The end is nigh

Today I am aware I am about to enter my final week at Railway Crossing and First Stop. I have really relished the experience of being here for the summer. I know I have grown and settled in very well.

The coming week is going to be a busy one, with the summer holiday club taking place in Railway Crossing. I have warned the other leaders I am very relaxed with these things. I already surprised one of the leaders by having a laugh when we were 'quality testing' the giant jenga. Apparently they've never seen a minister laugh than much...the poor people.

I'm really looking forward to the holiday club. I have missed not having any youth work for a year, due to none taking place at Caledonia Kirk. My concern is there may be an undertone of 'get them to church', which I rail against, but time will tell.

I'm amazed how the congregations have taken me, so it seems, to my heart. I am who I am and don't try to be anything different, perhaps that's why. I also regularly get positive comments about my sermons - they like that I don't waffle and I leave them thinking - that I don't give them all the answers. That's my intent - after all, I don't have them all - but I'm glad that comes across. Surprisingly, I was told one of the congregations laps up hell-fire and brimstone and I am just not that kind of preacher, so maybe the person who told me this thinks they like that because that's his style and reflects his theology?

Though I have enjoyed the experience, have met some wonderful people and seen beautiful scenery, this experience has confirmed I am not called to remote rural ministry. Not at this stage in my life or ministry, but I'll be careful completely dismissing it, as I don't want to give God too good a laugh.

After here, I am heading straight off to shadow a military chaplain. I don't know if I am called to that form of ministry, but it's an experience which I know will be useful in any ministry. Besides, I do like a man in uniform!

Home Sweet Home

Got home late last night. In theory, I could have come home yesterday afternoon, but Highland Cathedral were having their annual end of their Summer holiday club barbecue...it rained, but ne'er mind. I wanted to still be part of that, seeing as I was involved from the off in the planning and preparation of the week. Despite the rain, it was the right way to round off the week.

I always knew I would be leaving Highland Cathedral and it wasn't hard. I loved the church, the people, the area. It wasn't hard to leave as I think I will always have a place there if I were ever to visit (though weekends tend to be a bit difficult, for some reason!). To quote a member of the congregation yesterday "I can't believe you've only been here 10 weeks, you have become so much a part of the church. It's great". That was very touching and affirming. I was only able to do that by being myself and the congregation being who they were.

So all in all, this was a great placement for me. It's not that the placement wasn't without its challenges, but those went with my gifts and skills, rather than against them and that made all the difference to what I did, how I learnt and how I grew. I pray this may continue throughout my training and formation (a process which I know does not end on ordination).

And all this was possible because 2 good friends of spot and I were stupid enough to offer a place to stay to me. Thank God for people like them in our lives.

Tiring, but fun

All this week Highland Cathedral has been hosting its Summer Holiday club for primary school children. I have been involved all week and have thoroughly loved it. It's the first time I've been involved in this since I was in my late teens and I know I enjoyed it more that I did first time round.

The children were great, the leaders were great, the people who made the tea and refreshments were great. In fact, everyone involved in any way in making the club happen were great.

I thrived on the buzz of the whole thing. I was happy making a fool of myself where necessary (and it was necessary quite a lot of the time!). I was also sensible when I needed to be,. which made the silliness even sillier!

It's definitely something I'd seriously consider doing in the future, if the church I'm called to doesn't already have one. For many children it might be the only contact with church they will have, but who knows the seeds which may be sown when they take part in a good church holiday club?

Though I enjoyed it, I am tired. It's a high energy thing (especially as I was one of the people up-front - pulling the whole thing together, giving continuity etc) and even the children who have come all week looked tied today. And with all my jumping around and falling down (on purpose, I have to admit) it's not done my dodgy knee any favours. But, it was worth it to see children have fun in a church setting and hopefully, through all the team has done this week, will know God's love for them. The rest is in God's hands.

Right time, right place

In a few days time I will be at home. My home. The house I share with spotthegerbil. It'll be odd being home. I miss it. I miss not having spot around. I miss the sights and the smells. I miss my triangle of working. I miss my routine and my space.

(This is not to be a moan, but a reflection, so bare with me)

Yet being at Highland Cathedral has been a great opportunity which came my way. My good friends and very generous hosts offered me a place to stay even before I'd thought about summer placements (in fact, even before I'd started uni or my first placement). The things I have done would not have been open to me near my home (as there are some unique outreach projects at Highland Cathedral) and I have experienced living in a context very different from the central belt, where I have always lived. They have been gracious and generous hosts, with me becoming very much part of the family and this feeling like a second home. It's amazing how things can come your way and you can either take the chance or not. I'm so glad I did, though it has not been totally easy being away from spot for so long.

