The end is nigh

Well at the end of my last blog I said I would be writing the next from home, well I thought that so much has happened that I should update you all on the highlights of the last week and a bit.
It's been crazy ... Right that's it end of blog. Haha! It's been crazy but really good fun. This past week has been one of the best I have had up here in Ulverston.
After I finished my last blog post I went off for a thank you meal for the PCC, (I got and honourary invite). First of all the food was fantastic so that was a good start, secondly it was highly banterous. Lets just say don't put Johnny Barton and I together where there are tea cakes involved - partners in crime. Seriously though, it is very important to have some down time when you are full on. Laughs are what makes the church go around, it makes the work easier, builds relationships and helps to further the work of Jesus Christ, when we live and laugh together in harmony.
The next day was the BASE groups Christmas special where they were making a Christmas meal. The group was split in two, one did main and the other did pudding. It was chaos, but they enjoyed it and got to eat after. Again socials are really important for the kids as well for exactly the same reasons.
Wednesday was a bit more chilled ... he says when Wednesdays are usually one of the more manic days of the week. We had Big Questions at UVHS which went well! Great to see the group growing and asking really honest questions about faith. Looking forward to seeing what happens to this group in 2015.
Thursday was pretty much an admin day and prep day for Saturday which I will get on to in a minute.
Friday was an interesting one ... I woke up looked out of my window and saw snow on the tops of the surrounding hills. Instantly my thoughts changed to the mountains and snow. But I had a study day and a deadline on Monday. I rushed into the office and with the motivation of snow and mountains under my belt I banged the assignments out just after lunch and headed to Coniston with Jonny (a different Jonny) and Arve. We went up the lower slopes of the Old Man (which I climbed the week before with minimal snow) and had mini snow ball fights. We had an awesome time and was great to see those guys before heading back. Afterwards we went to see the Hobbit The Battle Of The Five Armies I'm not going to say anything as it will spoil it for those waiting to see it. Having grown up with the Lord Of The Rings and been a massive Hobbit fan it was a rite of passage to see it on its release night. Monumentous is the word. Anyways it was home to bed before a huge day on Saturday.
Saturday was our All I Want For Christmas event with Jacob Lloyd a musician from Birmingham. What a guy, 18 and travelling the country spreading the word of Jesus to young adults and playing a few songs. I met him with Vic off the train around mid day and took him to the place where he'd be staying and had lunch, cheers Sue and Colin. Then it was off the the venue to set up and get the band together for the first time ... always nerveracking but they handled it well. Dramas did a run through, Jacob soundchecked and then we launched into it. The lovely Abbey Smith and I hosted the event and it was great to see all the different youth groups in Ulverston and Furness Deanery coming together and worshiping in one place. Also huge shout out to Jacob who did fantastically, the gifts this guy has is amazing. He played and broke it up with his testimony and what Christmas means to him, Cheers Jacob. We then packed up and went home before another mammoth day. I went and picked Jacob up and he played at UPC at our church breakfast before heading down to ECC. I helped with the All Age Christmas Special and then went home for some lunch before heading off to St John's Osmotherly with a car full of clergy for their Nine Lessons and Carols. I had a reading and it was lovely going back to a traditional church. Then we came back to UPC where we rehearsed for the Carol Service where I was doing various readings. The service was great and it was good to see many of the youth involved.
Then I went home and slept ...
The past few days have mainly been 2015 planning and winding down after such a crazy week. It was crazy but so much fun and its a great reminder as to why I do this job. I think thats all for now. Looking forward to descending on Fetcham on Sunday!
Ps. thank you all for your Christmas cards and gifts! I can't thank you all enough for your friendship and support.

The lovely Jacob Lloyd