A good woman's price is far above rubies

Looking forward, holding on

2008-07-30T12:03:00.002+01:00

On Monday I went to visit the office where I will be based in my new job from the beginning of October. It made it seem more real somehow. I will be working for Hestia, a Housing and Support Charity, who have just moved their central office to Hounslow. Suddenly there are new people to meet and new procedures to get to grips with. I need to think about saying farewell where I am and I am looking forward to some holiday in September. So much change.
This morning I met the new MP for Glasgow EAst, John Mason, who was being inducted into the ways of the House of Commons. Lots of change for him too. It is important when so much is changing to have some thing(s) to hold on to that give some stability. For me my faith is central to this and I know that for some others (such as a humanist Labour MP I spoke to recently) it would be what they see as their moral compass. In among all this change where am I going and what are the essentials I need to hold on to. I wonder what those things are for other people.

Promises, promises......

2008-07-21T17:25:00.002+01:00

This weekend we went to a really lovely wedding - of Emma and Paul Hughes. I have known Emma for a number of years since she was a member of our Circuit youth gatherings and it is lovely to see her so happy and settled. Both she and Paul are musically gifted as are many of their friends and they shared their gifts with us, both in the service and in the reception. But it is in the vows of the wedding service that I always feel humbled, as bride and groom make promises to each other and friends and family make promises to the bride and groom I think of promises I have made. How committed we feel when we make such promises and how often we let each other down. Still, occasions like this can act as a time for renewal of promises made in different aspects of our lives as well as the ones we make that day. Every blessing to Paul and Emma and a new start every day for our commitments to each other as we journey along.

Breakfast sharing

2008-07-17T12:28:00.002+01:00

Yesterday morning the alarm went at 5.30 so that I could get to Westminster for an early morning communion and breakfast with a small group of MPs. The Speaker's Chaplain and Canon at Westminster Abbey, Robert Wright, had invited me to speak to this grouping about my year as Vice President of the Methodist Conference. It was a good time with the breakfast held in the Speaker's Apartments. As I couldn't have access to powerpoint I took some items to "show and tell" including a plaque from my visit to India to launch the Peacebuilders, Children for Peace project and my basket from Cameroon made by some of the people I visited with MRDF. Those who were there seemed interested and we went on to talk about such things as the Anglican Methodist Covenant and inclusivity. I feel very privileged to have been part of such special groups.

Celebration of times past and looking forward

2008-07-15T19:18:00.000+01:00

Today all those people who have worked for the Methodist Church Connexional Team from 1996 to 2008 were invited to share in a service at Wesley's Chapel and to join a trip down the Thames on a river boat to mark the end of an era. The major restructuring of Team Focus will come into being in September this year. Not everyone could be there of course but it was great to see some faces from the past. Two previous Secretaries of Conference and two previous finance directors were among those who gathered and a good number of past Vice Presidents were around. The husband of one of these described such a gathering as a den of vice, presidents!
It was strange to go back as an ex staff member and see people I worked with 10 years ago as well as those who work for the team now, some of whom I did not know at all. The service was moving with both the President of the Methodist Conference, StephenPoxon, and the Vice President, David Walton speaking. I found it a very moving experience being with this group of people who have given so much to the Methodist Church and know that some of them do not yet know what their next steps will be. I am glad that this change was marked and hold the individuals in my thoughts and prayers.

Ex-it

2008-07-13T23:17:00.000+01:00

I have just returned from the Methodist Conference and have been wondering whether or not to keep blogging now that I am the ex Vice President. I have decided to give it a go. Of course I won't be going off to such interesting places, certainly not on such a regular basis, but I will continue to be me and to be a person of faith who works full time and tries to work out her faith in all aspects of her life.
This evening I have watched on the news as Gene Robinson was interrupted whilst preaching in Putney. What do people see of the love of God when this kind of thing happens? Oh well, I shall ponder this as I return to work out my notice at the House of Commons before taking up a new appointment in October.