It's going to be hard leaving. I've come to love this place, the people, the congregation and I think they have come to love me. This area is definitely on the list of areas I would consider for a charge (though that seems a long way off at the moment).

It's funny, I had considered going abroad for a placement, but I am glad I chose no to. Here, at Highland Cathedral, was exactly where I needed to be for this placement. God gave me a choice and I accepted. I pray my next placement will be as beneficial in my formation as this one has. 

Nearly there

This is the final week of my summer placement and what a brilliant placement this has been. I have learnt so much, grown so much and done so much. (The beer in the local has been a hardship to sample, too!). While all experience is beneficial, this placement was good too. The congregation, the minister, the location, my hosts - really, I couldn't have asked for a better placement.

I really feel, even in this very short period of time, that I have touched the lives of so many in Highland Cathedral and its parish. In many ways, that will be to a limited extent, but I look at how often Jesus only spoke to someone briefly and their lives were transformed forever. I pray that I can do that too, in his strength, of course.

The only thing I've found a bit of a chore about this placement has been the paperwork. Those who know me know I don't really like paperwork - I see it as a necessary evil. I know the report is necessary to ensure I am progressing within my own training and doing what is expected of me for my stage of training. I'm fine with that, but does it really need to be so long? So very long? Is it just me or is there a lot of repetition? And there's the questions for the first section basically asking how rubbish I am at something. While I know it would be wrong to not state areas of struggle or where improvement is required, surely it's also wrong to word the document in such a way that some candidates will feel they can't acknowledge where things have gone well? Last time round I did focus on the negatives, this time it's more balanced and I have acknowledged where I'm good at something as well as where I need to further develop.

Just a few more days and it'll all be over on paper. In practise all I have learnt and seen and experienced here will stay with me all through my ministry, wherever that may lead.

First and last

I lead the whole act of worship yesterday for the first and last time at Highland Cathedral. Generally, it went well, flowed and came together as a coherent unit.

Being the first time here I was really nervous, but tried to use that to my advantage, rather than let it use me. That paid off to a certain extent, though as I was preaching I did stumble over a couple of words. I know I did that a bit more than I usually do (it's not like me at all), but it was a bit like a tickly cough - annoying and the more I tried to deal with it, the more it happened. Just need to remember, if that happens, to take a deep breath, pause for a second and move on. I know from feedback from my supervisor he felt that most of the congregation would not have picked up on it, which is good as I would hate that it distracted from them hearing God's message, but I know I need to remain conscious that I try to get it right. Again, I know that will come with experience.

The preamble for the sermon was a little long. A member of the congregation mentioned that to me (as the one thing wrong - they thought everything else was spot on) and I felt that was very fair comment. Again, I know that was in part down to lack of experience. With more experience I would have had the confidence to cut part of my preamble, but didn't yesterday. Again, something to bear in mind when I preach.

 did use some 'Mrs Gerbilisms' - one was from my native region and another was mine. I sometimes combine two words or make up new ones, especially when nervous. The disturbing thing is, people still understand me! My supervisor just advised me that might be a problem if I went to a posh congregation in Edinburgh or Glasgow. I don't see that being a problem as I really do not feel called to either of those cities (I should be careful what I say - God may have other plans).

The children's address didn't go as I'd planned. No children were prepared to help me (which wasn't just me - they don't really do anything for my supervisor either, though they don't know me as well as they know him and I am aware that also has an impact). Because no children helped I was going to move on, but someone from the congregation, without prompting from me, got up to help. I took that all in my stride and adapted the activity to what had happened. The message still came across and the children (and congregation) seemed to enjoy it. I know it's good I was able to adapt well and cope with the changes. So, looks like children's addresses, which were my nemesis at my last placement, are now coming together well.

But all of this is being pedantic. It looks like I have a natural gift for leading worship, which is a wee bit handy for a ministry candidate! That said, I hope I never become complacent and begin to rely on my own skills and forget I must always rely on God and the gifts he has given me. I know the nerves I get before worship help to focus my mind and also remind me how important what I am about to do is.

A Legacy?

The other day my supervisor, quite out of the blue, asked me what I felt I'd learnt from this placement. At the time, and on reflection, I'd say learning I have the ability to co-ordinate and manage a project, while allowing others to get on with it.

