Games on the Glebe

Yes, "Games on the Glebe". As you all know by now, the Church in England is largely an ecumenical one, with LEPs (Local Ecumenical Partnerships) being quite prominent. Well, one of the Anglican churches in our LEP held an event for the whole partnership on their "glebe". As best as i can tell, it's the church lawn where people might possibly be buried in the future (most parish churches are surrounded by cemetaries). The evening started with a relay race of sorts with a champion crowned. Other events included the "slow bike race" where the prize goes to the one to takes the longest to get to the finish line; the ski race where four people comprise a team and stand on "skis" and try to walk together from one end of the field to the other; and finally, my specialty (I came in second), the "Wellie boot toss" where participants compete to see who can throw the wellie boot (rubber boot--kind of like galoshes) the furthest. I even got a certificate of achievement for my efforts.

An interesting thing occured to me while at the "Games on the Glebe". I'm a pastor now. While I have no doubts that my welcome would have been just as warm had I just been visiting, I was often singled out as "the new minister". Quite the humbling thing, actually. My official start date isn't until Thursday, but events will really begin tomorrow. In all reality, I'm relieved that I'm finally starting. Its been a long time since graduation in May and I've been thinking and stewing long enough. But for today, the bank holiday, members of my congregation (Methodists don't like to be called parishioners...too Anglican) are taking me on a picnic to the Norfolk coast. I'm taking my camera--it should be pretty cool!

(For those of you excited/dismayed by the frequency of these posts...I'm sure once I get started, they will diminish greatly...so enjoy for now!)

The past few days...

Well, I made it to London and back safely. We stayed at a Roman Catholic retreat center. It's a renovated cloister with all the rooms intact where different groups can hold overnight meetings. While we were there, another group was on a Tai Chi retreat.

The meeting was for other non-British clergy (and their families) who are new to the country. Most of the Americans are only here for one year while the non-Americans are here for a period of at least 3-5 years. Several of the Americans came from Candler School of Theology in Atlanta--about. There were three from Duke, one from Methodist Theological School of Ohio, two from Perkins, and one from Iliff. The non Americans came from Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Malaysia, and South Africa. We learned about a lot of the practical things of ministry--how to use the hymnal (which is very different from the UMH (United Methodist Hymnal)--Most of the copies do not have music in them--just words. Those that do have music printed in them, the score is on one side and the words on the other.). We also learned where to find the baptism liturgy, communion liturgy, and how to do weddings and funerals. We learned about British politics and media and how to do our taxes. All in all, fairly helpful, though most of it won't make sense until we actually do it. It was fun to talk to everybody else--hear their stories and the adventures facing them in their churches and circuits. It was also great to talk to people with American accents.

The drive wasn't too bad. I think I've pretty much adjusted to driving on the other side of the road. It isn't too difficult really. Just remember that the driver's supposed to be in the middle. The 120 mile trip took about 3 hours--thanks to traffic in London and on the A11 into Norwich. This is the American equivalent to Labor Day weekend--Monday is a bank holiday--the last one until Christmas, so everybody's taking a long weekend holiday. The A11 is the only major access route to this part of England--so it was already full of vacationers.

Speaking of driving adventures, this morning I tried to go and find the parcel warehouse where I had a package waiting. It really shouldn't have been that hard to find...key word "shouldn't". I drove around the Norwich city centre for a good hour before I finally found where I was supposed to be going. I got a nice tour of the city--not that I could actually get anywhere again on purpose. None of the roads are marked! There's all sorts of roads and roundabouts that I pass...but none of them are labeled! Thank goodness for stoplights where I could look at my map! Anyways, I finally found it, got my package and returned home.

This afternoon I went to a wedding held at one of my churches. I didn't have to officiate, but my superintendent did--and said I could come and observe. For the most part, it was similar to American weddings. More hymns, less special music--but that might have been because the couple is active in a church. In an English wedding, there are certain words that the state mandates the bride and groom say. One is that they know of no reason why they can't be wed, and the other, the vows--"I take you to be my husband/wife". After the couple was pronounced married, then their minister (not my super) gave a short sermon. After another hymn, the congregation is seated while the couple signs the "register". That took at least 10 minutes. This wedding had someone sing a solo while they did that. I don't know if that's typical or not. Also different, at the beginning of the service, the bride processes before the bridesmaids. This wedding also had two pastors participate. The funny thing about England is that you can only get married in authorised places--mostly churches, but now some hotels are being authorised. So this couple belongs to an Evangelical church that meets in the village hall. The hall is not an authorised place, so they got married in one of my churches. Also, you have to get married before 6pm--no getting married "in the dark" and the doors of the church/building must remain unlocked.

