Thursday 8 January 2015

And on to Narrow Way again

Richard was keen that Mary and I should be the first guests to stay in the large bedroom of their newly-finished dormer conversion.  The community house is unusual, as it straddles and interconnects two corner properties on adjacent roads: 133 Cambridge Street and 37 Sykefield Avenue.  The new extension is part of the latter, and it means that the whole house family can be accommodated together.

I nipped over from Springfield, and Mary arrived from Sheffield after negotiating the snow-bound roads at home.  But having settled round a cup of tea, we were off again back across Leicester for a joint Saturday evening meeting.  Richard had explained about the IDEA groups they're in the process of rolling out - individual development, encouragement and accountability, and Andy and Eva added their perspective.  These will happen every other Saturday evening from now on for covenant members.  The initial try-outs for the 'facilitators' (leaders, to the rest of us) have been excellent.

The daybreak view from the dormer bedroom spanned a maze of rooftops, with the city centre in the uninterrupted middle distance.  As the sunlight moved round, it was actually quite an engaging perspective.  Sunday morning event was in a new hall at Overdale Junior School, as their regular venue in Netherhall wasn't available over the Xmas break  A good crowd turned up, and we led off with rousing songs to make the place feel at home.  Nick, a regular member of the congregation, and the caretaker for the buildings, was clearly happy.  We successfully mastered 'Sovereign over us', and I thought the hall could be a great alternative choice for the future.

After lunch, Mary and I decided to stay around for the Narrow Way evening get-together.  Jack at home was keen that we should try to give a lift to Sam from the Farm.  He'd arranged an overnight adventure in a barn in Hathersage - so we had time to kill.  I put on some extra layers and walked the length of Narborough Road - sad, but at least I wasn't going to get lost.

Folks arrived for a viewing of the final third of the Visual Bible dvd of John's gospel, dramatised straight from the original Good News Bible text.  Sam duly phoned to say he was leaving Northampton Jesus Centre, so we hiked back to Springfield to collect him.  He promptly fell asleep until, approaching midnight, we slithered up the drive back at home. 

The two church household groups have come a long way in interacting together, and have definite vision for 2015.  So, as I unpacked, I allowed the thought that some part of my national leadership patch is doing okay.

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