The following day I bumped into him while out and about (aka pastoral visiting). He was with a colleague and was waxing lyrical about this project I was co-ordinating, especially as I'd been happy letting others get on with in, rather than feeling I had to be there all the time and micro-managing it (just to make it clear, the people haven't been left in the lurch either - I'd briefed them before each session and thanked them, while getting feedback, post-session). He also talked of that being my 'legacy' to the congregation.

I suppose I must be doing okay if it's being shared outside the congregation. I know it's not perfect, but it's the first time for all of us involved. That said, it's going well and the issues (which are really minor and have only manifested themselves because the project is running) will feed into the future of the scheme, in what ever form that will take.

There are, of course, many other things I have learnt, but this has been an important lesson. It's funny, though I've worked hard on it, it doesn't feel like hard work! I also don't feel I've changed how I am or do things, so looks like this is a gift I didn't even know I had, or that I have used in a different way in the past. It's pretty cool to know that, though I am always mindful that this gift is from God and I do what I do in his strength, not mine.

Care of the elderly

I was doing a pastoral visit in an elderly care home the other day. As I was there I got to thinking about how the elderly are treated in this society. While I accept it is sometimes necessary for people to have to live somewhere with 24 hour care, it often seems it's a case of out of sight out of mind (and I am not just meaning the home I visited). Society doesn't want to see those who need everything done for them. Society just dumps them in a home and doesn't really think about them.
Around the world people can't believe how the elderly are treated in this country. The elderly are respected. Here they are often overlooked and patronised. Is it because they are old? Babies and children are seen in public every day. Their parents get child benefit, special deals in supermarkets, changing facilities etc, etc. They will be taken shopping, swimming, to the park, for walks and drives. Why doesn't this apply to the elderly? I know it's not straightforward, but it just doesn't seem right that the elderly are so poorly treated and disregarded.

Or are we scared to look in case we see the future? I do think that it's no wonder many people (myself included) sometimes say they'd rather go before that happens. Can a person in the latter stages of dementia have a good quality of life? I believe they can if we, as a society, want them to.

One thing I find fascinating is how little care workers in elderly care homes are paid. Sometimes, it's barely more than minimum wage. Those who look after children can be paid significantly more. But society is not prepared to ensure there is sufficient money paid for care to give a decent wage to carers. In doing so, the quality of care will improve, as it's possible to recruit the best staff with better pay.

So, should there be a 'national age service'? A guaranteed minimum level of care for the elderly, where caring is see as as much of a vocation as nursing. It would be nice, though I wonder if society would be prepared to pay for it. All I can say is a society is judged by how it treats the most excluded and marginalised. I would argue the elderly who need full-time care are pretty high up there.

The wrong reading

On Sunday, the person reading the bible lesson did the wrong one. Right book, right verses, wrong chapter. Oops. As they read I could see members of the congregation look puzzled as it wasn't what the expected from the order of service. Following a quick consultation with my supervisor, it was decided to let them continue and then read the right one. I wanted to do the correct reading as it was long, though I knew exactly what tact I was taking with it, so could have skipped the bits that were not being referred to in the sermon at all. But my supervisor insisted on doing the reading to take the pressure off me.

It was something I recall coming up at my first candidates' conference and the consensus there was to do what I did. Also, I made the decision I did because I didn't want to get the reader in a tizz.It later transpired it wouldn't have bothered her and, when it has happened before, the reader has been stopped and the correct one read. I didn't know that at the time. Without that knowledge and knowledge of the person reading the lesson I feel I made the right decision. Knowing the congregation and the precedent which has already been set, I would have made a different decision.

The right style for the people

I was preaching for the second time this placement on Sunday. I'm all too aware I need to preach what I feel God needs me to say to a congregation, not what I want to say. Also, I wanted to try a different style of sermon yesterday. I've not really developed a 'pattern' in my style and I'd (to a certain extent) like to keep it that way. It could get repetitive for the congregation and different styles will work for different people.

Thing is, yesterday I preached in a style that I don't actually like too much.  I retold the story of Joseph being sold to slavery, from his prospective in the well into which his brothers had thrown him. Generally, I feel that's making stuff up. There's plenty good stories in the bible and the actual reading is one of them. But I felt called to preach that way for that congregation at this time. At another time or in another place that wouldn't have worked.

I know I used my notes a bit more than I usually do, because it was a style different from that I have done before, though no one really picked up on that. I did 'wake' a few members of the congregation up when I shouted (it was in context - I was talking about Joseph wanting to shout). Not that they were really sleeping, but it definitely got their attention.

