I love doing hands-on work. As much as I enjoy meetings and
committees (that's not sarcasm, I really do!), I love being on the ground. And
last week I got the opportunity to help in a Drop In, based out of Central Methodist
Church, Preston. The Drop In was a re-imagining of a soup kitchen, where those
who have very little, the homeless and the lonely can come in, have curry,
jacket potatoes, soup, toast and hot drinks, and have a chat. It was great to
meet some of the volunteers who are serving the Lord through practical ways.
I had a really interesting chat with one of the volunteers, a really friendly
guy who is the de facto 'second in command' of the Drop In. He is a care worker
by day, and helps with the Drop In twice a week. He told me that he doesn't
really enjoy his work, but loves the work he does alongside Christians. And he
told me that he's an atheist. This really touched me, we don't have the same
religious beliefs, but for him there is something special about being with
Christians, serving others. And I think that he is a real blessing, and is
doing God's work, even though he doesn't see it that way. (An aside, He told
everyone I was an assassin when I told him I studied International Politics and
the Intelligence Services.)
I also got to help with a youth group, filling in for
another volunteer who couldn't be there. I was tasked with cooking the pizzas,
which is a good use of my talents I guess, but also enjoyed chatting with them.
And then on Saturday, I helped with Insync (the Lancashire District Synod Youth
Forum), where we were looking at the District's policy, encouraging them to get
involved and share their views, which will be fed back to the District Policy
Committee. It was interesting talking about how the Church needs to take risks,
try new things, and be prepared to accept that some things fail, but they
aren't a waste, they are learning experiences. I would also like to thank
Lancashire District for allowing me to represent them at Methodist Conference
this year, its and important year for many reasons, and I'm glad I'll be part
of the discussions in London in July. (And sorry to my Line Manager, who now
has to work out how this fits with my Training Weekend, but he did say that I
could stand!)
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| At the top of Pendle Hill |
After Synod, Girlfriend and I joined a number of others, led
by Rev Stephen Poxon (District Chair) on a walk up Pendle Hill. This was part
of the Lancashire Year of Prayer, in which Stephen is walking around the
District visiting every Church. Pendle Hill is famous for two, very different
things. On one hand, it is linked with witches, being the Site of the Pendle
Witch Trials, on the other hand, it is where George Fox, the founder of the
Quaker movement, received a vision from God. It is a pretty steep climb, even
more so when you are having to half drag your girlfriend up. When we made it to
the top, we shared a prayer and a few hymns, which I found very moving. And the views were amazing, you can see almost the whole of Lancashire, rolling hills, and the sea in the distance. I can see why George Fox had a vision from God there! I was
wearing my One Programme t-shirt, and got talking to a women wearing a fluffy
tiara at the top about what I did, something I wasn't really expecting.
It was a very exciting week, and I'm looking forward to
doing some more 'on the ground' work over the next
year.
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| Worship on Pendle Hill |
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