Holy Week Journey

When I first started this blog it was meant to be about how my job was changing me. But actually I haven't written much about work at all. However, I'm rather pleased with my Messy Easter Morning on Saturday at my most local church - I have 23 in all across the circuit and love working in all the ones I work in, so this isn't favouritism at all, it just happens to be photos I have.

It was a very snowy morning on Saturday so we didn't get many families - well we got one. But we had a number of crafts covering the Holy Week Journey.


Palm Sunday - this was a mixture of Weaving Palm leaves (from Baker Ross) and painting Jesus on a donkey and a crowd.




Maundy Thursday - more painting, the last supper scene painted by the mum of the family and mine and two of the kids favourite meals: theirs was both Pizza!



Good Friday - three simple crosses on a hillside.


Easter Sunday, the empty tomb surrounded by beautiful tissue flowers to represent new life.  As well as the only craft that didn't end up on the wall, and disappeared before I photographed it - chocolate nests. yummy!



Unlike Christmas which seems to last months, Easter is a blur, there is so much in the story to tell, we often skip from Palm Sunday to Easter Day. Or worst still tell the story of death without the joy of new life. For me the whole journey is so important.

So may you know the journey, from celebration and jubilation, to a meal with close friends, to confusion and change, to death and finally to resurrection.

All Change

Before we begin, I'm not going to say sorry, but I am going to warn you
a, my proof reader is away
b, this is long and rambley
c, it makes sense to me, and its my blog and I'm in control here, but if it doesn't for you hopefully normality will be returned on the next blog.



Life often seems to go in waves.
Let me give you an example, in the last few years I've known many church people who were turning 40, then this year my friends who are still in their 30s seem to all have been married 10 years - well 3 couples at least.
Or in youth work, you may have a group of 11 year olds join the youth club and you work with them for 5 years and in that time get some kids who are 2 or 3 years younger, but not one year younger.
Live goes in waves.

Last time I remember feeling like everything was changing and I was out of control of it was at the about October 2010 - I know the timing as I remember sitting in a certain bedroom. 2010 I had 5 addresses, at work we were going through the starts of the changes to form the new circuit that now exists. So I was moving house a lot, and changing line manager, and generally feeling a bit out of control of everything.

Now I think for me this is the thing. Change can be exciting, for example I was instrumental in the end of MYE and the formation of the DYEs. That was exciting change, those of you who knew me in 2007/2008 will know the YPS steering group was my main passion. Though I know it also stressed me out a lot. (I apologise for the Methodist jargon and whichever ground rule that was!)

My issue isn't change, it's control. I am a control freak.

I may have said this before but when I'm feeling out of control I like to go for a drive, it calms me down as I know at that time I'm in control of my car, speed, direction etc. and linking back to one of the MWiB blogs I did, getting lost by myself is less stressful than getting lost of the Sat Nav and me disagreed as then I'm not in control.


Anyway back to present day. I'm yet again at a place where everything is changing. There have been a few announcements in the past week about people moving on, and I know that if I find a job I could be the other end of the country or even in Wales.
Just feels like at the moment the wave is all about change.
The CD in my car currently is Andy Flannagan and my fave song on this cd has the line - 'we are changed to be the change you promise'

My aims for 2012 were meant to change me, make me healthier, fairer, and more talented. But again they were changes I wanted to make.

I know sometimes I can't be in control and hopefully God is - depending on the interviewers understanding of God's will.
We don't go through this alone, and we don't go through it without reason. Today I challenged young people to change their communities, their prayers for the world covered most of the map and I am constantly amazed at young people's commitment to prayer and to action.
We watched a clip from Evan Almighty where he is talking to God (Morgan Freeman!!) and God laughs at his plans. Makes me think that as much as I want to be in control, that God needs to be ultimately in charge, maybe that's why everything feels so change-y, cos I need to let go of control. There's kinda a boat at see image in my head and I need to stop trying to steer in a storm and give God control.

