Toggie Tales

Reflecting on IAM10

Three days ago, three hundred of us (I think?) were in a big Anglican church near Marylebone Station celebrating ten years of 24-7 prayer, and wondering together what the future might hold for us. And we had a blast!

Poppy Plays the Cello!

Poppy performed at the Union Chapel tonight, along with 300 other children from Islington schools, as part of the fantastic Music First project. She loved it. :)

Community Prayers... in the Air!

From Friday evening until Sunday lunchtime, friends from around Romford (and a little bit further) have been coming to our community house prayer room, filling hour upon hour with prayer and intercession... it's been wonderful, as always.

Community Prayer Week, Day Five

Our final evening together... before launching into 38 hours of non-stop prayer, and then gathering for our community meal on Sunday afternoon. What a week! :)

Community Prayer Week, Day Four

For our fourth evening praying together, we switched venue from Rosi and Jon's to our community house. With candles and some incense, and some low-volume chill-out beats, we gathered in the main room and began to pray once more...

Community Prayer Week, Day Three

We're only three days into our week of prayer, but it's been wonderful already. The prayer and conversation has flowed, almost effortlessly, each evening. We've prayed for one another, for our town, and for Jesus to 'call us' as a community. Like the disciple Peter, in the boat, we're asking, "Jesus, if it's really you, then call us... call us in the way that you'd have us walk (even if we have to walk on water!)"

Community Prayer Week, Day One

As a community of friends in and around Romford we're praying every evening this week and then non-stop, 24-7-style, from Friday evening until our community meal at midday on Sunday. In his email-intro, Jon summarised our hope... that God will "shine a light on who we are together", that we can discern and commit ourselves to our 'calling' together. Tonight was a good start.

Prayer Spaces in (More) Schools...

"Sir?" said the boy, stretching his hand up to catch Marcus' attention just as he was about to let the year 9 R.S. class loose in the prayer room. "If I write a question-prayer in the Big Question zone, how can I get an answer?" That, I thought, is a big question itself.

Pilgrimage

My sister Ruth got me this little book for Christmas - Urban Iona: Celtic Hospitality in the City by Kurt Neilson, an Episcopal priest with strong Roman Catholic roots. Although it hasn't been what I expected, I've been drawn deep into Kurt's strange journey to/from Iona, and into his reflections on life and faith and the nature of the life-journey itself.

A 'Wicked' Show

Megan and Poppy got to meet the very talented Alexia Khadime, who plays the Wicked Witch of the West, tonight. 'Wicked' was, as Poppy would put it, wicked!

Megan... Aged Thirteen

It seems like only yesterday that our first beautiful girl was born. Megan changed our lives that day, and thirteen years on, she continues to do so.

The Books I Read, 2009

Actually, I didn't read any of these in 2009 - this is my current book-pile, and I received most of them for Christmas. I am very excited!

The Start of a New Year

Megan, Poppy, Angel, Emma and I enjoyed an hour together in our prayer room, drawing and writing our hopes and dreams for 2010 onto a big sheet of wall-paper, and then praying a bit too.

Prayer Room, Lancaster

My 'little sister', Ruth, just hosted 24 hours of prayer in her flat in the centre of Lancaster... read on for her wonder-full report! ;)

Ten Things About IAM10

1. There probably won't be jelly & ice cream. And there definitely won't be any cheese and pineapple cubes on cocktail sticks... but there will be birthday cake for everyone! IAM10 is 24-7 prayer's 10th Birthday Party, and everyone's invited!

Frances Bardsley School, Praying Again...

A few weeks ago, I helped my friends from re:generation church host the third prayer space in Frances Bardsley School for Girls in twelve months. I confess I'd been worrying that familiarity with the creative prayer space 'format' would mean that the students were less interested and less engaged... I needn't have worried.

Colchester Boiler Room community, new home (...and Megan's new room)

Megan and I enjoyed our day in Colchester helping Katy, Richard and baby-Moses move into their amazing new home... the next chapter of the Colchester Boiler Room community story is just beginning! :)

Hoodlum

"Daddy!" exclaimed Poppy, as we got onto the train together yesterday morning, "take your hood off!"
"Why?" I asked, puzzled.
"Because the Police will get you!" she replied anxiously.
?!

The Annual All-Day Christmas PARTY!

Saturday 19th December, 11am in the morning until late night, food and drinks throughout the day... entertainment towards the evening... crafts space for last-minute Christmas presents. Everyone welcome! :)

Life Together, Two Years On...

Two years ago, us Toggies and the Newman family moved into this house in Romford together. The whole buying process was a bit of a struggle/miracle, and it would take forever to tell the story! Ha ha. But two years ago, we began a new adventure in community life together... and we're still just beginning. :)