Holy Week

We are coming to the end of Holy Week. On Thursday evening we held the Maundy Thursday Communion. Not only did we remember how Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper, when he partook of the last Passover meal on earth, but also his New Commandment: “a New Commandment I give you, that you love one another as I have loved you.” And then Jesus washed the disciples’ feet – in an act of humility. In the service, we echoed that as Steve Bailey, who is leading it, washed the feet of some members of the congregation. After that, remembering Jesus’ agony in the garden, we removed all decoration from the church – and left in quietness and darkness.

Mean Bean Challenge - Day 5

Friday was the final day of the Mean Bean Challenge. As I ate my final plate of rice and beans I reflected back on the week. It has been a real challenge and it has helped me to have an insight into what life must be like for those who survive on a small diet. Rather than feeling excited about being able to eat anything on Saturday I am overwhelmed by the choice, the variety and the last thing I want to do is stuff my face. It will be a gradual build up, re introducing food. But this morning I ate a smaller portion of my usual breakfast at a slower pace. I am grateful, I am blessed and I am looking forward to eating fruit, salad, vegetables and anything but beans for a while! 

Mean Bean Challenge - Day 4

Slowing down. As the week has gone on I have noticed how my body and mind has slowed down. I guess it is not a surprise, living on just under 1,000 calories a day as opposed to the recommended 2,500. The effective will also be cumulative as the week goes on. I have had to sacrifice my exercise pattern this week, no swimming or running for me, in order to focus my energies on my work. Thursday was also a long day with much more activity in it. And it is good to slow down, although I do have lots I need to do between now and Easter!

Mean Bean Challenge - Day 3

Today marks the halfway point in the challenge, only 2 more days to go! It was nice to share lunch with my prayer partner and he joined me in a simple rice and bean lunch. Somehow sharing made it more enjoyable, although he had fruit afterwards! As we gave thanks for the food and prayed for each other we also prayed for those for whom this is their daily diet. 

I brought a tin of beans in chili sauce by mistake, which is a big no no, so that has been donated to the local food bank. Not only can I not eat it this week, no one else in the family does spicy!

Mean Bean Challenge - Day 2

At the end of Day 2 out of 5 and so far it is going OK. However, this was never going to be easy! It is not the caffeine that I miss, as I haven't drunk any for years, nor is it the only drinking water. Flavour and taste are the biggest challenge at the moment. There is no sauce, no seasoning, no nothing, just plain boiled rice and beans. It all tastes the same, it is all bland and flavourless.
In a strange way this slows down my eating too, the food is not exciting, it really is just functional.
As I sit and watch my family eat, I can smell their food and imagine what it tastes like. And then I remember why I am doing this. For many people there is not the choice of what to eat, so I am thankful for my smaller portion even if it does not taste of much.

Mean Bean Challenge

This week (19th-23rd March) I am taking part in TearFund's Mean Bean challenge. Living on a simple diet of plain porridge for breakfast and plain rice and beans for lunch and dinner with only water to drink and small portions all round it will be a challenge.
Find out more about it here.
If you want to sponsor me  then follow this link to my donations page.

Mothering Sunday

Yesterday was the fourth Sunday in Lent, or as it’s much better known, Mothering Sunday (not to be confused with the American version known as Mother’s Day on the second Sunday of May!). Children in the congregation first of all took flowers to their mothers, and then to all the ladies in church.

During the prayers, people were invited to write on a paper petal the name of someone who was precious in their upbringing – including mothers but also others who played a significant part. These petals were brought to the front to form a flower. Karen then prayed for them and for all those who found this day difficult, because of their inability to have children, the loss of a child or a difficult relationship with their mother.

People either took their flowers home to their mothers, or left them behind the Holy Table, in which case, the rector promised that they would be planted in the church grounds.

Buy Fair!

In many parts of the world our basic commodities like tea, coffee and chocolate are picked by indentured workers – at near slave salaries and conditions. The fair trade movement seeks publicise the problem and to rectify this. It has the support of many churches including St Paul’s.

It will soon be the Fair Trade fortnight, and at the service this morning there was a stand offering fair trade chocolate for gifts for Easter. One offering, the real Easter egg, had the additional benefit of having included in it the account of the Easter story. Without that magnificent occasion of Christ’s rising triumphantly from the dead, there would be no Easter eggs or Easter bunnies.
So, as you are doing your regular shopping, do look out for the Fairtrade symbol, and remember those who have harvested the commodity.

Defying the Snow

Ninety people (about our average congregation) defied the snow (some of it freshly fallen) to come and worship God at St Paul’s this morning.

It was well worth coming, as Dr Keith Waddell, an eye surgeon from Uganda, told of his recent recovery to health. The service was led by our rector, Steve Bailey, and Colin Chettle preached on Jesus' great commission – on how we are called to go with Jesus’ authority and filled with his Holy Spirit, to proclaim and demonstrate God’s kingdom ‘for the sake of the world’.

By the time we came out almost all the snow had disappeared apart from a few patches on the grass.

Fun@4

The latest of our Fun@4 activities was held on Sunday afternoon (at 4) 25 February. Twenty children, with adults, came for a programme of games, songs, Bible stories and refreshments. This is the latest of a series of such programmes, some in conjunction with other churches of CTO (Churches Together in Oadby).