Colourful Dreamer

Easter! A time to reflect on what meaning Jesus’ death and resurrection has for this world we live in, and for our day to day lives. I went to a very good service on Thursday night at the Methodist church in town. PowerPoint of English stain glass windows of the Stations of the Cross, with good music and excellent readings and prayers. My 13 year old thought the whole thing had been 20 mins max, not the 45 it was. Friday I did do church, but spent much of the day writing a reflection based on my own walking of the events on my last full day in Jerusalem. Still not finished though. Then I went for a 14 km walk for the last half of the afternoon, while the rest of the family went to a kids programme Bonnie was running. Saturday was spent with family (ish) well, Michael and friend, and Bonnie. Sunday was spent with friends (and church) Monday was the highlight. We set up our living room as a theatre and watched all three Lord of the Ring movies, extended version. I think it was about 11 ½...

It has once again been a while since I last wrote here. In that time I have been to, visited or met with: • Wellington for a meeting of Strandz (Anglican Children, Youth and Family Ministry Unit: tikanga pakeha). There we worked hard on a proposal for two very part time children’s ministry enablers to work across the 7 Dioceses. This has also been endorsed by our ministry council. We also worked hard on a web site, to be launched later this year. • commissioned as the National Guardian for OSS • my Board of Oversight meeting. • the new Taranaki-Waikato Youth Network Co-ordinator • 2 Centre for Youth Ministry Studies Management Committee meeting in Auckland • a meeting of the Anglican Ministry Educators Network in Wellington • the Diocese of Waiapu’s annual Top Parish weekend, this year held in Rotorua. • Churches Youth Ministry Association. • The Tikanga Pakeha Ministry Council (TPMC) • My own spiritual director • Several of my supervisees and spiritual directees, as well as being appr...

It has been a while since I lasted blogged. I am now back in Aotearoa – New Zealand. The flight home was great, although it took 36 hours from the time the Sherut picked me up in Jerusalem until I got home. The highlight was getting an upgrade to business class from Hong Kong home. Not only did I get the nice comfy seats, better level of service (2 air hostesses to 9 passengers), and the slightly yummier food, but also (and almost more importantly) access to the airline lounges in Hong Kong (where I whiled away 4 hours after wondering around the airport for 2 hours and made sure of good enough coffee at Starbucks) and then a further 3 hours in Auckland (including a shower. Man I needed that) It also meant I was first off the plane in Auckland, first through immigration, my bags were off first, and so first through customs and the x-ray machine. Wicked! One notable moment was forgetting my backpack at Hong Kong security, and then having to find my way back down to security when I worked...