Thursday 27 January 2011

Numbers!!

Ok so those who read our latest news letter will have seen my rant about numbers!!

Yesterday we started 2 parenting courses, we expected 18 to the first one and 8 families to the second.

we had 8 people to the morning one and 4 families to the second, but were good fun and ill be honest number don't matter, but it was disappointing.

some more may come next week, but i guess it so human to focus on who's not there rather than how is there!!

As jesus suffered with is ( 10 lepers healed) then i guess i'm in good company.

I just hope i can spend more time being grateful for what i've got rather than what i'm missing out on.

rich

Thursday 20 January 2011

the privilege and the pain

Next week Alison and I start our first parenting course together! So far we have around 18 people registered ( which is too many by you expect about 1/4 to drop out).

With almost each of those attending we have done a home visit, people are on the course for any number of reasons. Some ask to attend one, for others local professionals suggested they attend, for other they are told too by the courts.

Meeting these families is an huge privilege and insightful glimpse at these peoples lives.

It would be fair to say that doing these parenting courses has given us the opportunity to meet and engage with those on the edges of Harold Hill.

Often people stories just reflect how they were parented and so their stories are full of pain, most want out of the cycle of not knowing what to do as parents, but they also want some encouragement and support.

To be honest these are the brave ones, for everyone we have agree to attend we have at least an other who is refusing, knowing that the courts can do little to make them come.

SO..............Please pray

for Alison and I, for wisdom, for the gift of encouragement and for opportunity to see families have hope.

For the families that come that children will not be ill, that they will be open to discuss and receive as well as share.

That it makes a real difference in the lives of these parents and their children.

That meeting Alison and I is a key element in braking the cycle of loneliness and isolation

and finally that as the kingdom is expressed and people experiencing what is above that those attending would move forward in their journey of discovering the hope and love and Jesus.

R

Tuesday 18 January 2011

Christmas events

So how did they go? Our gather at the church buildings was great, some new families and most of the people who came to the first one. Making christingles As families was great and Emma led a great session with the kids while lauren and I had a chat with the parents about the stresses of Christmas then we all came back together and got around the piano and sung some songs before father Christmas turned up!!!
A great night and people seemed to enjoy.

The pub carol service was delayed by 5 days till Wednesday, a smaller crowd than we expected due to change of date, but that meant more interactions and so the whole event felt more personal and people listened to the little talks etc. Over the weeks leading up to it I'd taken photo of the regulars and then steve put the photos into the nativity story which they loved.

So that you for praying because they were both great session and we felt really really encouraged.




Monday 10 January 2011

Happy New year

Welcome to 2011!!
seems only yesterday i was a young boy with only the 6 nations on my mind at this time of the year! still!!

I hope you had a relaxing break, we did.

What do you do with those who wind you up, i must admit this week i've come across a couple of parents whose attitude to their children needs a serious think.

God give me the Grace to Love those whose attitudes and action i can see damaging and destroying young lives!

Funny story this morning ALison and i were going to spend the morning praying for our team HH etc, we were just about to start when there was a knock at the door! we had the local minister prayer time at ours!! totally forgotten, good job we were in. Still at least we spend the morning in prayer!!

we would value your prayers on the 26th Jan i start a parenting course with the youth service and Alison starts one with me in the mornings, in the next two weeks i've got to visit around 25/30 homes!! what an opportunity, but it's a lot to fit into the coming week.

Love and Prayer