I guess what worries me is I feel stressed when I'm not in control and someone else is - maybe that's why I get travel sick (hmm, sorry random tangent will think about that elsewhere). Maybe my prayer needs to be for God's peace to take hold. For God to calm the storm in my worries as well as the storm of change - or at least guide me safely through.

And peace brings me on to Boyfriend...

Boyfriend has had a ... day (I don't know what the word is as I don't think he knows yet really). Its hard to see someone you love, who is so far away, and you can't talk to go through something that looks difficult. But I know its life changing, and he's being changed to be the change God promises. I just prayer that as he sleeps tonight he will be rested for the rest of the week, be refreshed fro the next day and be transformed further so God can use him to be the change in this World

Identity, Coats and Disney

I started this blog on Saturday, but wasn't sure it was right and had a sermon I was meant to be writing. That evening I was talking to a friend about why it's easier to blog than to sermon, and I decided it's cos I can talk about me more, though my blogs often end up with God. To hear more of my sermon writing antics read Paul's Blog But here is my blog, I've added stuff from my sermon, and updated the times. Enjoy

I've been driving on rural roads again but don't worry that isn't the metaphor I'm using again... yet.

In my car I have a Disney CD playing at the moment - blame Brother for that! I have a feeling there will be a few blogs on things Disney teaches me - I already have one in my blog drafts folder but today I want to talk about identity.

First thing I've learnt is that Disney films aren't nice. The Hunchback of Notre-Dame starts (I think, not seen it in ages) with a 'Gypsy' killed for running away to save her baby, who isn't cute... when she is accused of stealing. The story is told in the song and it uses the line 'one is the monster and one the man’, and goes on to ask ‘who is the monster and who is the man?’ The adult who killed the mother and the child. The former gives the child the name Quasimodo which means half formed.

The next song on the CD is from Aladdin, where the Genie renames Aladdin as Prince Ali. I like how the songs often link one to the next.

I think names are really interesting. I'm a peaceful ewe. One of my favourite youth work sessions explores who we are and what defines us, sharing your name with someone doesn't really tell them anything... When I was in South Africa I was British Rachel, as we also had an Irish Rachel. Yeah, of all the 18-30s women in Methodism Britain and Ireland managed to pick two Rachel's!! On Twitter I'm Rachic11 which doesn't tell you much but then I get a whole 160 characters to explain who I am, and in that you get - girlfriend,daughter,sister,friend,methodist,youth worker,HKS4MWiB,f&w studier, Views are my own.

So, how often do we reinvent ourselves?
I was at a coffee morning on Saturday that I have been going to for over 4 years on and off - nowadays only when I get a free Saturday morning. I wonder how different I am now to the nervous 18 year old who turned up her first week in the city. There are two brilliant old men there, the banter between them is so funny and somehow I often get into trouble (all in jest) when they put words in my mouth. Wonder if they see a difference in me.

I've also bought a new phone this weekend. I've loved my current/old phone and had it since my 21st, but Friday night, going in to a famous Italian food based hut ,I dropped it and the answer call button no longer works! So I've had to get a new phone, its similar to my old one, but definitely an upgrade. How I spend my money is a big way I show who I am, and getting the best contract for my money means I have the capability to be there for people online and to listen on the phone, and money spare to give to charity.

The other way I change how I look is hair and glasses. Though I noticed the other day that I bought the same frames for sunglasses both in 2008 and 2010. As part of my sermon I talked about how our clothes are part of our identity. I have 3 coats, my youth work one that I use for detached work and when I'm camping and need to put something over my pjs when telling young people off at 3am. Its waterproof. Then there is my furry on the inside thick winter coat - looks good with wellies. And third is my pretty summer coat that I was given for one birthday. It's great for a dry night out - but not if it's wet as its dry clean only. The sermon went into what the people were doing by laying their coats on the ground, their security and warmth - as well as identity - sacrificing part of who they to exalt Jesus.