What I'm noticing about a lot of things in England--the public schools and other state-controlled things--when things start to change, they tend to grandfather the old way in, but don't really change it--so that the old and new coexist instead of the new replacing the old. Which is good in some ways and terribly confusing in others. For example, there's no understandable way in which the schools are set up. Some of them are public, some of them are public, but are old Anglican schools turned public--that still operate like an Anglican school. When a school was built largely determines how it operates. If I figure that out, I'll let you know. This relates to the wedding because the rules governing when you can get married and what iformation is listed on the wedding records (father's occupation for both the bride and groom), the no getting married after dark, etc--seem to be remnants of the past that carry forward until today--but nobody's bothered changing them. Only recently have weddings been allowed to take place outside of churches. Its all very odd.

This week is my official start week (though technically not until Thursday). I preach next Sunday in a communion service. I have another wedding on Thursday. Finally I get to begin! Thanks for reading this far. Don't forget to post comments!

Off to London!

Hiya! (a very common English greeting)

So the soup run was interesting. We went to the city centre where a group of folks was waiting for us. We passed out sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, and made instant soup (just add hot water!), coffee, tea, and hot chocolate. It was quite chaotic with everyone (about 20 people) shouting their requests at once--everybody trying to get theirs without considering if everybody will get what they need. We were there for about half an hour, but I couldn't help but comparing the experience to the 15-501 thing we did in Durham. This was very much a "feeding the homeless" event that "eating with" them. I was in charge of sandwiches, which went quickly, so I got a chance to speak with a few of them. The other two with me were busy the whole time and didn't get much chance for conversation. At this point, I'm trying to withold judgment (not very successfully) until I hear the history of the ministry, what they've tried before, how it all started, what their goals are, etc.

I've driven a bit more. I can get to all my churches--I've figured that much out. Trying to get back was a little tricky, but I made it nonetheless. It'll take a while to figure it all out, but I'll get there, espeically once I get started working in September. They have a very nice bus system here. There is a bus stop just down the hill where I meet a bus that takes me all the way into the city centre. The trip takes about 30 minutes, but it was nice not to have to deal with the traffic myself. I fully intend that the bus should cut down on my driving some.

Today, however, driving is the order of the day. I'm headed down to London for an Induction Course (orientation) that will last until Friday. Then, when I get back, I'm observing a wedding at one of my churches on Saturday. Thank goodness its just observing! (Actually, I'm assisting at a wedding on my first day...supposedly). It'll be a fun week.

I don't know what my internet access will be, so don't expect a post until Friday. But feel free to leave comments or email me!

The first drive...

So I finally got my car today. I can't decide if that's good or bad. I'm no longer housebound, but now I have to drive!! So the Circuit Steward (head layperson for the circuit) took me to get the car. Then, he says that HE will follow ME back (instead of the other way around). Talk about pressure! Its one thing to know that I'll just drive around until I find my way, but quite another to have somebody behind you watching every move you make! I made it. Almost took one wrong turn, but otherwise, it was good. The funny part is that he took me the back way. Not the most direct route (pronouced root). But ah well. I made it. The next adventure was trying to put the car in the garage (pronounced GAIR-uhge). HA! The only way the car fits is if you bend the side mirrors in. Trevor (circuit steward) wants me to park in the garage...I'm not thinking that's going to happen often. Oh, and I had to buy petrol (gas) on the way back from the car place...it cost almost 35 pounds (i don't have the symbol yet). That's close to $70. But I try not to think about that.

Yesterday was fun. I had called a parioshioner (Mike) and asked him to take me to the bank, as I had no means of getting there yet. He then invited me in for tea...turned into lunch and then I went with he and his 10-year-old grandson Sam to the Norwich Castle! The Castle isn't nearly as cool as the Cathedral. I mean, it's a castle, so it's still pretty neat, but they've turned it into a museum while the Cathedral is still much as it was. There are several exhibits in the Castle, including a new one about buried treasure. We also went into an art exhibit as well. After we had stuffed our brains full of more info than we'll ever remember from that visit, we went walking around the city centre (downtown) and through the market. I'll be going back there, hopefully when it isn't raining. There's a good bus that goes from my neighborhood into the city centre. There's nowhere near enough parking at the centre, so the bus is just as easy and almost cheaper (see price of petrol above).

