On Morning Prayer

One of the many questions I have about life as a Vicar is the value and place of Morning Prayer.

Given that the clergy are required by the Canons to say Morning Prayer, should it be in the Parish Church, and should it be at a set time and advertised? Would anyone else come?

I've been saying Morning Prayer in the study, usually in the morning (!) and usually early on.

Today I left my seat in the study at 9:10am, I was in the Rector's stall at 9:18am, I read the liturgy and readings out loud in full and offered brief intercessions and was back in the study at 9:40am. That's about 15 mins of travel and about 15 mins of prayer. The prayers could easily have been longer, but equally some of the liturgy could be left out sometimes.

Is that a good use of my time, voice and petrol? Does using the Parish Church have symbolic importance? Should I toll a bell? Or is it just a bit silly, sentimental, romantic and wasteful to leave the warmth of the Rectory?





What time would be best? If you go for a set time in the Parish Church, should it be say 8am - 8:15am so that some local people might get to work afterwards? Should it be mid-morning, to attract the retired!? Would more people come if it were longer and more substantial?



Will it be too cold in the winter to use the Parish Church?

Here the pattern might go something like:

Monday - Warbleton Parish church

Tuesday - Dallington Parish church

Wednesday - Bodle Street Green Parish Church

Thursday - study - study day

Friday - day off

Saturday - Osbourne House / Little St Mary's, Rushlake Green

Thoughts most welcome.

Controversial

The good people of Warbleton and Bodle Street Green have requested a session on Predestination, Free Will, the Sovereignty of God and all that jazz.

And I'm thinking we also ought to have a session on Women Bishops as I think our PCCs are soon to be called upon to discuss the matter.

Controversial stuff. But important and lots of fun too!

License to...

In case you are interested, my licensing as Priest in Charge at Warbleton & Bodle Street Green is being planned for 7:30pm on Wed 26th January at Warbleton Church (Church Hill, Warbleton, East Sussex, TN21 9BD) followed by a reception at Bodle Street Village Hall (BN27 4RE).

I think we probably need to know numbers, so please let me know if you'd like to come.

(There's been a bit of confusion about the time, but I think a 7:30pm kick-off has now been finalised).

First Sermons

If you were soon to become the Vicar of some churches, what would some of the early topical sermons you'd want to preach be?

Perhaps:

A Vision For Ministry

What is the Christian Gospel?

What is a real Christian?

How can I do to heaven?

What on earth is the Church for?

Communion confusion

Why does the Vicar keep going on about the Bible?

A Vision for The Good Life

Then maybe your sermon series on The 10 Commandments, The Apostles' Creed, The Lord's Prayer and the systematic exposition of Bible books - then retirement.

Job News

God-willing, some time in the new year, I am going to start as the C of E minister (technically "priest in charge", for any Anglicans who like to get it right!) at Warbelton and Bodle Street Green, two lovely Sussex "villages" between Hailsham and Heathfield in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the High Weald of (East) Sussex. The Rectory is in Rushlake Green. We are hoping that the boy will go to nursery and to the C of E primary school in Dallington when the time comes.

Any tips on being an incumbent / country pasrson very gratefully recieved!

Jesus' promise, purpose, power, plan, project

DV, I'm going to speak at tonight's prayer meeting and Communion on Matthew 16:18 - Jesus said: "I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it"

I

will

build

my

church

and the gates of hell

will not overcome it

Each word / phrase deserves emphasis comment.

The Sussex Parson

As you can see, I've attempted a bit of re-branding here.

Do you like the new (additional) title?

I'm not sure about the image. I'm afraid its not our house! Nor it is Sussex! It was taken at St Fagans, The National History Museum of Welsh life.

The "original" Sussex Parson was Edward Boys Ellman (1815-1906), Rector of Berwick, but as they want £20 for a used copy of his Reflections, I'm afraid I've never read them. They were reccomended at Initial Ministerial Education in Chichester Diocese once, I think!

Be There or Be...

... potentially misinformed, unenlightened, not encouraged, stretched, humbled etc. etc.

What would the 17th Century Reformed say to the 21st Century church? What would thrill or suprise or horrify them?

I hope to find out at The Faith of Our Fathers' Conference in Southgate, North London, Sat 2nd Oct.

See you there or comment to book a place in my car from Eastbourne.

Alphabet Photography

We just splashed out on a JONATHAN and an ABIGAIL from Alphabet Photography at the knock down price of £120 for the pair (at The Eastbourne Town and Country Show in Princes Park). If the kids weren't in tow, one could spend ages having fun choosing the pictures. We both thought they were rather clever and cool and hope the kids will like them all their lives!

