about St Laurence; remember the hedge church at Stratford-sub-Castle?

The whole team came together on Saturday at Lavington School, near Devizes, to help facilitate a day focusing on mission, and how to connect with the local community as a church.  It was an excellent day, and thanks go to Danela, and a team of assistant curates from across the Area, who coordinated and produced a wonderful day.

After some opening worship, and a bible reflection from me on salt and light, we were inspired by a keynote address by The Rev Andy Bowerman, the Team Rector of Wareham, who gave accounts of his recent mission initiatives in Bradford [the one up north!] where he was asked to set up a church for those who do not go to church.  He set up a café, and imaginatively engaged people through his love of food, and his wonderful gift of hospitality.  Check out the website http://gracesite.wordpress.com/those-were-the-days-%E2%80%A6/archbishop-of-canterbury-visits-vicars-saltaire/ Andy also has been chaplain to Bradford City FC, and has some wonderful creative ideas for his new ministry in Wareham – including the purchase of an ice-cream van for next summer.

The 90 or so people then went off to workshops which included some tried and tested ideas, and some new ones, including the Open the Book scheme; Fun Church; Story Telling; Linking with the Community; Mission Action Planning, etc, etc.

We closed the day with some more worship, chatted about the sparks that we will try to carry with us back into our parishes, were encouraged by Bishop Stephen’s summing up, and left one another with promises of prayers, and keeping in touch to see where we can make a difference.  A great day – watch out for it next time!