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This month’s collection of Parish Magazines have tumbled through my letterbox, and once again, I’m impressed with the tales of mission and ministry that happens in some many creative ways, in so many places.  This month’s good practice is as follows:

St Bartholomew Benefice: The parishes are organising some away time together, to build confidence, to get to know one another, and generally have a good time with their Christian faith.  A sailing trip to France, over the weekend of 30 September to 3 October.  If the seas doesn’t float your boat, the a trip to the Holy Land is being contemplated for 2011.  A new monthly Sunday initiative called TOAST [Time on a Sunday together] kicks off with breakfast in the School Hall at Semley, with an informal, child and family friendly expression of church.  taste and see that the Lord is good!

Arrowhead, for the parishes on Salisbury Plain, is always a good read, and a mix of community, adverts, and church activities get a blitz in the editor’s blender.  I was impressed by the Shrewton School’s Party in the Park event; the Annual Orcheston Weekend, including tractor rides and target shooting; and the Re-Cycling page, which give people the opportunity of getting rid of, or requesting various items.

Steeple and Street, for Whiteparish in the Clarendon Team, offered some great summer fun in the Parish Picnic with food and games; a May Ball for the Pepperbox Pre-school; and the Whiteparish Pony Show, with collaboration with the local riding school.  They’ve also organised a Whiteparish tidy up day, to give the whole community a chance to contribute to making their village the tidiest in the area.

Focus – on the Community is the mag for the Nadder Valley Team, and included some local articles on the Neighbourhood Policing Team’s new Community Beat Manager, and also a report from the Tisbury Watch of the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, including a really helpful guide to the role and responsibilities of a retained firefighter – essential for the rural communities.

The Open Door, the mag for St Thomas’ Ensbury Park contains a helpful page of prayers; advertises a parish visit to the Theatre in Christchurch to see “The Screwtape Letters”; some book reviews; and a great puzzles and smiles page, alongside the usual news and views of the parish church and wider community.

Thank you to all those who send me their magazines, and I look forward to receiving others too.

My day started at 0530 with a quick shave and packing my towel and swim shorts, and then a colleague polled up at 0630, we picked up another colleague and then headed down to Portland.  We arrived at 0800 and then waited for the others to arrive. We went and had a briefing about the day’s activities, and then were issued with kit: wetsuit, with hood; boots, fins [never called flippers!] belt with weights, face mask, gloves, BCD [buoyancy control device - a jacket with connection for the air tank, which inflates and deflates the vest which aids buoyancy whilst diving] and air tank [10 litres, which should last around 30 mins, depending how fast you breathe and how deep you dive.
 
We then were supposed to go to a local swimming pool for our practice and test exercises - but when we arrived, the pool claimed not to have the booking, and so we were turned away.  We were advised that we would try out in the shallow parts of the harbour, so we got kitted up, walked across the main road to Portland in our kit [great photo opportunity!] and then we were paired with a buddy and an instructor.  We went into the water, and then ducked underneath, taking our first gulp of compressed air, and then breathing out.  It didn’t seem too bad, but the water was mucky and we stirred up sand from the harbour floor, and we were then given tasks.  I went first, and had to remove my regulator [air supply] and continue to breathe out slowly, and then put the regulator back, blowing out the water with more compressed air.  Then we had to lift the face mask, and allow water to rise up to below our eyes, replace the mask, and blow out the water, using compressed air blown through our nose.  That was more difficult. 

We then left the harbour and walked back to the centre for lunch – the kit was heavy, very heavy, and of course whilst in the water seemed less so, but again out of the water it was really heavy.  After lunch, quiche and sandwiches, we were kitted up again, and informed we would head out to a wrecked dredger, just outside the harbour wall.  We headed out to a jetty where we loaded our kit and ourselves onto the RIB [rigid inflatable boat] and headed out like Special Forces heading into battle.
 