PT Conferencing

I've recently booked myself on to the Proclamation Trust Autumn Joint Ministers' Conference (8th - 11th Nov), details of which are here. See some of you there, perhaps?

Preaching The Psalms

God-willing, I'm going to share some thoughts on preaching the Psalms with my little preaching group at The Sussex Coast Ministry Training Course on Tues 27th. All hints and tips gratefully received.

Thank goodness for Mrs Lloyd!

I said: Right, I better go [to church, for morning prayers]

She said: You better get dressed first.

Good advice, as ever!

AWOL Exploits

This afternoon I'm off to a Proclamation Trust Practical Ministry Seminar (Mon-Thurs) led by David Jackman at The Oast Houses, Northiam, East Sussex. We'll be preaching recent sermons to one another (mine is on John 6:60-71) and getting feedback, working through Galatians and discussing pastoral and church issues.

Next week, Mon 19th - Fri 23rd I'm off to Tyndale House in Cambridge where I hope to write up as much as possible of my research on Calvin's doctrine of the sacraments in general and the Lord's Supper in particular.

Dinner invitations in Cambridge are welcome!

On Sat 24th, I'm off to a study day-conference on 'The Poetry of Paradise' on The Song of Songs in London. Spaces are still available.

So why did Calvin matter?

As I journeyed home from the John Owen Centre Calvin Conference yesterday, my taxi driver (who had also mentioned he could never really get on with books / wasn't much of a reader) asked me who Calvin was. I explained he was a preacher and theologian who lived in Geneva 500 years ago. And then he asked: "So why did he matter?". I can only plead that I was pretty tired but I'm sure I didn't make the most of the opportunity. I said something about Calvin rediscovering how great God was, his glory.

Does anyone want to offer a short response suitable for such everyday situations?

Buy a new belt!

I was encouraged that the main crit. from my talk on camp seemed to be that I ought to buy a new belt!

Apparently I strode onto the stage, positioned my letcern, and pulled my trousers up.

I've been doing Weightwatchers Online since the end of May now in a pact with my mother that if I lose lots of weight she'll give up smoking. I've lost 1 st 5 lbs so far, though not without the odd blip and blow out. I don't know how my mother's nicotine consumption rate is. Today I feel moderately determined.

Off to camp

We're off to Danehill 1 Pathfinder Venture camp today and would value your prayers.

For great fun, health, strength, safety, and for the making of disciples of the Lord Jesus, for great love and unity in the truth for the team, for leaders to grow and serve and go back to their home churches more equipped for ministry, for members to grow in their faith and for some to receive Christ Jesus as Lord for the first time - and lots of other things you can no doubt think of. Oh, and sunshine for our trip to Eastbourne beach on Monday.

Looking for a bed

I'm seeking a bed in Cambridge from Mon 19th Oct - Thurs 22nd Oct inc. when d.v. I'll be working on the Magnum Opus at Tyndale House and maybe the UL. All offers gratefully received.

Off to Wales

We're off for another long hot journey with the boy, but minus Caleb the dog, who is sadly in kennels. We drive to my parents' home in Cardiff tonight (where the interweb and mobile phones continue to work).

Tomorrow Mrs Lloyd is having her first day off from looking after the boy and we are off to the beech, then out for supper in Whitchurch.

D.v. I will marry my sister on Friday at 1pm at the Parish Church of St Mary's a few minutes walk from my parents'.

Post contains spoilers!

We are singing Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah and I will preach on love from 1 Cor 13, Jn 15 and 1 Jn.

Real love is unconditional and permenant and does not depend on loveliness.

Real love is impossible to us. We need God's forgiveness and help.

Jesus loves us, as unlovely as we are, died for us to forgive us and be our example and help.

Copies of 2 Ways to Live available!

I am thinking of quoting the Beatles ("When I'm 64...") and Shakespeare ("Love is an ever fixed mark...").

As its my first wedding with 100s of non-Christians, I'd value your prayers, please.

Full audio available afterwards d.v..

Back to Eastbourne on Sunday to go to Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans in London on Monday!

I'm back for a moment

Tommorow I'm off to Wales to marry my sister.

But that's nothing. My Father in law married 2 of his sisters. His brother married his mother. And yet his father and mother married after he was born.

He is married to Janet Claydon but he also married another Janet Claydon (who is unrelated) to his cousin.

Or something like that.

AWOL

I am off to a wedding in the grim North, where I don't believe they have the interweb. Back on Mon.