Stuff

Final Blog from the institute ... and the room is totally bare literally only bed and desk in. Everything else is outside in the van. Its now 6am and I have been woken by the wild life in the garden. Magpies having  a fight outside my window! could they not have taken it somewhere else. 

But as I have been sitting in bed thinking about today, the amount of running about our van has to do today I was drawn to some familiar passages from the gospels. 

When the disciples were heading out on their first assignment, did they get removals in, pack their van and head off?? ... mmm... NO! 

Luke 9 Jesus Sends Out the Twelve

 ¹When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ²and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³He told them: "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. ⁴Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them." ⁶So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

mmm... what is essential? 

24

I don't know if you have ever watched the cult TV series - 24 basically it is an show which follows the adventures of a counter terrorism unit who are trying to defend the US from terrorist intent on blowing up cities, whilst the hero Jack Bower tries to twart their attack. I still have to watch a lot of the show.

Anyway just a quick wee thought of what is going to happen in the next 24 hours ... nothing as exciting as all the hi tech stuff with Jack Bower, but it will undoubtably be a roller coaster ... Finishing of revision for exams, finding out what I know, don't know, then its up early, trinity library for the morn, lunch, tension before exam (my very last exam at TCD DV!) then its a sprint back to college for our last Communion service as a commuinty... and then its ... well CITI is over. How very bizarre ... very strange ... mmm ... 24 little hours

But better get back to the studying now and stop blogging.

Boxes - Nearly Time to move

It has been interesting over the last while to be slowly packing my room up here in college into cardboard boxes ready for the move from Dublin and Banbridge to East Belfast. The big move comes next week as the van comes to pick all the stuff up and deliver it to the curatage.

In week 2 of college (2006) I wrote on the blog
I am writing this in the second week of college.

"Over the last week and a bit a group of individuals left home and came down to a strange place in the heart of Dublin. This blog hopefully chart my way through the rigours, ups and down of college life as well as simply trying to reflect on what is happening down here

Now that we've got wireless Internet in the study rooms in college, updates might be more regular than previous experience has shown!

Okey Dokey - so last week...
It all started on Saturday with the packing of the car - squashing mum into the back seat and bringing all the essentials and much more besides and navigating our way through the dublin streets eventually arriving at our destination of CITC in Braemor Park.

After unpacking and generally moving in- it was up for lunch and the icebreakers which caused a bit of amusement for all, a chat with the other students.

Mum and dad stayed overnight as in the morning we were off for Sunday worship in RTE Studios with CMSI where I was reading various parts of the service and Simon was being interviewed.

Monday saw the whole class sitting down around a table for the first few sessions, running around trying to open banks without much success to be honest and an "interesting" table quiz which our team won - i think!

Tuesday Alan came down to lead sessions entitled "Spirituality for ministry" which was extremely thought provoking which included - Struggle with call, spirituality, ministry and mission - all of which I really need to sit down and look again at the handouts.

Wedensday was another quite amazing day when I think most of us would say we were challenged by actually taking time out just to be with God and to think about our own thoughts and how we could keep close to God - again a lot of stuff to take in!

Thursday looked at various ways ministry was played out in real life - the challenges and reality in parishes looking particularly at a team ministry situation

The first week proved to be very challenging, it definitely had its ups and downs! but it was a time when we saw prayers answered soooo quickly and effectively. For me it has really confirmed the call and the idea that I am where I feel called to!"

Now in one weeks time I am going to be unpacking boxes again - ready for a new challenge, a new set of people, a new area but what is constant is God and his love, his call, his faithfulness and generally everything the Bible says about him.

Please do continue to pray for all of us in CITI at the moment 2 more exams to go Wed and Thurs, farewell HC on Thursday night, BBQ and then a breakfast on Friday morn and then it is tearful goodbyes but it is great that we all know that we are going to where God has called us to be - so it is fantastic that as a year group we are going the length and breadth of Ireland with the Gospel - the good news of Christ - It is such an amazing privilege - what could be better?


(photo courtesy of Karen & May)

Between now and the not yet

At the moment it seems like just another academic year ... lots to do with exams and revision. Reality is also setting in that in three sundays I will have moved my little room in college into a big house in Belfast - how strange is that!

At the moment it is simply rumours of what is to come but reality is setting in that things need to be organised
- House insurance
- TV licenece and the like

It is bizarre but good.

Congrats to St. Columba's for their award at synod this year ... 2nd Prize in the parish magazine competition ... it is an excellent publication! (available online as a PDF)

Please do continue to pray for all of us as we study for these few weeks.

RF

A quick blog from Dublin

It is 16:48 - 12 minutes before Chapel is about to start.

At the moment I am in full revision mode ... Anglicanism, OT, NT, Systematic Theology and Ethics all need to be done. We are half way through the revision and it seems to be going Ok at the moment.

A couple of things struck me today. All of which appeared through the computer today.

In our study of anglicanism we have been looking at the proposed anglican consultative council and the new covenant which is being proposed. Maurice Elliott (the Director of CITI) is over at the meeting in Jamica at the moment - I have been following with interest the debates

Whilst studying I do have google talk open and up popped an old friend from Zambia - the Rev. David Nixon who with his wife Rhoda and kids are in Choma and we had a wee conversation there. Also on my google homepage is a feed from CMSI and one of the volunteer mission partners in Nepal is having to ask for prayer for the political situation there.

It is amazing once again how small this world is getting that we can be in touch with global events such as the ACC meeting, talk directly to people on the mission field in africa and asia as well as chatting to other ordinands back in the north about revision and also find time to revise with pen and paper.

Please do pray for ACC, for Nepal and for David in Zambia - ahhh there we go a quick blog ... off now to pray & worship ...!

Belfast Marathon

Yesterday, whilst I was down in dublin working hard, the rest of my family, Mum, Dad and Claire were out for a nice wee stroll ... sorry no that's right they were participating with the rest of the Seapatrick Parish Team completing between the the 26 odd mile course. Mum and Dad were doing the final stretch ... from Corporation St to the End round in Ormeau Park. Martin uploaded these photos onto his facebook page which I stole... so all credits to him!

Well done you guys!

Keep er lit

The end is in sight

Yeah a united finish!

Hey Claire!

Team Seapatrick!