We moored up at the site, and then had to get kitted up in the boat – more difficult than on dry land.  Two colleagues who have dived before showed us how to roll backwards off the boat.  An instructor went next, and then it was my turn.  I was told to go, and did a perfect backwards summersault into the water.  I met up with the instructor and with hand signals indicated all was well, and repeated same to the dive master in the boat.  Every metre down in the water, you just have to “equalise” i.e. make sure the pressure in your ears “pops” like it does in an aircraft.  I found this difficult, and as I went deeper, the pain in my ears increased, but I could not release the pressure.  I indicated this to my instructor, and he tried to get me to do the exercises, but to no avail.  I headed slowly back to the surface, we chatted, and we tried again.
 
The same happened, and as I went deeper, we were aiming for 9 metres, so I knew it would be no good, but the instructor reached forward and took my head hood and opened it, which did the trick and I indicated an OK and we carried on down.  Reaching the seabed, I was asked to kneel down and ensure the buoyancy was OK, and I realised my face mask was filling up with water.  Beards are not always the best option! Snorting seawater is not good, and I tried the clearing exercise, with the instructor watching.  I tried again and again, but to no good, and with the water rising I knew that I had to go back to the surface and fail, or sort it.  A large gulp from the air tank, and then a large blow from my nose, with eyes shut, and the mask was dry and clear.  The instructor looked back at me with large eyes, and mimicked applause.  I was down, and breathing and stable.  All was well.  I met up with a colleague, and realised it was just us two.  We looked over the wreck carefully – but it is really just a lot of odd metal shapes and sea plant growth.  We then swam along the seabed looking at fish and crabs, lobster pots, and small items.  I realised that my perspective was all odd, things I tried to touch were further away in reality.  Our instructor at one point put a hand on my air tank, and one on my colleague’s and we towed him along to show that we could pilot ourselves.  It is all about trust, respect, and being able to relax – to breathe, to make decisions and carry them out.  Not easy, but when you are down there it is a different world – you are deaf, partially blind, totally reliant on the tank of air on your back, and the support of another human, a stranger.
 
After a while, we were joined by the second instructor, and my colleague went up with the first, and I then stayed with the second.  Coming up, even from 9 metres takes care, and we had to follow a line to the boat, stopping and letting air out of our BCD, which seems counter to what we expect – letting air out makes you rise?  In time I felt the surface of the water break, and we were a few metres from the boat, so we swam on our backs, and then had to get into the boat.  First you take off your weights, and then the BCD with air tank, and finally, leaving your fins on, you propel yourself up onto the side, bring your feet up, and someone grabs you and pulls you in.  Easy!  But hard! 

In the boat we swapped stories, enjoyed bars of chocolate and hot Ribena, to help cope with the taste of seawater and compressed air. We tidied the boat and headed back telling more stories and experiences.  We unpacked the boat at the jetty, took the kit back, changed and then enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate.  I realised that my ears were pretty odd, and although they are clearing, the pressure changes have affected them.  I was relieved to hear an experienced colleague tell me his are exactly the same.
 
We gave our thanks, received our certificates, and headed home.  I was tired – a long day from 0530, and the demands on my body, my mind, a drive of 100 miles, and as it says in the brochure, diving changes your life.  I want to go back, I want to experience all that again, prove to myself that I can face the challenges, and see more of God’s world and the fragile beauty that it contains.

One of our discount bookshops in Salisbury is closing down.  I like to browse there so will miss the place.  My last visit there produced some interesting purchases, including the Wagamama Cookbook, and the Highway Code.  The cookbook can wait for me to share some of my attempts, but the Highway Code has stirred some interesting thoughts for me.

Since my childhood, I can remember being fascinated by the Highway Code.  My father had a copy hanging around, and I can recall looking at the roadsigns and thinking that the colours and shapes and information given were quite absorbing.  Then of course when I applied for my provisional driving licence, I received my own copy of the Code, and set about  learning all those signs, including the direction signs and those infamous stopping distances – remember? Thinking distance + Braking distance = Stopping distance!