Tonight I'm going with parishioners on a "soup run" I think this includes delivering soup to the homeless of Norwich. I'm looking forward to that. I'll report more after it happens.

That's all for now. I hope you all are well. Please keep in touch...both with comments on here and an email or snail mail letter! Peace to you.

Music to My Ears...

The sound of dial-up. I never thought I'd say that, but its true! I finally feel connected to the world again! Me and my five channels were about to have enough of each other.

Things here are fine. A little slow getting started, but I'm ok with that. It's good to get acclimated slowly. I still don't have a car and little cash, so I'm fairly limited on where I can go and what I can do. My house is super small, but it's just about right for just me. They've loaded in the furniture, so I've been trying to find an arrangement that works. There's a total of five rooms--a very nice-size kitchen, a "lounge" (living room) downstairs. Upstairs is a 6x6 "study", a bathroom with the funniest shower, and my bedroom (its pink--yes, laugh it up). The shower is hilarious--most bathrooms over here aren't equipped with showers as we would think of them. Most people still take baths. So to accommodate, they've installed an electric shower--to start the water, I push a button. To stop the water, I push the same button. The shower curtain does not go the lenght of the tub, but just surrounds the first half. I'll post pictures later when I'm on broadband.

I'm within a minute's walk of the "square" where there's a pub (the otter), a chinese take-away, a fish and chips shop, an "express" supermarket (good variety, five isles), and one of my churches. I walked to church on Sunday--it was great!

I've seen all four of my churches and been inside three of them. They're all quite small, except the one that meets with the Anglican church--its a nice size, except it needs some serious work.

Norwich seems to be a pretty nice city. The population is about 125,000. There's a castle and a cathedral in the city centre (downtown). I've been in the cathedral--eat your heart out duke chapel! Parts of this thing were built in the 11th century! I could spend hours there. Its absolutely beautiful. I'm hoping they have an All Saints service there--that would be unreal!

Like I said, I'll get pictures posted as soon as I get broadband, which should be within the next couple of weeks. Until then, my usage will be fairly limited b/c all phone calls cost by the minute. Thanks to everybody who sent emails and good wishes! Post your comments!

My Circuit and Churches

As most of you already know, I'll be in the Norwich circuit in the East Anglia District. Norwich is on the east coast of England, in the south--northeast of London. I will have "pastoral charge" over four churches (this info comes from what they sent me):

Trinity Church, Thorpe Marriott--47 members including children. Methodist core with many other denominations, and with Anglicans and Baptists frequently leading worship in range of styles. Modern building on modern estate.

Drayton--27 members. Village on edge of built-up area. Several people with learning and other disabilities in the congregation who are adults of various ages (but children's work recently begun in conjuction with the Anglican Church0. Small building, recently much modernised, traditional Methodist worship.

Horsford--16 members. Village with much new development for Norwich residents. One or two young people (but new childrens' work just established) and the rest are older adults. Traditional Methodist worship.

St. Faith--13 elderly members. Traditional Norfolk village (Norfolk is the "county" Norwich is in). Sold chapel last year and now share the Parish Church with Anglican and Methodist worship alternate Sundays. Similar number of Anglicans so congregation typically 25-30.

All churches are in positive frame of mind and have been growing. Recently established work with children in three of them provides new opportunities.

That's the info I have. I'll report more as I know it once I get there!

The week before...

So I'm new at the blogging bit...so we'll see how this goes. Instead of clogging your inboxes with updates you might not care about, here's your chance to see how things are going for me in Norwich! You visit as often or as little as you like to learn as much or as little as you like.

I leave the states on Friday (August 13) and will arrive in London at 9am (local) on Saturday (the 14th). I'll spend some time getting settled and will head to London for an orientation retreat about 10 days later.

Right now I'm ok with everything. Every now and again I'll get freaked out about it all, but otherwise, I'm ready to get this party started! I'm tired of thinking about it all.

Please, oh please, keep in touch. I'll be in England all by my lonesome! Come and visit...I'll sleep on the couch, I promise! (I only have one bedroom...)

Let the Adventure begin!