Last week of teaching term - Day 1

It is amazing to think that there is only 4 days left of term ... but there is a huge amount packed into that time.

This morning, I have managed to get 4 essays in - Only one more to go

This afternoon after class was the medical which went grand - praise God!

and this evening I handed over my position of sen Student to Mr Paul Bogle which is great - Just took him on a tour of the Institute - what to lock up and what to turn off ... it really doesn't seem like a year since Gary took me on the same journey...

At the house meeting it is my responsibility to give opening remarks below is roughly what I said.

Bible reading Ephesians 4:4-8

^4-6You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. ^7-13But that doesn't mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift.

Opening Remarks

This year has seen unprecedented change –

• We have morphed from a college to an institute
• We have said goodbye as a community to Adrian & June and Tom
• We have welcomed Maurice & Kirsten, and the kids, Katie and …

That change is an on-going feature of life, nothing stands still … It is very difficult to sumarise a year here but here is my attempt…

• essays completed,
• sermons prepared,
• services taken,
• houses visited
• seminars presented,
• cars and beds have been found on lawns,
• garden tours have been organised,
• dinners eaten,
• books read
• biscuits ate,
• drinks drunk,
• veda toasted,
• coffee made,
• paper photo copied,
• facebook updated,
• cats fed,
• broth enjoyed
• luas’ & bus caught
• preachers preached
• cards signed
• blogs written
• twitters tweeted
• birds sang
• choristers hummed
• guitars strummed
• tears shed
• laughter heard
• alarms sounded
• cat …
• cassocks worn
• Curacy round
• Canadians left to busses
• Airport security alerted
• Photos shot
• Hair cut
• RTE broadcasted
• Irish Times Reported
• Paintings created
• Videos watched
• God worshipped
• Prayers prayed
• Friday Afternoon – heads scratched
• Laundry washed
• Rooms tidied
• Internet … yes / no
• Pianos played
• Bins went out
• Cosmology … what?
• Newspapers came in
• Post delivered
• Beds Made
• Walls painted
• Bibles stolen
• Projects Handed in
• Eucharist celebrated
• Birthdays commemorated
• Classes attended
• Sermons listened
• Money Collected
• Prayer Room Decorated
• Chapel Changed
• Medicals had
• Now what??

This place, these walls at times can be a bitter sweet symphony – with workload, with pressures at home, friends down here, frustrations with things, community life can be great one minute and then something kicks of an reaction. But all in all this is and has been a great place to be for three years.

As senior student this year I would like to thank all those who make this place what it is

Firstly on behalf of the whole house I would like to thank …

Paul Bogle as Treasurer and Ruth West as Secretary

The whole of the kitchen staff … Kathleen, Johnathan and the team

Jacqui, Karen and May for their work on the domestic side of things

The teaching staff – Lindsey, Patrick, Tom and most lately Katie

The office staff – Lynda and Daphne

And Maurice – who on a personal note has been great answering queries each time myself and Ali has been in to see him on curacy and final year issues.

Again on a personal note – from my own heart – the people who I have met in this place I will keep in touch with – facebook will be great for that so will starbucks– It is my prayer that as a new era begins whilst the old is seen out – that God will continue to bless the fellowship and friendship of this place – Yes differences of opinion will occur – we are a very diverse community but we all do hold Christ in common – second years - please be assured of our prayers as you continue in this place next year.

It also has been a privilege to get to know the wider family of CITI – the landscape architects, Vets, choral students, organ scholars, computer scientists, musicians, engineers, theologians, linguists, English students. All of which provide a great variety to the community life

We look forward to hearing about the new facilities which will be in this place next year – ensuites etc.

As we come to the business part of this meeting – let us remember as Christians we are called into relationship with God and with one another and that each and every member has a part to play in making this place work.

Who is Jesus?

Dr SM Lockridge, and I wish I had said it! You can read it below, but trust me its well worth the listen (here).

My King was born King.
The Bible says He's a Seven Way King.
He's the King of the Jews - that's a racial King.
He's the King of Israel - that's a National King.
He's the King of righteousness.
He's the King of the ages.
He's the King of Heaven.
He's the King of glory.
He's the King of kings and He is the Lord of lords.
Now that's my King.

Well I wonder if you know Him. Do you know Him? Don't try to mislead me. Do you know my King?

