Toggie Tales

Endings and Beginnings

On 1st March 2004 I began working with 24-7 Prayer UK as 'national director' (although no-one really knew what that meant at the time). A lot has changed since then. I've changed. And so has 24-7 Prayer, especially in the UK. It has been an amazing few years... full of memorable moments, and (I hope) seeds sown that will bear fruit into the future.

And so today, exactly seven-and-a-half years since 1st March 2004, it is with very mixed emotions that I'm moving on from the 'UK national director' role. For me, and I guess for 24-7 prayer in the UK, this is an ending.

But it is also a new beginning (endings always give birth to new beginnings). From today, at least for the next few months, Ian Nicholson is going to take on leading 24-7's UK team. And I am moving into a fuller role with 24-7's Prayer Spaces in Schools team (although, as before, no-one really knows what that means yet).

I'll probably reflect and write some more tomorrow, but for today, I would be grateful if you could pray for Emma and I and our family as we navigate these changes, as we try to end well and begin well. And please pray too for Ian and our '24-7 UK' friends who will also experience change over the coming months... pray for peace and even greater fruitfulness.

Prayer Spaces in Schools, Havering

More than fifteen Prayer Space weeks have taken place in secondary schools across the London Borough of Havering over the last three years, mostly hosted or organised by Ben Poch and our Scripture Union friends and by youth workers from different churches. Others are being planned for the coming 2011-2012 academic year, and there’s talk of some primary school Prayer Space weeks too, which is very exciting.

Prayer, by KORE

Peckham Peace/Prayer Wall

A post-it note Peace Wall (twitpic @rachel_ashcroft) appeared in Peckham a couple of days ago... looking a lot like the prayer walls we've seen in schools over and over again these past few years. People, whatever their age or religious or cultural background, need the space and the permission to express how they feel.

'Approaching God', by my friend Lisa Borden

What a beautiful book. I wouldn’t and couldn’t describe many books I’ve read as ‘beautiful’, but this one warrants the word. The colours and Lisa’s own photos in the book are beautiful... and the message is too. That God is approachable.

Prayer Spaces in Schools @ Frances Bardsley School for Girls, 9th-13th May

This was the fourth Prayer Space week that we've hosted in Frances Bardsley School for Girls... and about the twelfth we've hosted so far in Havering schools. And I'm amazed at the stories that have come out from every single one.

Hospitality in Stanford-le-Hope

We love the Stanford-le-Hope Boiler Room community. They 'get' family. They live family. Stay just one night and you'll find yourself adopted into their family, their affection, their hearts... never to escape, in spite of the miles you may travel. Not that you'd want to escape, of course.

Back to School...

 

"I would inform you that, following careful consideration of your case, the Panel decided to allow your appeal. This means that Megan is to attend the school. The Appeal Panel considered that your case was sufficiently compelling to outweigh that submitted against admission.

Megan Hope is expected to start at Redden Court School on Monday 16th May 2011... blah blah blah."

Making Room... First Guests

Emma's parents - Brenda and Tim - and her brother-Aaron, are our first guests since Helen and Ian left for Spain. Oh, and Gracie the dog. Predictably, Poppy and Angel were waaaaaay more excited about Gracie's arrival than any of their relatives.

The Big Send-Off

A couple of weeks ago, we packed more than 40 boxes of the Newman's stuff onto a lorry and waved it goodbye as it began it's long road-journey to the South of Spain. You'd have thought that this taxi would be *more* than enough to carry Helen, Ian, their children, and their last few bags to the airport... wouldn't you?