Today is mine and hubby’s first wedding anniversary. We have celebrated this momentous occasion by going to church, going for dinner (at the hotel where I spent my last night of freedom), watching our wedding DVD and putting on my wedding dress. I am a lucky lady!
(as dictated by hubby!)
I’ve got two reasons to buy some books,
1) I’m moving and starting a new job (therefore reading more books on youth ministry can only be a good thing!)
2) It’s my birthday next month and everyone (ok, so just my family) is asking me what I want!
So, as my pile of unread books is quite small at the mo, I’m looking for suggestions of what I should build it up again with!
I’m open to all suggestions; fiction, youthy stuff and general christian stuff.
Recommend away!!!
I’m camping out at my parents house today. Hubby is at the Magic Circle centenary celebrations in London, and I’m spending the day with my head in youth ministry books preparing for my meeting tomorrow! I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my time here, probably more reading! I’ve got a few friends I’d like to see, but nothing planned yet.
We had an interesting morning yesterday, teaching music lessons. Our church is putting on a arts/music and a sport festival this summer. Hubby is teaching bass guitar and I’m teaching keyboard and violin lessons. Yesterday was our first experience of this, and it was tiring! I taught for an hour and a half without a break. Although we know how to play our own instruments, teaching them is another thing altogether. The poor child I was teaching to play the violin yesterday managed to play something resembling twinkle twinkle little star by the end of her 30 mins, but she’ll still be just as squeaky and out of tune after another three lessons! Most children and young people will only get between 2 and 3 hours tuition on one instrument during the summer, not enough to really learn anything, just get a taster.
Anyway, less waffle, more work!
Last weekend, Tony Watkins of Damaris was speaking on engaging with culture. (see his notes here). He spoke with knowledge and passion, and I liked his approach. We looked closely at the first three chapters of Genesis, and Acts 17. Although he may not have said anything I hadn’t heard before, I was certainly challenged.
So often as a youthworker, its easy to get by with just a small knowledge of youth culture, and I must admit, that my knowledge is skin deep only. I know just enough to get by and use it in my work. I’ve never been one to be into music and films or even celebrities so it doesn’t come easy to me. I don’t think I even understood mainstream youth culture when I was young! As a teenager who preferred classical music and loved her dance lessons – I wasn’t a typical teenager!
But Tony really challenged me to engage with the culture. By truly understanding where young people are coming from, we can be more effective. This of course applies to all cultures, not just youth culture. Paul went out of his way to discover the culture of Athens and then used this culture as a starting point to teach the gospel. He affirmed what was right about their assumptions about God, and then went on to expand the gospel.
So what am I going to do to understand youth culture more? Watching, listening and reading more of what young people are would be a start. Tony encouraged us then to ask questions of it, looking for the big issues in life and how the Christian faith relates to it.
I have to say that a week on, I have not made any steps towards this apart from read bits of damaris’ website culture watch. Well worth a look.
I had a great weekend with my new church, spoke to many people really enjoyed the sessions by Tony Watkins of Damaris.
Hubby has finished school now, and so my usual routine of posting and reading others blogs has been disrupted. Living and working together is a change for us, but we’re getting lots done. Yesterday we recycled four bags of clothes we decided we didn’t need anymore.
Anyway, that’s all I have time for now, but I will be back soon!
I’ve been glued to the TV all morning, and my heart goes out to all those involved. I know of quite a few Londoners, including at least one who works in the centre of London. At this moment in time, I can only pray and hope they are safe.
I feel helpless to do anything this afternoon, I can’t concentrate on writing an RE lesson for tomorrow, all I can do is watch and pray.
The church I currently attend does not use liturgy, and I don’t have a problem with it at all, but on Sunday I wanted to point out to our pastor one of the benefits. He had been preaching on eight reasons why we should break bread together. He was making the point that these reasons should be in our minds when we break bread, it should not be done lightly. I completely agree of course, and it is here that I see the usefulness of liturgy. If my memory serves me correct, the eight reasons he gave (or most of them) are included in the anglican eucharist service. In using litrugy, we are reminded of the seriousness of breaking bread together.
I do miss using the anglican liturgy, it reminds me what breaking bread is all about.
Having not been part of a church which uses liturgy for three years now, I will be glad to be using Common Worship once again. Liturgy has its benefits (as well as its limitations), and I’m looking forward to exploring it more.
I feel the last week has just passed me by and I did nothing! That isn’t true, but I only did what I had to. I spent most of my time sleeping or groaning in pain, due to a tooth problem! Thankfully, although I can still feel a slight twinge, I am now able to get back on with living my life!
I’m looking forward to this weekend, which I will be spending with my new church. They have a weekend away, which I have been invited to join them on. It will hopefully be a great time to start to get to know people.
Hubby finishes school on Friday. I’m looking forward to it, as it means we will have more time together (until I start work anyhow!). We’ll be able to start on decluttering and then packing the house!
All good fun!