Going back to the 'monster or man' idea I've recently been to see the Muppets at the cinema and that has 'am I a man up a muppet.' Now ignoring the fact I'm a woman, how do I want to be seen? I often joke I'd be a great evil genius if my morals didn't get in the way. And boyfriend calls me a muppet often.

Does it really matter who I have been, the name I've been given, or even who I am going to be (though all are part of who I am) but surely it's about who I am today. How I use who I have been to guide who I am and can be, and what do I need to sacrifice to exalt Jesus.

Yes, yes we should.

I often find that when others are around I ask for advice in things that normally I can do without thinking about. For example, if a friend is over I would ask them if they thought food was cooked rather than trusting my own judgement like I would if it was only me. In the same way I get my boyfriend to check my blog before I publish it if he’s around, but sometimes I just post it without those checks!

I've been thinking a lot about rules and what we let people do. Yesterday I was with a group who are planning worship at their church. They want to do everything, they don't get why they can't do the sermon. And why can't they? I think since I've been on note/on trial as a local preacher I've understood more that we have to be careful who can have access to the pulpit, but maybe that is just because I'm in the 'in' club.

The keynote at Connecting Disciples gave me a lot to think about - all about worship and young people, but one thing he said was that he wasn't the expert of our contexts, and no one could tell us how to do our jobs. We are the experts of where we are. There are bigger thoughts of moving or staying, but that's another blog!

A big theme of the past couple of weeks has been communion.

• · The liturgy that the young people wrote (found below).
• · Communion as a means of Grace (a way to experience God's love).
• · Love feasts of bread and fish.
• · Meals and times of sharing, the best chats are often over food.
• · And not worry about back-stitch methods.

I'm not going to go into who has to be there to say the magic words - prayer of great thanksgiving, as I know people think different things on this.

But, let's show God's love, and share in fellowship with our brothers and sisters. Yes, yes we should.

Young People's Prayer of Thanksgiving (written on 3rd March 2012 by LMC and Ashton Circuit)

The Lord be with you

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them up to God.

We should give our thanks to God

Yes, yes we should.

Thank you epic God for being awesome. Thank you for being the best designer of our beautiful world. You made us like you.

So we will praise you, singing with all people everywhere

Holy holy (STF 10)

We respect you for sending Jesus.

Jesus shows us compassion, commitment and love.

Yes, yes he does.

When the time was right, Jesus chilled out with you, healed in your name, told amazing stories of Heaven on Earth, and fed lots of people, before turning his face to the journey to the cross.

At the last supper with his friends Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it and gave it to them saying ‘Take, eat. This is my body given for you, do this to remember me.’

Then after supper he took the cup, gave thanks and said ‘This is my blood, given to show you my love, for you and for all people.’

Dying, you destroyed our death.

Rising, you restored our life.

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Send your holy spirit that this bread and wine may be for us the body and blood of Jesus.

We offer our lives, our gifts, our talents. All that we are. All that we could be. All that we will be. To live to tell your story.

Through, with and in Jesus’ name. Amen

day in the life of...

After a week of random days today has been back to normal! Well back to work at least.

So here is me blogging life, literally. Now I keep a diary of the practical things that I do, I could go back to 2010 and know what I did on this day (I had a Reflective Manager group meeting and was going to go to the cinema - but then didn't). So this isn't just what would be in my diary, but an insight in what I've done today.

So I woke up after plenty of sleep, I woke to a text that had arrived the night before, played some tetris and arranged tea on Tuesday, and saw my prayer on @yr_of_prayer on twitter. I got up and got ready and drove down to my Sunday morning youth fellowship, and stopped on the way to buy lots of breakfasty items (Muffins, Crumpets, pancakes and golden syrup). The service started with a number of songs including 'Lord make me a Mountain' I really picked up on the line - "

Lord make me the servant of everyone I meet" [I've been thinking a lot recently about what I do for God, what I do with God, what is work and what is just being a Christian]. Then there was

an activity about what we value; money, family, looks etc.

