Tuesday, 5 February 2008

You know the old saying - we preach the sermons we need to hear ourselves...

Back to the Dots
On my manic wall calendar there are four orange dots of interest, one challenging, two thoroughly enjoyable for me and one I am open to going either way.

The challenging dot indicates an invitation to lead a reflection/meditation at the cathedral which seemed just fine until I discovered that they were at that time leading a series of the Seven Deadly Sins and on my day is scheduled gluttony!! I am trying to look at it as Gods cosmic joke! As a big woman to lead such a topic is…a challenge which I shall accept. Although finding that opening line is difficult and has raised some interesting options. I guess starting with the old AA motif of Hi I am Megan and I’m a glutton is a little tasteless for a reflective service. Anyway I shall when I get my head around it post it here I have no doubt. The two dots which I am looking forward to are two evenings I am running on woman at the cross.

As the Blurb says:
Woman at the foot of the Cross- a Prayer meditation series that looks at women both as anointer and witness at the crucifixion.

Week One - On the way to the cross – inside the house of Simon Peter and the anointing woman.
The story of the anointing woman is both haunting and engaging. Although who she was has been open to debate, the power of this extraordinary act of humanity is undeniable.
Through prayer, meditation, discussion, and encounter let us explore this evocative and immerse ourselves in the deeply evocative image of a woman of courage and humility.

Week Two –At the foot of the cross- women as witness at the crucifixion.
Through Marks Gospel we are told of the many women both named and unnamed who witnessed the crucifixion of Christ. The impact of such an event is one we can only begin to comprehend. Although the names and accounts of most of these women have never been told, the very mention of their presence signals the significance of them as witness at the crucifixion.
Together through prayer, meditation, discussion, and encounter let us explore the points of connection between the witness of the passion of Christ and our place our place of witness today.

The third of my orange dots is preaching at St Lukes which I have not done before. My nervousness is I guess being around people I know rather than strangers and the old wanting to do the opportunity justice.

In between all these there is an electoral synod 4 workshops to organize an ordination and commissioning and chrism service to print a discernment weekend and two conferences to do the prep for. Now about this gluttony issue…

In search of...

I have just finished (some what late) my training and learning Covenant for 2008. Looking at the expectations of the year I would have to say a cold sweat has fallen over me. I know it is doable especially if I knuckle down. So to aid in focusing I have just done the wall planner complete with large red dotes marking assignments and orange for preaching and teaching. It is something I notice in myself at stressful times the whole issue of organizing manically. This of course looks good but involves the follow through to make any real value in the exercise.

As I look at my year planner it is the absence of things I notice. Like I haven’t put in swimming classes at all. Sitting behind everything is the blue dot on the 20th of April which is the last day at my parish.

The other day I was talking to my priest who asked me if I would know by that day where I was moving to as it would be good to be able as part of the service at the end to pass me over if you will to a representative of my new parish so people would have a sense of placing me in good hands. At that point I had one of my less glamourous moments of feeling this clot of grief settling in me and made a dive to the tissue box. When I walk out that door that has been so healing for me I know the parish will then meet to continue with their parish review ‘where to in the future’ with an awareness that I am not a part of this.

One of the things I am aware of as I branch out visiting Churches is that there are some really interesting places out there yet the stumbling block seems to be me. Each church has aspects of what I would like (and yes BTW I know I have to be open to Gods call) yet none seem to have them together. This is an indication of me rather than the churches I am visiting. And that whereas I had to a point an element of choice in my past churches now there are others involved and issues such as training etc to consider.

So the journey continues and at the end of my search I shall hopefully have a clearer idea of where I am going.
One day at a time
M