David said the Heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament show His handiwork.

My King is the only one whom there are no means of measure can define His limitless love.
No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shore of supplies.
No barriers can hinder Him from pouring out His blessing.

Well, well, He's enduringly strong.
He's entirely sincere.
He's eternally steadfast.
He's immortally graceful.
He's imperially powerful.
He's impartially merciful.
That's my King.

He's God's Son.
He's the sinner's saviour.
He's the centrepiece of civilization.
He stands alone in Himself.
He's honest.
He's unique.
He's unparalleled.
He's unprecedented.
He's supreme.
He's pre-eminent.

Well, He's the grandest idea in literature.
He's the highest personality in philosophy.
He's the supreme problem in high criticism.
He's the fundamental doctrine of proved theology.
He's the carnal necessity of spiritual religion.
That's my King.

He's the miracle of the age.
He's the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him.

Well, He's the only one able to supply all of our needs simultaneously.
He supplies strength for the weak.
He's available for the tempted and the tried.
He sympathizes and He saves.
He's strong God and He guides.
He heals the sick.
He cleanses the lepers.
He forgives sinners.
He discharged debtors.
He delivers the captives.
He defends the feeble.
He blesses the young.
He serves the unfortunate.
He regards the aged.
He rewards the diligent and He beautifies the meek.

Do you know Him?

Well, my King is a King of knowledge.
He's the wellspring of wisdom.
He's the doorway of deliverance.
He's the pathway of peace.
He's the roadway of righteousness.
He's the highway of holiness.
He's the gateway of glory.
He's the master of the mighty.
He's the captain of the conquerors.
He's the head of the heroes.
He's the leader of the legislatures.
He's the overseer of the overcomers.
He's the governor of governors.
He's the prince of princes.
He's the King of kings and He's the Lord of lords.

That's my King. Yeah. Yeah.
That's my King. My King, yeah.

His office is manifold.
His promise is sure.
His light is matchless.
His goodness is limitless.
His mercy is everlasting.
His love never changes.
His Word is enough.
His grace is sufficient.
His reign is righteous.
His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

Well. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He's indescribable. He's indescribable.

Yes. He's incomprehensible.
He's invincible.
He's irresistible.
I'm coming to tell you, the heavens of heavens cannot contain Him, let alone a man explaining Him.
You can't get Him out of your mind.
You can't get Him off of your hands.
You can't outlive Him and you can't live without Him.

Well, Pharisees couldn't stand Him, but they found out they couldn't stop Him.
Pilot couldn't find any fault in Him.
The witnesses couldn't get their testimonies to agree.
Herod couldn't kill Him.
Death couldn't handle Him and the grave couldn't hold Him.
That's my King. Yeah.

He always has been and He always will be.
I'm talking about He had no predecessor and He'll have no successor.
There's nobody before Him and there'll be nobody after Him.
You can't impeach Him and He's not going to resign.
That's my King! That's my King!

Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory.
Well, all the power belongs to my King.
We're around here talking about black power and white power and green power, but it's God's power.
Thine is the power. Yeah. And the glory.
We try to get prestige and honour and glory for ourselves, but the glory is all His.
Yes. Thine is the Kingdom and the power and glory, forever and ever and ever and ever. How long is that? And ever and ever and ever and ever. And when you get through with all of the evers, then,

Amen.

Ember Cards Designed and ordered

updates from down here

Well the ideas of the Timothy online bible stuff really didn't happen ... but there is still time!

College/ Institute time is running out quite quickly ... only 3 weeks left of academic term and then it is off for 3 weeks revision, 2 weeks exams and then ... off to other things.

So what have we been up to ...? well projects were handed in last week and it was on to essays, essays and more essays.

Ethics
Anglicanism
Old Testament
Exegesis sermons
New Testament
Cosmology
Theological reflection
College stuff including - weekend, house meeting
Viva's

All still to be handed in ... so time is short but it is all good.

It is quite a strange feeling at the moment as things happen. Ali described it well at the moment ... marathon, at the minute it is uphill always so much to do - one thing after another to concentrate on but then we are always looking ahead as there are things which need to be put in place for the future ... stuff to go into the diocesan office, stuff to get measured for in terms of robes etc.

Then there are ember cards to get printed.