When we got through into the Youth room - AKA the vestry. We got the breakfast and hot chocolate sorted and set to the task of planning worship for the Sunday school anniversary in May. We started this 2 weeks ago - think I mentioned it in another blog. So we got out the Bibles and hymn books and got distracted by the life files in the youth Bible, which are something I love and loathe as we often go off on tangents and today we got distracted with homosexuality 'it's a sin' so after discussing that Christians can believe many things on a spectrum of human sexuality we got back on task and they decided on a topic and they need to choose hymns next week when I'm not there.

I went from there to a supermarket that sell petrol and give bee points to buy petrol, then off to hobbycraft to buy feathers and boots to get some lunch.

Then back in the car to zoom to a school field to help at a 5-a-side football tournament. Reminded me of the old days at high school and the Mehji cup. The tournament went well even if it was a bit cold and well done to Smash A for winning, and the rest of the teams for playing well. the event concluded with hot dogs and a little talk from me and a local chaplain about running with perciverence, and not worrying - like a feather just floating along.

That finished an hour early and after helping to put a tent down - good practice for camping soon. I went home and had a good chat with a cousin and aunty, catching up and sharing news.

Just before 6 I got back in the car to go to the evening south circuit youth fellowship which had 6 young people at. They got to write things they don't believe in the Bible, things they are confused about and things they do believe. We then managed to discuss, creation, heaven and hell, feeding the 5000. It made me think about what I believe. I've often labelled myself as a liberal, and on some things I am, but I think its more that if I don't have an opinion I err on the side of caution, but maybe that's wrong, there's a difference between questioning and liberal.

And now I'm home, the Tv is on, I've been working on this blog for over an hour, I've updated my to do list on WorkFlowy.com and worked out whats going on over the next couple of weeks.

And that was my day back at work! They aren't all like that but that was my today. Lots to think about, lots done, lots more to do.

Things I learnt while house sitting.

I've been house sitting this week - the fact that makes my post earlier in the week make sense. So here are 3 things I've learnt / re-learnt / thought about this week.


1 - I need a routine. Every morning this week I managed to get out of bed, let the dogs out, feed them and the fish and have my own breakfast before 8:30. This is quite an achievement for me. It's made me realise that I really need a routine - this morning I got up from my own bed at my house, and was already running late, I was hoping I'd automatically wake up at about 8am again. My life is sometimes complicated in getting up times, but I really could do with starting the day the same every day.

2 - I actually like pets. I've not always been a big fan of pets. There is a photo at Mum and Dad's house of me, my brother and the dog all lying on the floor with our faces together, and they always say its the closest I've ever got to the dog. I think its the walking and clearing up I'm not a big fan of.

3 - Where is home? I use the word home a lot. I've said I'm going home this week and meant where I was house sitting, same as when I'm on holiday. Similarly its taken some time but my parents house is somewhere else I call home. The corny romantic in me would say I'm truly home when I'm back in my boyfriends arms. Then there are other places I've been to and felt at home Yardley for example.


Then today I was doing a session on friends and family. My Sunday morning group is rather awesome, we start in church then make breakfast, then go into our comfy room with sofa's and have a chat while we eat French breakfast items and drink hot chocolate. And then when we are done they do the washing up.

A few weeks ago I asked them to list all the things they wanted to talk about and vote for the most important - Youth Participation :) So this week we got to friends and family. They started by drawing the best ever and worst ever friend and family member. We then compared results to see what the differences between what we expect from family and friends, and talked about how parents treat siblings differently, and the strange phase they go through when their kids are in their teens.

I used the line some of our friends can become like family and a very clever 11 year old boy came back and said that some of our family can be our friends.

We finished the session talking about the 5 love languages that I talk about as often as I can. And because words are the only one that works on the blog...

... I just want to say thank you to my family who are like my friends, and those of you my friends who are like Brothers and Sisters, to the Grandparents that have adopted me, and those of you who let me be like an Aunty to your kids. You all fill my life with happiness and look after me when I'm down - or need coffee. Thank you for those of you who have let me treat your house as my home. And a big hats off to anyone who has actually had to live with me - Well done!