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Gordon Rouse

Mission Shaped Church, 2004

“Society in Britain has changed dramatically in the last 30 years… in our understanding of community and how we relate to one another. One of the responses has been to plant new churches and create ‘fresh expressions’ of church… Mission shaped church is a crucial tool for all who care about God’s mission today.”

Mission shaped church is one of my early reads in the process of deciding an honours research project; its been a good read.

Opening with a chapter entitled ‘changing contexts’ the book sets quite a stark overview of the changes that have taken place during the past 30 years in the UK and the related questions about how we think about, talk about, and do church.

Following this is an interesting, and challenging look at the journey of the Church of England up to about 2003 in terms of new expressions of, or ‘emerging’, church.

Highlights incude a brief overview of models and practise which are being affirmed as styles of mission-shaped church, along with the beginnings of theological reflection into the issue, what feels like a level of frankness and optimism in terms of what church might look like in a changed world.

Theologically, its a little brief, and certainly more than a little broad – reflecting the breadth of the Anglican church. This is certainly the beginning of thinking about church, emerging church, and youthwork – and boy is there plenty more to read after this.

Next, The Future of the Parish Church, Croft, 2006

Its been a great month. I’ve been to visit my dad, which was great. I’m still studying with ICC in Glasgow, continuing my honours degree, and i’m settling well into Kings Church Edinburgh, one of the larger changes in recent months.

Things with BUSY are going well – but as I expected, this year has been one not lacking in some interesting events (dad/sister kinda stuff), some pretty cool growth, and lots and lots of change.

This week has to have been one of the most social for a long time; and I’m going to the USA in 11 days… yippeee!!!

I’m studying hard at the moment – expect to see more of that on here soon.

G

Visiting my Dad was great… days spent being lazy doing not all that much, hanging out and eating nice food. Lots of wii playing, and quite a bit of messing around playing SimCity on my  Iphone… just relaxing.

The majority of my holiday has been spent in Cambridge. Lots of quality time with family, seeing my mum, sister, granddad and lots of friends. This also included the usual day our with my older nieces and nephews which was typically brilliant.

I spent new years eve with Dave, Shena and Max; a night full of laughs, memories, a curry and the next day spent watching tv, and causing havoc with their 4 year old son (woohoo, lego!). There is so much more too… seeing other friends I don’t see often, trying out a new Cambridge church as well.

It ends up feeling like I’m a different person here; no longer the youthworker (which takes the primary role in Scotland), but the son, uncle, brother and friend. I like those roles. I miss those roles.

Does that matter? Can I fit them in to the weeks I visit? Do I want to, and should I?

Not sure… but somehow I feel that things have just got to become a bit more ‘integrated’. But, what does that look like?

Where I’ve Been…
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I’ve been on a diet for the past few months, and didn’t gain any weight over christmas! Yippeee!

That we’re breakable.

Ingrid Michaelson – Breakable:

Whats changed?

I’m single. Emily as lots of people know, split up what I have just realised was now around 6 months ago – and having been going out for a long time, meant a lot of things suddenly changed a great deal – and while this has not been, and won’t be the defining change in life – it certainly has, naturally, been a catalyst for a number of changes, and has, I suppose enabled, and disabled, some changes over the next wee while.

You know what? Emily and I mattered a massive amount. There’s no “being over” our relationship – there’s no desperate looking back to what was or what could have been. I have a real sense of peace about what has been, and what will be; probably, because is a very tangible way, I am aware of my life being in God’s hands.

I’m back studying – an honours degree in youthwork and applied theology, to be precise. You might note, I have a non-honours degree at the moment, but this way I get to stay in my full time post here in Broxburn, and continue to study – yippee!

I’m sure at some point i’ll  blog about the joys of being a student again… but for now, its ok – im enjoying it, in fact.

I’m seeing lots of family and friends. I’ve been in Cambridge lots, seen more of my Dad and people in Scotland like John, Linda, Lynn, Marion, Gav, Nicola, Stu, (the list goes on) – and I’m loving it. Family and friends matter – and maybe, I had begun to forget this.

Oh.. at the risk of this becoming too surface level… my sister got married this month – pictures soon I promise! and my dad goes in for a pace-maker operation in a matter of weeks after a serious heart failure over the summer.

I’ve lost some weight. Not a lot, but a little… long may it continue!

I’m content. Life is not a strive… it’s enjoyable, it’s reasonably paced (wait till the end of term/semester!)… its balanced to some degree.

I’m happy. I want more… and i’m sure God has it in hand. But just now, things are good.