But I wonder how many people have realised that the Highway Code has been updated and many of the rules and regulations have been changed or added to?  We all can identify and know how to use a Zebra Crossing, and a Pelican crossing – but would you know how to use a Puffin crossing, and even a Toucan crossing?  What about the signs for a Home Zone or Quiet Lane? School Crossing Patrol signals?  And do you have to respond to signals given by Highways Agency or VOSA traffic officers?

The Highway Code is still more than just a fascinating read for a nerdy petrol-head like me; these are rules and common sense and good practice which help thousands of road users [including cyclists, motorcyclists, horseriders, pedestrians and disability scooter users] share common space, and protect one another as we journey on the roads and footpaths of our country.

The same is true for our moral codes, which from the Ten Commandments, through to the Human Rights Act seeks to provide a safe and secure framework for our common living together which seeks to provide justice and equity in our journey through life.  Do we know what our responsibilities are? We would do well to remind ourselves often, in preference to finding ourselves advising others, prematurely and incorrectly.

A few weeks ago I asked John to teach me to insert pictures into the text – he did and this is my first try out. It is a photo I took when I visited Yorkshire a few years ago. From the back it looks like a cross but from the front you can see that it is Mary carrying Jesus. It is a modern sculpture in a ruined monastery and although the day was dull and windy the feeling was very spiritual.

I have not put in more than one as I need to learn how to re-size photos but I shall tryand will then be more adventurous in the future by learning how to wrap the text around the image.

This week I was privileged to put on my Royal Army Chaplains Department combats, and travel out to one of the Army Cadet Force detachments to give a presentation on the six core values of the British Army.  I first had to get into the Garrison, and I was saluted politely as I passed the reception/guardroom.  I saluted back, as I was sitting in the roofless MGF, but was not quite sure whether officers are supposed to salute whilst driving!  I probably have broken some military protocol, or civilian driving regulation.  Someone will tell me – just hope it is not contained within some kind of summons!

The Army Cadet Force (ACF) is one of the UK’s oldest, largest and most successful youth organisations. With over 47,000 cadets in around 1,700 local detachments across the country. At the heart of the ACF are our 8,500 adult volunteers who inspire youngsters to achieve.

It was a hot night, and the 20 cadets were trying sooo hard to concentrate on my presentation, which I spiced up with some leadership, and team exercises.  At the end, rather than assess their knowledge of the content of the presentation, I asked them to assess my presentation – what was good about it, what main points will they remember, and how might I improve the presentation next time?  Under the circumstances, I think I did well – they certainly helped me to polish the presentation for next time, and I found out what they had learned.  

What had they learned? The six core values, which all ranks must receive teaching on every year, are: Courage, Discipline, Loyalty, Integrity, Selfless Commitment, Respect for Others.  On the handout I asked them to take away, was a grid, with the six core values printed out.  I asked them to think about who they know who models the values; what challenges are facing the cadet at present; and then what might they do to try and overcome that challege, using the core values to measure their options and response.

You know how it is – on paper nothing really looks exciting but when you are doing it things change.

Saturday started with me in Pewsey church attending the Prayer for the Journey, two hours on patchwork, paint and prayer in preparation for the Ramsbury Team visit to the deanery. It was a glorious two hours lead by Janet Thomas. We used part of the pack put together by her and Rev Deb Larkey for use in the local schools and I learnt a technique of manipulating paint with cling film – you needed to be there to understand. Thank you Janet.

I then took a marriage service in Durrington,which was a delight. Thank you James and Melanie (and their family and friends) for allowing me to share the occassion with you.

On Sunday I took the two services in Durrington – the 8 o’clock one was a quiet reflective service whilst the 10 o’clock was   busier but because the organist was recovering from surgery Val played all the music on her flute which lent an air of reflectiveness to that service as well. Thank you Val. We then had a baptism at 12 noon and Joshua (6 months) spent most of the time looking at us through his large eyes. For this I was ably assisted by Sylvia who will hold the baby as I am frightened that my elbows will lock at the vital moment and the baby will fall – not a good thing! We had many young people who acted as official water temperature testers ( I splashed them with water) and the family and friends of Josuha stayed for about 20 minutes after the service. Thank you to all those who were there for making it such a joyous occassion.

