The end of the Summer... the beginning of a new term for our children, the 'sons and daughters' in our community... the beginning of a new season for many of us too... it was good to meet as friends and family this afternoon, to eat pizza, to swap stories, to listen to one another, to break bread and pray for one another - come Holy Spirit, help us enter this new season full of faith and hope and confidence.
Poppy starts secondary school on Tuesday. "I'm excited to make new friends," she said. She's nervous too - this is a big shift for her, from a mainstream primary school where she was amongst sixty other deaf children, to a much larger mainstream secondary school where she is one of only two. And it looks like Angel will be starting school too... after a few years learning at home, she will probably be starting in year 3. She has mixed feelings, understandably.
Lewis starts at play-school this week, and Oscar starts junior school. Thomas starts a new year, and Josh enters year 11 - GCSE/exam year. In the Bible, when Moses' disciple, Joshua, was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he urged them to "consecrate themselves...", to get themselves ready for what God was about to do. I encouraged my nephew, Josh, to do the same - get ready, for God wants to do new things in and with and through you this year.
Esme, Zak and our eldest daughter, Megan, begin a new year of home education, which is an adventure in itself. :) We gathered around all 'our children', laid our hands of support and encouragement on them, and prayed that they would continue to love learning, to be full of Holy Spirit, and to stay full-of-wonder about life, the universe and everything. ;)
We listened to one another's stories and updates... Wendy begins a 'new life' now that her daughter, Hannah, is off to Portsmouth University to study forensic psychology. Anna and Clare start back in their teaching roles with new students and new teaching colleagues. Danny starts his new job as support worker with vulnerable young people. And my sister Ruth begins her 24-7 Wild Goose year, interning with me. (Brave girl!)
Tim returns to his work with Starbucks after a few weeks off, while wrestling with various hopes and dreams for his and Anna's future... running a cafe? moving to the USA for a while? Karen wonders about the security of her current job, and asked that we pray for her dad, who's very ill right now. And Dan starts a new role as basketball coach across the Borough. I found myself praying for the young guys he'll meet, the hopeless and lonely and broken, the ones who need a big brother, a 'dad', the ones who Dan will speak words of life and encouragement into. Give him everything he needs, Jesus.
And then I told everyone of mine and Emma's, Ian and Helen's conversation last night, and our decision to end this season of community living in the house together, and to begin to enter whatever the new season will be and mean for all of us. We don't really know yet, but we're beginning to talk about the options. Change is rarely easy... this particular change won't be easy for us, nor for our children, but we know that it's time to change. So please do pray for us.
As he broke the bread, and passed the wine amongst us, Neil reminded us that Jesus is interested and involved in every detail of our lives. His grace is enough. His love is true. He has already done it all, he's done everything that needs doing for us to live free, full, faith-full lives. We who are many, with our different hopes and dreams, fears and failings, we are one body... one in Jesus, made whole, we belong.
And so we prayed for one another, splitting off into little groups of twos and threes... come Holy Spirit, seal of our adoption, comforter and counsellor, the one who guides, encourages, empowers. We need you.
And then we ate ice-cream and fresh water-melon, while the kids leapt around on the trampoline outside. I love our simple, community life. :)
Lewis starts at play-school this week, and Oscar starts junior school. Thomas starts a new year, and Josh enters year 11 - GCSE/exam year. In the Bible, when Moses' disciple, Joshua, was about to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, he urged them to "consecrate themselves...", to get themselves ready for what God was about to do. I encouraged my nephew, Josh, to do the same - get ready, for God wants to do new things in and with and through you this year.
Esme, Zak and our eldest daughter, Megan, begin a new year of home education, which is an adventure in itself. :) We gathered around all 'our children', laid our hands of support and encouragement on them, and prayed that they would continue to love learning, to be full of Holy Spirit, and to stay full-of-wonder about life, the universe and everything. ;)
We listened to one another's stories and updates... Wendy begins a 'new life' now that her daughter, Hannah, is off to Portsmouth University to study forensic psychology. Anna and Clare start back in their teaching roles with new students and new teaching colleagues. Danny starts his new job as support worker with vulnerable young people. And my sister Ruth begins her 24-7 Wild Goose year, interning with me. (Brave girl!)
Tim returns to his work with Starbucks after a few weeks off, while wrestling with various hopes and dreams for his and Anna's future... running a cafe? moving to the USA for a while? Karen wonders about the security of her current job, and asked that we pray for her dad, who's very ill right now. And Dan starts a new role as basketball coach across the Borough. I found myself praying for the young guys he'll meet, the hopeless and lonely and broken, the ones who need a big brother, a 'dad', the ones who Dan will speak words of life and encouragement into. Give him everything he needs, Jesus.
And then I told everyone of mine and Emma's, Ian and Helen's conversation last night, and our decision to end this season of community living in the house together, and to begin to enter whatever the new season will be and mean for all of us. We don't really know yet, but we're beginning to talk about the options. Change is rarely easy... this particular change won't be easy for us, nor for our children, but we know that it's time to change. So please do pray for us.
As he broke the bread, and passed the wine amongst us, Neil reminded us that Jesus is interested and involved in every detail of our lives. His grace is enough. His love is true. He has already done it all, he's done everything that needs doing for us to live free, full, faith-full lives. We who are many, with our different hopes and dreams, fears and failings, we are one body... one in Jesus, made whole, we belong.
And so we prayed for one another, splitting off into little groups of twos and threes... come Holy Spirit, seal of our adoption, comforter and counsellor, the one who guides, encourages, empowers. We need you.
And then we ate ice-cream and fresh water-melon, while the kids leapt around on the trampoline outside. I love our simple, community life. :)
Just wanted to say when I started reading this I felt that by the end you'd be saying you were moving either house or from 24/7 to something else.
Keep blogging because it would be great to hear what God has planned for you - for all of you
D X
Posted by: Diane | Monday, 06 September 2010 at 10:52 AM
Change is huge, especially in a community, let alone in ones own life! I have just stepped down from leadership in my church, knowing that it's a God thing...feeling like it's time to 'rest' for a while! But change is also liberating, exciting & can bring an overwhelming sense of peace! I'll be praying for peace for you lovely folks! Laurenx
Posted by: Lauren Newman | Tuesday, 07 September 2010 at 09:59 AM