Looking ahead

Today, I went a much more formal church than I am used to, but there wasn't anything I thought totally unexpected. The choir wear robes and lead the minister in at the start of the service. They also sing an introit (not that unusual, I know) and anthem mid-way through the service. They really can sing well and their voices did work well in the space and in context of the worship. Interestingly, the choir was a reasonable age range (from mid-twenties to 70ish, I'd say), both male and female. In many churches I've worked in or visited these few years the choir has been older and either all or mainly women. The mix I found rather refreshing.

I did enjoy the service, though didn't feel that welcomed. On the way in, neither Spot nor I received a "Hello" or "Good morning" from the people handing out hymn books. The minister, passing the pew we were sitting at before worship began, did say hello. It's not his job to do it all, though. After the service, a member of the congregation mentioned to us we could leave by the right hand door, as the queue was people wanting to speak to the minister. We got the impression (perhaps wrongly) that we shouldn't be troubling the minister. These things are the kind of things which could put off visitors returning.

Anyway, given the formality, the service was almost so far from my comfort zone it is in the next galaxy. This may be exactly where I could do a lot of learning and growing, so may be a perfect type of church situation for a placement. I will have many questions over why things are done in certain ways (even if it's tradition, it comes from somewhere) and will need to learn to respect them while ensuring they do not get in the way of leading people to a relationship with God. At the end of the day, that's the most important part of ministry.

Just need to see where God calls me to go, even for training, as that's the situations where I'll learn where I need to be and what God really needs of me.

What a difference a year makes...

As I head towards beginning training in September, I've been reflecting on what's been going on in the last year. It's just over a year since the Church of Scotland selected me as a candidate in training. I've had to defer for a year due to not having a university place. It's all worked out well, though.

Since then, I've studied New Testament Greek, Mark's gospel and Pastoral Care, through the centre for Christian Studies and Aberdeen University, done a little pulpit supply (mainly at my home churches) and taken redundancy. If I'd begun training last year, I would not have had the opportunity to do these things.

There's also the weather. This time last year, Spot and I had been away camping and the temperature was so cold, this happened:

Yes, snow in May. Not as impressive as the lump of ice from the water bottle:

And in politics, today is 1 year since the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition was formed. I think I gave the coalition 6 months, so it has lasted much longer than I expected. I do wonder, especially in light of last weeks election results, how the next year will pan out. I think it will be interesting to watch, just so long as the most vulnerable and overlooked in society get the help and support they need.

As for me, I'm glad I've had this year of waiting. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. I have had to wait. I've enjoyed the things I have encountered due to having to wait. After all, it's 3 years since the National Gathering, which was the trigger for me following God's call. I know this waiting is God preparing me for the specific role he needs me to fulfil. I am convinced this waiting will allow me to go exactly where God needs me to be, once my training is complete, as the charge will only be available then. As I learn to trust God more and more, waiting is another opportunity to learn his will for me and follow his path.

I wonder what the next year will bring? Whatever it will be, I know it'll be an interesting journey and things will happen in ways none of us could have expected.

Almost finished

 Last night I had my last New Testament Greek class. It's not totally over yet - I've still my exam to sit in a couple of weeks time.
I've also completed "An Introduction to Pastoral Care". The final class for that was last week and I've now had all the all the marked coursework for this back and I've done quite well by the looks of things. It's a continuous assessment course, so there's no exam for it.

I've enjoyed taking the courses. Both parts of NT Greek have been a slog, though. Just when I thought I'd got it, the goal posts were shifted! I suppose that's what it's like for any new language. Mark's gospel last term really gave me an insight into that gospel which I hadn't before. There's mush more to it than I'd appreciated, especially as it is the shortest and simplest of the gospels.

I must admit, when Edinburgh told me their requirements of 40 credits, I was a little surprised. I could see their logic though. They have to look fair and open in their selection criteria. These days, it doesn't look good to university funding bodies and OSCR if the rule book's bent. I know I haven't really used my degree for quite a while and the job I was doing did not require or use a university education. Like they say, use it or lose it.

When I discovered there are ministry candidates at Edinburgh who didn't have to meet their 40 credits criteria, I was a wee bit resentful. That just seemed really unfair and I have a very ingrained sense of fairness. I'm not a stomp and shout person. If the rules are fair and open, I'll generally play by them. So, I have.

I've got over the resentment, though. Doing these courses has given me a gentle re-introduction to university study. I had been away from it for 11 years and, as I wasn't that studious first time round, I suppose I was concerned whether I would be able to do uni all over again.

From my marks last semester, it seems I may be good at this uni stuff after all. Okay, so the courses are only first year university level and I am a graduate. So what? The subject is totally different from anything I had studied before (I'm a scientist, of sorts). At least I haven't totally crashed and burned. That would have been disastrous, Okay, so I didn't need the 40 credits to get any uni place, but it would have been a real dent to my confidence knowing I had a uni place, but struggling to actually do the level of coursework which would be required of me.

Looks like I'm going to Edinburgh. Obviously the results need to be issued and confirmed. I hope I do get a good mark in both Greek and Pastoral Care. Just one of those will ensure my place at Edinburgh, as each course is 15 credits, taking the total to 45. It would a a same not to have the full 60 credits, given the time and effort I have put into completing these course.

Another advantage with having completed these courses is, as they are first year university level, I should be able to transfer the credits to Edinburgh. This will take the pressure off me to begin with (she says, hopefully).

Overall, I'm glad I've done the courses. They have prepared me for starting uni full-time and shown me I'm more capable than I sometimes think I am. I just hope I can keep up with the high standards I have set myself.

A Historic Day for Scotland

As I write this, something which I never thought would happen has. The Scottish National Party (SNP) has a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.

This isn't just historic, in terms of a national party winning a majority of seats. No, that any party should win a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament is historic. Since the parliament was re-established in 1999, there has never been one party which held a majority of the seats. Since then, the parliament has been run either under coalition government or a minority government.

So, this is historic. A party having a majority of seats. And, at the time of writing this, not all seats have been declared. I think this is the most interesting election I have kept and eye on (Scottish and UK government) since Labour's win in 1997. This could have much more far reacting consequences, though. I'm sure, with a nationalist government at Holyrood (home of the Scottish Parliament) there will be a call for a referendum on Independence.

I wonder what the next 4 years of Scottish government will look like now? It's going to be interesting to watch.

Osama Bin Laden

I was going to say something about the death of Osama Bin Laden. Something about loving your enemies and everyone (yes, everyone) having the right to a fair trial. As he died, legally, he was innocent.

But, I won't say any of these things. Spot has pretty much got there first.