I visited Pitton C of E Primary School today – some 8 miles south-east of Salisbury.  It was a planned visit to say thank you and farewell to the retiring Headteacher, but I’m sorry to hear that he has snapped a tendon and will not be back at school for a little while.  I’ll come again!

But the great delight was the act of collective worship for the school, which was ably led by one of the foundation governors from the local church of St Peter’s.  It was just superb!  Sara had carefully planned the worship; creating a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere in the school hall, subdued lighting, loads of candles in jars, and colourful letters which spelt out the theme – hope.  We had some reflective music as we came in, and everyone was still and attentive.  A PowerPoint with simple clear words, and bright relevant pictures guided us through the opening sentences, the worship song, and the closing sentences.  The address was simply led by Sara, using the year six students who had been reflecting on what they understood hope was, and this was mapped out with flashcards on a board which created a rainbow before the whole school – God’s sign of hope to Noah after the flood.

The year six children also wrote our prayer for the day:

Thank you God.  We have so much to be thank you for here at our school. We think it is the best school in the world.  Thank you for all the people here, for the playing field and for football.  Thank you for our friends and our teachers.  Thank you for our food and water and our break times in the sunshine.  It brings us joy and happiness and we pray that our new headteacher will be as nice as Mr Morgan.  We hope that all the children will be as happy in the future as we have been.  AMEN.

Simply wonderful – well done Sara, and well done Pitton Cof E Primary School.  God is blessing you, and you are a blessing to others.

Well last week was a typical week of shades and kaleidoscope ministry, which was full and fruitful, and one of the reasons I think ministry in the Church of England is still one of the best reasons for getting out of bed in the morning.  Monday morning – Rachel has blogged the morning’s team meeting, and yes, recipes for rhubarb muffins with star anise creme brulée is coming, so watch out!

Lunchtime on Monday was spent with the senior pupils of Trafalgar School at Downton, as I met and chatted with staff and year11 students.  I’ve been invited to present the prizes this autumn, and really wanted to meet the guys and girls before that occasion.  A fascinating visit, and my thanks go to all for making the visit happen.

Tuesday I showed a new curate coming to the Diocese around the house we’ve allocated, and was really pleased to see and hear how thankful both the training minister and the curate are for the care and attention that has been offered to make this happen.  It is such a nice feeling to know that you  can fix somethings!  Tuesday afternoon, night  and Wednesday morning the Rural Deans, Archdeacons and the Bishops were on retreat with the community at Ammerdown, near Radstock.  http://www.ammerdown.org/ This Christian retreat and conference centre is just far enough away to feel you’ve journeyed out of the patch, and has good facilities for prayer, meetings and good home cooked food.  I was responsible for the first two sessions – where I worked with the group in mapping our vocational journeys, and interviewed Bishops Graham and Stephen about their particular vocations, and what sustains them in their ministry.

Thursday, I travelled to London, Stepney episcopal area, to visit the DDO and chat about a particular ordinand we are hoping to place, and also to explore how we might work together to offer our respective ordinands an experience of ministry in a different context.  I do enjoy London, its buzz and vitality, and found the companionship of another DDO helpful and reflective.

Friday was the Bishop’s Staff meeting, and we covered a lot of ground, and again, enjoyed one another’s companionship and reflections on our common life.

Saturday, I was working with potential ordinands in Salisbury, observing them presenting and discussing topics which they had prepared. 

Sunday, I visited Little Bedwyn to preach at the group service with Rev Rodney Harrison the Team Vicar presiding.  The small community straddles the railway and canal. Of particular interest in the church are the differently shaped arches on either side of the nave, and the collection of hand-stitched kneelers. The rear of the church, which also doubles as the village hall, has a map of the parish made for the millennium, with paintings of every building and all the wildlife found in the parish.  It is always good to go and meet new congregations, and I was given a really warm welcome, and used the theme of Vocations Sunday, as well as introduce them to the UniteFC pilgrimage week from 6 – 13 June, when the Ramsbury Team visit the Pewsey deanery.  http://www.unitefc.org/index.html A great morning, a great week, and much to be thankful for.

