Well, I am finally able to bring you all up to speed on the happenings since we left St Jude's.
After 2 heavy days on the ride (bottom sore), we arrived in Tweed Heads and stayed our first night in the dodgiest motel in town. (The only one who would take young Monty!).
We rocked up at the house to be greeted by the carriers, broken furniture and missing boxes! Fortunately we had arranged unpackers and this took some of the stress off. By dinner time the house was almost fully unpacked and we could sit down. Club life up here seems integral to people's existence so we ate out at the clubs thiose first few nights.
I have started at the school and it is very exciting. My second day at the school (19 Jan) I conducted a eucharist which was a great success. The red shoes, rednose and the Harley have been important to my settling in, not only with the students but the teachers! A number of teachers ride motorbikes so the first sunday here i went off with 60 bikers for a half day ride!! Great stuff!
The students have all been introduced to me and it's fun to watch them checking out which pair of red shoes I am wearing each day (I mix them up).
Have also settled into St Cuthbert's which is very different to St Jude's. I will be beginning the Sunday Services at The Evangelist Chapel at the Maher's Lane Campus on Sunday 14th February. That will be very exciting.
So we have survived the move and hope all out there in blog land are well.
Be sure to email me and let me know what is happening.
Showing posts with label redshoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label redshoes. Show all posts
Friday, 29 January 2010
Friday, 1 January 2010
REDSHOES MOVES ON
Well, it seems unreal but this Sunday (3rd january) is Gaye, I and Monty the dogs last SUnday at St Jude's. What a great time it has been. There have been some wonderful moments and I have enjoyed the company of all I have worked and worshipped with. Our Rector Greg has been a great mentor and support, especially through the difficult process towards ordination, as has Amanda and Jim. It has all been appreciated.
It seems just as unreal to be moving out on a journey as a priest in my own ministry. I, and many others, thought it would never happen, but it has. The journey to this place over the last 10 years has been amazing, surprising, challenging and stretching.
To all at St Jude's thank you so very much for the last 4 years and I look forward to staying in touch in the future.
Maybe, one day, I will return just as Jesus did from his sojourn in Egypt. Who knows the mind of God?
It seems just as unreal to be moving out on a journey as a priest in my own ministry. I, and many others, thought it would never happen, but it has. The journey to this place over the last 10 years has been amazing, surprising, challenging and stretching.
To all at St Jude's thank you so very much for the last 4 years and I look forward to staying in touch in the future.
Maybe, one day, I will return just as Jesus did from his sojourn in Egypt. Who knows the mind of God?
Thursday, 10 December 2009
RedShoes Ordination
Last Saturday was and is, to some degree, a blur. After waiting many years, ploughing through exhausting study and jumping through a myriad of hoops "O" (ordination) day arrived - Saturday 5th December 2009.
It had been a traumatic lead-up over the week prior to going on retreat as a young friend of many years died tragically and I flew to Brisbane to assist at his funeral. It was emotional and very trying and, yes I cried a lot for Brendan. He had died so young but had achieved so much. As I said at the funeral "Brendan wasn't a saint, just an ordinary boy growing into an extraordinary young man."
I came back on the Saturday, one week out from "O" day and tried to set myself for the biggest day of my life. The retreat helped and I noted the juxtaposition of Brendan's death, the fact that at the funeral a whole range of young, and not so young, people whom I had worked with were present was significant. Particularly so as I was about to be ordained and embark on work in a school environment.
In my conversation with Brendan 3 days before his death, his last words when I challenged him about his seeking work in a fine dining restaurant was, "I'm up for it." It seemed his challenge to me was the same, "Are you up for it?"
The weeks retreat and then "O" day itself reaffirmed for me that I could answer as confidently as he did, "I'm up for it."
Most of the 2 and a half hour service is slowly being unlocked as I receive more and more photos. It all felt more real the next day when I celebrated the Eucharist and is slowly revealing itself. It was great to have the support of people from the full gamut of my life - from St Jude's Randwick, St Clements Brisbane, my mother and my aunt and uncle and from my Golden Oldie Rugby Days. To have the Bishop Keith Slater officiate was a thrill as Keith was instrumental in my return to the church and a sober and useful life. To have Rev'd Lee Gauld preach at my first Eucharist was wonderful for we worked together at Brendan's funeral a week before.
I need to mention my wife, Gaye, without whose help I simply wouldn't not have got sober and wound my way to this day.
Yes and to God who has never failed me and has remained faithful and hopeful that I might, just might, get there one day, thank you.
It had been a traumatic lead-up over the week prior to going on retreat as a young friend of many years died tragically and I flew to Brisbane to assist at his funeral. It was emotional and very trying and, yes I cried a lot for Brendan. He had died so young but had achieved so much. As I said at the funeral "Brendan wasn't a saint, just an ordinary boy growing into an extraordinary young man."
I came back on the Saturday, one week out from "O" day and tried to set myself for the biggest day of my life. The retreat helped and I noted the juxtaposition of Brendan's death, the fact that at the funeral a whole range of young, and not so young, people whom I had worked with were present was significant. Particularly so as I was about to be ordained and embark on work in a school environment.
In my conversation with Brendan 3 days before his death, his last words when I challenged him about his seeking work in a fine dining restaurant was, "I'm up for it." It seemed his challenge to me was the same, "Are you up for it?"
The weeks retreat and then "O" day itself reaffirmed for me that I could answer as confidently as he did, "I'm up for it."
Most of the 2 and a half hour service is slowly being unlocked as I receive more and more photos. It all felt more real the next day when I celebrated the Eucharist and is slowly revealing itself. It was great to have the support of people from the full gamut of my life - from St Jude's Randwick, St Clements Brisbane, my mother and my aunt and uncle and from my Golden Oldie Rugby Days. To have the Bishop Keith Slater officiate was a thrill as Keith was instrumental in my return to the church and a sober and useful life. To have Rev'd Lee Gauld preach at my first Eucharist was wonderful for we worked together at Brendan's funeral a week before.
I need to mention my wife, Gaye, without whose help I simply wouldn't not have got sober and wound my way to this day.
Yes and to God who has never failed me and has remained faithful and hopeful that I might, just might, get there one day, thank you.
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