Feedback was limited, though positive. I know it wasn't as good as last time at Highland Cathedral and it is the Scottish mentality to not praise people too much (fine by me, it makes me squirm).

Over tea after the service I sat at a table with some of the members. I didn't sit with them to be complemented, but they did. One lady waxed lyrical about me being very spiritual and there was obviously a power greater than me speaking through me as I preached. I know I couldn't do what I do without God at my back and following where he leads me through the Holy Spirit.

Not my ball

Over the summer I've been tasked with co-ordinating the program for children (and their parents, if they wish). I've enjoyed being 'lt loose' to manage, arrange and organise the whole thing. It's great to be trusted to get on with it and, because of this I'm wanting it to go well (or in maybe that's not the right phrase - I would do so anyway).

Though I'm co-ordinating the program, I am liaising with members of Highland Cathedral to get volunteers, share ideas, obtain information on type, ages and numbers of children etc, etc. Also, as I'm only here for 10 weeks and need to gain experience of leading 'normal' Sunday worship (whatever that is) I cannot lead the program for the 6 Sundays it's running (though I was involved at the first one).

Initially we were in one building and it did go well, but for a variety of reasons (which I thought, but the other leaders and some parents also mentioned) it wasn't idea, so it was moved to a better location following discussion with my supervisor. But I forgot to tell the person who does the order of service (oops). I did apologise and have now got it sorted. Though it didn't have to be who passed that on, as the person responsible for co-ordination I should have made sure it was done by someone. Oh well, that's a thing to take note for future. At least I had the decency to admit I was wrong and hold my hands up to it.

From this project I have confirmed my leadership style seems to be collaborative. Especially in this situation it makes sense. If it's a success it may be run during future school holidays, but I won't be around. If I'd done it all myself no-one would have been involved in it nor know how it was put together and Highland Cathedral would be back to square one. Also, it means there seems to be a real sense of ownership of the project by the leaders and those I have asked for help and guidance from. Though I'm co-ordinating it, it's definitely not my ball. I hope this is something I can take with me in full-time ministry.

Half way there

I just can't believe I've finished 5 weeks of my 10 week placement here at Highland Cathedral (though with the conference I've been away from home for 6 weeks - not complaining, merely an observation). In some ways I can see just how much I've still to do while I'm here, yet can see just how much I've experienced and done since I arrived. And I feel really at home here - it's not that it's not challenging, but it's going with my personality, gifts and skills, rather than against. I've even been given a project to lead for Highland Cathedral. It was something they were going to do over the summer anyway, so at least it's not just been created out of nowhere. It's been running for 2 weeks now (from a 6 week run) and feedback from leaders and children is very positive. A few things were tweaked from the first week, but it was a first for everyone concerned and that's all part of the learning for all of us. I'm chuffed it seems to be going well and I am getting people engaged and enthused by the project. It's really been something I can get my teeth into, so a great learning experience for me and one which I know will stand me in good stead for the future. If the next 5 weeks are anything like the first 5, they will fly in. I am getting quite fond of it round here and Spot and I certainly wouldn't rule out moving to this neck of the woods. Still a few years off for that, though and anything can and probably will happen in the meantime - this is God's path after all!

Who to marry?

This has been a week of first for me. I have now been involved in both a wedding ceremony (other than as the person getting married, before someone interjects) and a funeral. I merely played a very small part in both of these acts of worship, but it was exceptionally humbling to be allowed by the happy couple and the bereaved to take part.

The wedding wasn't any different from what I would have expected - in fact it was fairly stereotypical, but still the special day for the couple committing to one another. In many ways, I saw my role as another one of the professionals making their wedding happen, from the hotel manager to the photographer. Having said that, as a representative of the church, I could still be seen in a different light by the couple and their guests depending on how I conducted myself. That, in turn, reflected on how they would perceive the church. So, no pressure then!

As I discussed the wedding with my supervisor, he called me on who and where I would marry people. And that sort of got my knickers in a twist. I'm very clear that the church is where the people are. The church buildings which are used as a useful tool for conducting worship and serving a community, but they are not the church. So, by that measure, a hotel can be the church, as the people are gathered in Christ's name. Yet I still slightly have a reluctance towards the idea of marriage in hotels - but is that my own prejudices rather than a decently thought out position? If it's the former, I need to put my own views to one side and think how I could serve I will serve in a parish.

