Will my nerves get the better of me?
So yesterday was our All Saints eve service, and also Molly's first communion in our own church. It was lovely - she was beaming, I was beaming, the vicar was beaming! Bless her.
It was also a lovely occasion because not only did we dedicate the new flags which have been donated to the church (a Union flag and a St George's cross flag) but my husband and the Warden's husband got to go up on the roof and raise the Union flag.
It really was lovely to see it flying from the flagpole, he was really proud to have got up there, although it was a tight squeeze up the tower, and you can imagine how windy it would have been on the roof of a church positioned right on the top of a hill - cracking views though by all accounts.
I've got a few things to look forward to in the next couple of months. Firstly a home visit from the DDO, to meet the family and have a chat about my journey and what they think of it all.
Then on 27th November my first experience of preaching. If it is what I think it is, leading the service from the service book, it shouldn't be too daunting as it's all laid out for me, but it still doesn't stop me being nervous!
I've also been asked to be server at another church the following month, lead intercessions on Christmas Day and preach again in January - PHEW!!
How do I feel?
I'm very excited and I hope the congregation will forgive me if I fluff my lines!
Monday 31 October 2011
Tuesday 25 October 2011
One more added to the growing number....!
.....as we proudly watched our daughter confirmed in the faith.
There's not much spectacular to report for me really, I'm busily plodding on with my college and JiF courses, although frustratingly, I've not been able to devote as much time as I would like to my work lately. Namely, half term and family matters taking my up my study time, but back on track this week with the girls back at school etc and I'm looking forward to getting my teeth back into my work.
What I AM excited about is that on Sunday 23rd October 2011 our eldest daughter Molly was confirmed in our faith by the captivating Bishop Of Leicester, Tim Stevens.
She was one of 15 candidates that lovely evening at St John the Baptist church in Whitwick, she looked gorgeous in her new dress and her smile could have lit the church up on its own, it was that huge! It was an extremely upbeat, lively and happy service, I sang my heart out (although I'm a terrible singer) and the whole family, members of our church family and even her teacher was there to support her.
Now Molly has always been my little sidekick when it comes to attending church. Even if my husband and other daughter don't feel like coming that day (they very rarely DO miss a service however) then I know I can rely on her to join me. She never needs to be coerced into coming along, she's always a willing partner!
The thing with Molly is that she feels exactly the same way that I do when I go to church, she once described the feeling as going from an empty stomach to a full one, as if going to church and being with God and worshipping Jesus Christ satiates her appetite. What a great way to describe this feeling! I 'get' that completely. She has been almost ready for quite some time for confirmation, but myself and my husband and John, our vicar wanted to make sure she was 100% ready to make her own promises and to understand completely the significance of confirmation.
So with a tear in my eye, I proudly watched as my first born took on for herself the Baptism promises made on her behalf as a baby by her Godparents. She made a promise before God, the bishop and the whole congregation that she would continue her life in Christ until the end of her days. I could barely see through my tears as she knelt in front of the bishop and he laid hands on her head, asking God to confirm her as one of His own.
She took her first Communion bread and wine and at the end of the service made her way over to us, beaming from ear to ear. It took her a long time to come down to Earth and get to sleep I tell you!
A day such as that will be very hard indeed to beat........
There's not much spectacular to report for me really, I'm busily plodding on with my college and JiF courses, although frustratingly, I've not been able to devote as much time as I would like to my work lately. Namely, half term and family matters taking my up my study time, but back on track this week with the girls back at school etc and I'm looking forward to getting my teeth back into my work.
What I AM excited about is that on Sunday 23rd October 2011 our eldest daughter Molly was confirmed in our faith by the captivating Bishop Of Leicester, Tim Stevens.
She was one of 15 candidates that lovely evening at St John the Baptist church in Whitwick, she looked gorgeous in her new dress and her smile could have lit the church up on its own, it was that huge! It was an extremely upbeat, lively and happy service, I sang my heart out (although I'm a terrible singer) and the whole family, members of our church family and even her teacher was there to support her.
Now Molly has always been my little sidekick when it comes to attending church. Even if my husband and other daughter don't feel like coming that day (they very rarely DO miss a service however) then I know I can rely on her to join me. She never needs to be coerced into coming along, she's always a willing partner!
The thing with Molly is that she feels exactly the same way that I do when I go to church, she once described the feeling as going from an empty stomach to a full one, as if going to church and being with God and worshipping Jesus Christ satiates her appetite. What a great way to describe this feeling! I 'get' that completely. She has been almost ready for quite some time for confirmation, but myself and my husband and John, our vicar wanted to make sure she was 100% ready to make her own promises and to understand completely the significance of confirmation.
So with a tear in my eye, I proudly watched as my first born took on for herself the Baptism promises made on her behalf as a baby by her Godparents. She made a promise before God, the bishop and the whole congregation that she would continue her life in Christ until the end of her days. I could barely see through my tears as she knelt in front of the bishop and he laid hands on her head, asking God to confirm her as one of His own.
She took her first Communion bread and wine and at the end of the service made her way over to us, beaming from ear to ear. It took her a long time to come down to Earth and get to sleep I tell you!
A day such as that will be very hard indeed to beat........
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