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.