I know I would want to be sure the couple knew they could be married in church if they wished and non-attendance and non-membership would not be a barrier for me marrying them in church. I would hate to think they were getting married in a hotel because they didn't think they would be allowed to be married in church. But, what if there were reasons why they still wanted to be married outwith a church, such as a feeling of hypocrisy (even with my reassurance), practicality of having everything in the same place, keeping costs down etc. Would I still marry them?

Okay, so getting back to the church being the people, that wouldn't be a barrier to me marrying people outwith the church building. So, with that in mind, I suppose I don't have a fundamental objection to marrying people outwith a church building. But I wouldn't want to become the minister people in an area came to to be married as it was perceived I would pretty much marry anyone anywhere. So how to square the circle of being welcoming to all but not making a rod for my back?

Well, the easy way, I suppose, would be to use the parish system to my advantage. So, those I serve in the parish I would marry, those with a direct connection with the church (to get round people who's great-great granny may have once attended) or people where I may have a connection through a chaplaincy. That way at least I would know them in some capacity (okay, so maybe not those in the parish, but why should service for a wedding be different for a funeral of a person in the parish?).

I still need to give this much more thought. I also know I need to have decided what I would do once I enter a parish. It seems so far off, but I know it will come around soon enough. So long as the decision I make is the right one based on what God wants of me and not what is right for me alone.

Doing enough

It's now four weeks since I started at Highland Cathedral (well, technically it's five, but the conference week doesn't count as placement time). I can't believe how quickly the time's passing, especially as my supervisor and I have already started talking about what will happen during my last Sunday here!

As some things wind down for the summer, I am slightly wondering if I will have enough to keep me occupied over the next six weeks. It's a fine line, as I could land up shooting myself in the foot and giving myself too much to do. Also, I need to allow time for research, reflection and working things out - due to my lack of experience, many things take me longer than an experienced minster, but that's just the way of it.

My supervisor has suggested I have some funerals passed onto me. When he suggested that I was really taken aback, as I've not been involved at all, but the more I think about it, the more I think it would be no bad thing getting the experience when I can. I also see it as a complement he would trust me to do a good job, even when he has not seen how I would lead such an act of worship. That's also very humbling too.

I am going to have my first taste of leading part of a funeral next week. I am a little daunted by it, but keep remembering God's got my back and I don't do (and couldn't do) what I do without him at my side, guiding and sustaining me in and through his holy spirit.

Mission and outreach

As Christians, we are called to love God with all our hearts, souls and minds, look after the poor, orphaned and widowed (whether physically or spiritually) and to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ.

So churches set up soup kitchens and youth clubs and playgroups etc, etc. All of these show the church in action, the church serving the needs of the community. Hopefully, this type of service comes with no strings attached. After all, Jesus healed and talked with people first, then told them to sin no more and follow him, not the other way around.

But in that outreach, it is all too easy for the church just to be another type of community service and could be seen as no different from the local village hall committee putting on these services. For me, while people should not be 'bible bashed', there has to be an understanding that those helping with the outreach are Christians and the service comes from Jesus through his church.

Having been involved in a couple of outreach programs through placements and my home church, the fact the service was coming from the church and all those serving were Christians did change people's perceptions of the service and, in some cases, the church. As those being served got to know the servers some deep theological concerns were aired, all due to people knowing we were all Christians. It's not to say we had the answers, far from it, but the people we were serving saw something in us and wanted to know more.

This is something I am wondering about for this placement. Their outreach program looks great and is really serving the community, but I wonder how it can be mission too, in a non-threatening and loving way. And I know it is something Highland Cathedral is wondering about too.

So, what is others' experience or thoughts? I have my own ideas, but want to have a rounded picture and more ideas my own theological reflection on this matter.

Too good to be true?

Feedback from many people at Highland Cathedral, including my supervisor, is very positive. And I shouldn't be complaining. Even the 'negatives' aren't really - they are more the kind of encouragement and advice I need for my stage in training and level of experience.

It's great to have people responding to me so well. I have been given a project to manage and it has been commented I seem to be good at encouraging and ethusing others. Wow - there's a gift I didn't know I have and I know it will be very useful in the future. Being pro-active has also been commented on in a positive way - again, I know that it something I will need to be in ministry as, once I am 'let loose' there will not be anyone to tell me what and when to do things. For me, being pro-active is partly to get the most out of this placement, but also to allow me to manage my time well.

