Jude Smith

who inspired this liturgy we used in a school training day. It helps now and then to step back and take the long view. The Kingdom in not only beyond our efforts; It is even beyond our vision We plant the seeds that one day will grow We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdomn always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings wholeness. No programme accomplishes the church's mission No set of goals and objectives includes everything. We plant the seeds that one day will grow This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities. We water seeds already planted. We cannot

Teaching has rare days where the mistakes, the "not yet learned" of young people cause the corners of ones mouth to smile, before rolling one's eyes at how little we have managed to communicate. Today was one of the those days. Year seven baseline assessment (part of which just checks what it is that our students have learned in their previous schools). They were asked to define some historical terms- including CE and BCE (the trendy new forms of AD and BC.. they mean Common Era, and before the Common Era). You can imagine my smile then, as I read that actually CE is Christ's erection, with BCE meaning Before Christ's erection!

Hello. You join me in the church office.. where I am happily tapping away working on an Alpha talk for next week (well strictly speaking I'm blogging but.. ). I am finally hitting into my new rhythm of life- having taught this morning I'm here this afternoon and tomorrow. (Sadly I am very excited that my mac will happily use the netwrok printers in church.. vey cool) Spent the weekend at the 24-7prayer ILG. Am very glad I went- was good to see friends and just be a little bit inspired again. Not much else to say just now.. more soon I have no doubt.

Its that time of year again where I have to write a profile for the Youthwork the Conference programme. Its also that time where I realise that I have changed jobs again! I need help. How do I sum me up in 100 words? It needs to cover occupation, churchmanship and publications..

Just finishing day four in a row in school. Oh my! Kids lovely, staff in the main lovely. The Battle For Room 24 continues! More soon.

I am very brave! I wouldn't normally boast in quite such a flagrant way, but seriously I'm brave! Why? Well anyone whose known me for a while will know that I have a very large (and somewhat annoying) fear of snakes. Like not a silly little one, I have to turn away when they are on the telly, I can't look at those discovery channel posters on bus stops.. yuk yuk. But tonight, my friends, I truly achieved! In an act which should earn me soem kind of award, I went to see Snakes on a Plane! And I didn't have to leave (it was a close run thing at one point, but I stuck with it!!) Well done me!!! (Jase bring on Germaine, I am healed!) (by the way, if anyone comments that it was merely bearable because all bar one (eek) of the snakes was very clearly CGI'd I will be very cross.. if anyone comments it was bearable because the oh so flimsy plot made you laugh- i may take your point!)

In true Independent style, the wannabee broadsheet produced a list of 50 "good" people this morning. I dutifullt bought a copy and had a look. I was interested to find something that the lovelies at the Indy may want to be kept quiet. 11 of the 50 had a stated Christian belief. 2 had obviously had their Christian credentials cut off (Gee Walker and Jean Vanier). There were also 3 muslims, a jew and a sikh. Perturbed by the Indy's reticence to acknowledge faith I've done some digging: and discovered that Sheila Cassidy is a follower of Christ, as, I think are, Martin Dent, Bill Peters and Ann Pettifer. I also think Richard Adams might be.. Anne Owers got motivated for justice in the Southwark diocese and Clive Stafford Smith views his work as a calling and has spoken at Greenbelt (resist temptation to make cynical comment). In addition, Jon Snow and John Sulston are both clergy sons (no indication of own beliefs). I'm not trying to say that only Christians a