And there's more...

We are now into my second week in the UK and you find me back in Hyde.  After a couple of meals out catching up with friends the main events of the week were focused around my mother.

On the Thursday I went round to mum's house to help her prepare for her talk to the church social the following Saturday.  She had been invited to talk about her visit to Karachi and she had asked me to help.  We put together a Powerpoint presentation and decided what we would talk  about.  Then in the evening it was time for my third theatre trip of the holiday when mum and I went to see 'Oh What a lovely War' at the Guide Bridge Theatre.

Friday evening found me back at Holy Trinity for a Street Pastors Commissioning Service.  Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church response to urban problems, engaging with people on the streets to care, listen and dialogue.

It was pioneered in London in January 2003 by Rev Les Isaac, Director of the Ascension Trust, and has seen some remarkable results, including drops in crime in areas where teams have been working. There are now over 100 teams around the United Kingdom.

Each city project is set up by Ascension Trust and run by a local coordinator with support from Ascension Trust and local churches and community groups, in partnership with Police, Council and other statutory agencies.http://www.streetpastors.co.uk

My godson Thomas' parents have both been commissioned as Street Pastors along with 12 others, with Angela (Thoams' mum) being the overall co-ordinator.

It was great to be there to see all these people sent out in Jesus' name to be his hands and feet to the people of Stalybridge.  It was also great to see four churches in Stalybridge all working together to proclaim the gospel in such a practical way.

Saturday evening Mum and I went along to Stalybridge Congreagational Church for their Cheese and Wine Evening which included Mum's presentation on her trip to Karachi.  I 'interfered' a couple of times to add a little more detail and explanation and the evening went very well indeed with everyone enjoying the presentation.


I was back there on Sunday morning to lead and preach at their morning service.  It's always a pleasure to go back to the church where I grew up as a child and this was the first time I was able to attend wearing my dog collar.  If I was ever in the market for a pastorate, I know they would welcome me with open arms, though for the time being I know that is not what God is calling me to.

The afternoon was spent celebrating my 40th birthday with my family and some friends at mum's house. Mum had put on a barbeque and a running buffet a variety of relatives and friends were in attendance.  It was a lovely afternoon and one of the many events being held this year to celebrate my 40 years on the earth!


Monday saw the start of my 'holiday' week courtsey of my accumulated Airmiles.  I was able to book flights from Manchester to Belfast and Manchester to London all for the princely sum of £0.00, including taxes and fees!  This meant I able to pop over to Belfast to see David and Katey.  When I arrived the house was full of all Katey's siblings and spouses and KIrsten and Philip, their children.  This was because they had spent the weekend celebrating David's 65th and Katey's 60th birthday.


Most of the assembled throng disappeared on various flights during the afternoon leaving David, Katey, Martin, Ali and me.  The following day the whole group went off to spend my accumulated birthday money.  We popped out to Currys to buy myself a Sony e-reader.  Unfortunately, both Currys and PC only offer the aforementioned device on their websites and not in their stores.  Thankfully, there was a Sony store in Newtonards so our quest was successful.  The eReader is a fantastic little device, about the size and weight of a paperback,  with the capacity to conatain about 600 books.  There only draw back is as they are powered by a battery, you cannot use them during take off and landing, I kid you not...