Though this is all good and I can even acknowledge this in myself, I can't help but wonder if it's too good to be true. If it's all going to blow up in my face. But that's possibly a reflection on how thing went at my last placement. Also, my need to strive for the best means, I hope, I will never become complacent about anything I am doing in ministry, as it is all important. Yes, with experience some things will be less daunting and I will be more confident doing them, but I hope and pray I never take what I and others do for granted, as then would probably be the time I would need to move on.

All's well.

I'm really lucky here at Highland Cathedral. Though it's challenging me, it's going with who I am, rather than against as my last placement did in many ways. To begin with I thought it was a bad thing feeling at home and seemingly fitting in really well, but now I realise that it is not. After all, when I enter a charge I don't want to be constantly on my guard and feeling like a square peg in a round hole.

The good friends I am staying with have and continue to be fantastic. I just never fail to be amazed at how lucky I am here. I am so glad I took the risk to be away from home for the summer to get an experience which I could never had obtained had I stayed at home. I really love it here to the point where spot and I have discussed whether or not I would consider a charge in the area around Highland Cathedral, Lets just say, I haven't ruled it out.

My supervisor is really good too. Such a contrast with my last one, though I did learn a lot there. I know I just get on with my current one in a way I didn't with my last one - which isn't a failing on either part, just human nature that there are people individuals click with over others.

I've even already built up really good relationships with the congregation - who are so helpful, supportive and encouraging. And they also understand they only need to remember 1 name and face, but there's hundreds of them! Some other congregations don't get that!

So I thank God for bringing me to this place. I am learning a lot and gaining in confidence and assurance in my abilities. I am where I need to be in this place and time, which is very cool.

Preaching today

I preached for the first time today at Highland Cathedral. Before the service began and while I gathered my thoughts I was nervous, but tried to use that to my advantage.

I did use the personal anecdote I was swithering about using earlier in the week. I wasn't sure if it would be the right thing to do nor if I would manage to say what was needed to be said without coming across as either too emotional or inappropriate. In the end, I feel I found the right balance and I made the correct choice, though wouldn't do it every week.

To begin with I was a wee bit fast. I realised this and changed pace when I moved to from introductions to biblical reflection. I know this was because I was nervous, though feedback indicates most people did not pick up on this and my diction was very clear all the way through.

After the service I received almost universally good feedback. Constructive feedback told me I was clear in terms of content and diction. I was also told by a few people that they found it very thought provoking, sincere and reassuring. One person did say it was alright and would tell my why it was just alright later, though even my supervisor who heard the comment was confused by that and, pretty much, told me to disregard it, given the other feedback he'd heard.

So, I need to be aware  that I don't get off to too much of a rattling start, but that didn't impede even those with hearing difficulties. Over all, I feel this was a good, well presented sermon, which spoke to the congregation gathered today.

Speaking the right words

I'm not one to use personal anecdotes in sermons. It's a mixture of reasons, mainly, I don't like the idea of the congregation always hearing about my life and my family - I know I wouldn't like to hear that all the time and I'm a fairly private person, so talking about myself doesn't come easy. But this Sunday I am going to give an personal anecdote in the sermon which I feel will add to the sermon and, I hope, let the congregation see that the words of reassurance I want to give them come from hard won experience, rather than empty words.

I know, though, that it may be difficult for me saying what I feel called to say. But I know, in some deep down way, that it needs to be said. I don't know exactly how, but something is telling me there will be someone in the congregation who needs to hear this message from someone who really understands. I pray I am right and that my words are God's words and the words that the congregation at Highland Cathedral need to hear on Sunday.

Over the door

I've been doing pastoral visits as part of this placement. That was something I didn't do on my last one, for a whole load of reasons, but which I was well aware I needed to gain experience in.

It's amazing how willingly people have opened their doors and lives to me. Some have not met me and even those who had, it was only in passing, yet all happily welcomed me into their homes and told me something of their lives.

I know privilege is used many times in ministry. Some would say too often. Yet I can think of no other profession I could have been training for where I could knock on someone's door out of the blue, be welcomed in and made to feel like I have known that person for years.

I know it helps that I am interested in people. I like people and, generally, get on and can relate to most people. In conversation with all of those I have visited I have been able to draw on personal knowledge or experience to help talk to them. Did make me think I have really been being trained for ministry my whole life - which is pretty cool, it has to be said! One lady told me I have a open friendly manner, which makes me easy to talk and open up to. That was very humbling, as I was just being me. But that's who God called, so maybe he has got it right after all ;-)