The last couple of weeks have been quite full on. As well as all the normal team meetings (both at SCM HQ and St Peter's House), emails and planning I have to do, I've spent a lot of time since I last did a diary blog on the rails. So much so that I've travelled on my 500th train!
Here is a quick-fire update on where I've been and why.
First off I visited Liverpool and one of our Link Churches ,St James in the City Church for their 4 pm worship. It was a great opportunity to meet the church leaders and students, hear about some of the justice issues they are working on and eat pizza. The church meets in a tent inside the old building, certainly a first for me!
Three days later I was back in Liverpool, firstly to meet with Steven from the URC Mersey Synod to discuss youth outreach and student support in Liverpool and Chester, then on to Liverpool Hope to meet with students at the weekly Knit and Natter group run at the Chaplaincy there. I even did my bit to contribute to a scarf!
After a quick day in Birmingham, I was off to a town just south of Preston called Leyland for the Lancashire Methodist Synod, where I chatted with church leaders, gave out my new "Grassroots North West" newsletter and gained a new member - welcome Dean!
I then returned home before a Sunday afternoon drive to Lancaster where I met with one of my university chaplains, Revd Michael, who is now vicar at St Paul's Scotforth. We caught up on life and discussed the many merits of becoming a Link Church. After that I went over to Lancaster University Chaplaincy to lead worship on the theme of "life in all it's fullness" - more on that next week!
In all of my travelling around Manchester hasn't been left out! I have met with local church leaders from some of our Link Churches to explore how we can work more closely together for the students of Manchester. Then on Wednesday, I got to go to the AGM of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, and the launch of the Centre for Theology and Justice of which SCM are the first Associate Partner. More about that coming soon. To relax after all that I've been to the Taize and Pub night tonight with SCM Manchester.
In other news All Are Welcome is coming together and is going to be a really good weekend - get booking!
For those of you who like to pray for the North West:
- Pray for students with final deadlines and exams
- Thank God for the exciting launch of the Centre for Theology and Justice and what will grow from it.
Rach
If you want to get in touch with Rach please email her here.