How to Advance by Retreating

It's just the way that things have worked out that I have arrived at Lochside Church in time to go away on a retreat day with the Pastoral Care Team.  So by way of getting to know the team, my timing has been perfect.  We took a short trip down the A9 to The Bield where we spent some of the day using their facilities, and the remainder having a training session on the dark art that is pastoral care.

There was, a bit over an hour, where we could go off and use the facilities on site for quiet reflection.  The gardens are lovely, with bits of art placed here and there to reflect upon.  There is a labyrinth, carefully cut into the grass.  A flock (is that a brood?) of chickens patrols the grounds.  In one barn there is an art workshop with a couple of potters wheels.  There is even a swimming pool.

This was a bit of the day that I actually found hard.  If I want to reflect, then I am better off going off on my own.  I don't want to share my thoughts, and I don't want to hear anyone else.  And I certainly don't want to disturb anyone else who is happy in their space.  So I went off for a walk, trying my best to avoid anyone else that was visiting that day, for fear that I might interupt them.

(It was only in reading the notes for the centre today that I realised that the bowl of ceramic leaf badges that were in a basket were in actual fact a sign that someone was on silent retreat, and not to disturb them.  I hope I didn't acknowledge someones presence and ruin their stay. Were they a sign to "leaf" well alone?)

So I did manage a pleasant reflective walk, managing to avoid everyone, and I was happy with my thoughts.  I spent some time watching the bee hives* before wandering round for a very pleasant lunch.  I think I can manage the quiet part, I'm just not very good at working out what to do to be reflective.

* The metaphor for bees came up later in the day regarding the day spent learning pastoral care.  Like the bee storing honey, we were storing up skills and knowledge that may be used for the time when we need to call upon our reserves to help the community.**

**  Although another image of bees came to mind, where the bee works its backside off all summer making the honey, but along comes the beekeeper to take away the fruits of  the bees labours and gives the bee nothing in return.  Up the workers!

Starting Over

Perhaps I'm in the wrong type job if I don't like change.

My second placement started today, the not quite immediate follow-on from my first.  I have met with my new supervisor twice now, once while we decide if we can work together, and the second time as we discussed officially the placement to come.

It's the first day of any placement that I really can't be arsed with.  I have spent the last six months making connections at Lowry (North) and now I have to start off again.  The fact that I can't remember names or faces really makes this awkward.  In the hall there is a picture of all the office bearers, so this will be my source of reference, and on a Sunday I can rely on many people wearing name badges.

So I went into the first church where I was warmly welcomed.  Some of the people on the door remembered me from when I checked out the church the week before.  Others knew there was a student coming, but didn't know what I looked like.

Worship is completely different from my previous experience, one of the reasons I picked this particular church.  The other reason was that there was nobody closer that could take me.

There is a lot to keep me busy, although this placement, I fear that I am going to have to work placement around work.  At least this will make it more like working as an OLM, having to balance work with ministry.

So it was an interesting first day, but I know that it will be weeks, perhaps months before I know the dynamics of the church.