Today was the chance for 70 lay ministers and clergy to take a step back and spend time together reflecting on the nature of their ministries.  We gathered at New House near Redlynch, about 10 miles south-east of Salisbury.  We were able to be lead by Brother Patrick Moore, a De La Salle brother, who has lectured extensively in America, London and Cambridge, and now holds the post of Scholar in Residence at Sarum College.

We started with coffee and an Iona Morning worship, and Patrick took us through some addresses, followed by quiet reflection, then lunch then more addresses, and finally a group reflection on what we, as individuals had learned from the day. An Iona Evening worship sent us on our way.  Judging by the evaluation forms, we held a very successful day, and I was particularly grateful to Patrick for helping me understand the significance between chronos time – clock watching and the like, and kairos time – living for the present moment.  It makes sense to me!  We were reminded that Christianity often leaves people with a sense of guilt about the past, and anxiety for the future.  Whereas we were encouraged to consider that we cannot come into the presence of God, unless we come into the present. 

We reflected on the passages in Genesis 29, of the difference between Leah and Rachel when looking at productivity and aesthetic value.  And also at the passage in Luke 10, where Mary and Martha disagree about being with Jesus, and completing the chores.  We were asked to consider that Mary and Rachel were experiencing a foretaste of the Kingdom of Heaven, whereas whilst Leah and Martha were more productive, they missed the moment.  Seeking the kairos moment encourages us to be focused and concentrate on whatever we should be doing – and therefore it is easier to hear the still small voice of God in a kairos moment, but miss it if we live in the chronos time.  This is essential if we are to be able to practice good prayer, and good pastoral care.

As you  can see the weather was kind, the sun shone, and New House welcomed us with love and generosity.  We left with learning to put into practice.

Well Blogwatchers – I had a really good few days leave: gardening, walking, entertaining, sleeping – all good for the soul as well as for the body.  Now it is back to work!  Yesterday we had our usual team meeting, when we caught up, prayed up, and planned up for the coming term’s mission and ministry.  It was good to back as a team, and whilst I did so enjoy my few days away, it feels great to be with my colleagues again.

Today, I was at Ivy House Warminster, a Retreat House which offers warm hospitality, good food, and ample accommodation including some very peaceful gardens.  Check it out at http://www.ivyhouse.org/

I was leading a Quiet Day for a School of Prayer from the northern climes of the diocese.  We gathered after coffee, and I gave a couple of addresses on Why Pray, and Silence.  The we did our own things until the midday Eucharist, when I gave another couple of addresses on Prayer at Home, and Prayer at Work.  Then lunch, and a gap followed by the final two addresses on When it is Impossible to Pray, and Becoming Ourselves in Prayer.  A cup of tea, and a piece of cake, and we said our goodbyes, and travelled our separate ways.

What made the day so special for me was the presence in the group of a blind person.  Let’s call her Susan.  Susan was accompanied by a companion, who was just terrific.  She described everything to Susan, quietly and confidently taking her round the house, into the garden, and no doubt describing the funny man with a beard and glasses giving the talks!  At lunchtime, Susan was guided to her seat in the dining room, and she put on a large napkin, whereas the sighted ones among the group made do with little tissues – and yes, you can guess who was the more messy eater! 

I watched Susan feel her way through the meal, working out where the food was, keeping an awareness for her glass of water, and sensibly using a spoon and fork rather than a knife.  Her companion from time to time offered to cut up larger pieces of food, and keeping Susan informed about the choices of food on the table.  It was great team work, and Susan’s presence within the group made us more aware of our senses, and our need for the right sort of guidance in our spiritual lives as well as practically supporting one another.

I always knew  that I was unable to offer anything new on the subject of prayer – like the blind leading the blind.  Today I truly knew that our learning came from the group, as once again, we see Christ at work in all our lives.  We just need to have the confidence to let go, and allow God to work out his Grace through us.