Gigs and Graduations
Sunday night Hammersmith Apollo was our destination to see Deacon Blue. Fair to say it was a mature audience, but a good night. Last year we saw them in Birmingham. Hammersmith was a good venue, especially as our seats got upgraded from the very back to the stalls!
Loads of great photos from the gig here. And if you're interested a set list here.

On Monday the Mrs was graduating at the Barbican with her CPP course from TVU. She did well on the course (and even won a "best student award" from the professional body)! Nice one Mrs!
I'n a TVU alumnus, but I never went to my graduation.

Housekeeping
Just a note for myself really that I've updated the blogroll - eliminated a few people who have given up blogging or turned to the darkside (by which I mean Facebook)!

Christmas is coming
It's getting to that time of year when I get to go and play piano for carol services!
But for those who play guitar or do band - led worship, carols can be a struggle (I know I've heard a few killed and probably mutilated a few myself!).
I'm pleased to see that Dan Wilt is one again plugging his "Simple Carols", from the " Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship" over in Canada. 10 carols arranged in singable keys (seems to be me that most trad. arrangements of carols plump for "F" even if goes way too high!).
Check it out here!

Assignment Complete
I posted the essay off yesterday - so its out of my hands and now at the mercy of the postal system!
Was interesting thinking through the issues of inculturation and contextualisation. Seems to me that there are 2 common responses I hear from people (and in some of the literature): one is fear, sometimes driven by a conservative theology, but often I think fear of change, of not being "sound". The other is the opposite, which results in almost an obsession with relevance and fitting "my culture" that we lose sight of the church's call to be a distinctive community. I agree with those who say that the church should be odd, but that has to be because we're shaped by the gospel rather than just out of touch!
I think one thing we're (me too) often bad at is listening. Its probably an under used part of mission!

Back in the big smoke
I'm back in London, after what turned out to be a positive council experience.
Kezia has blogged some details of the discussions and outcomes, especially around an apology for the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

The research day at Cliff was also helpful, and good to catch up with people.
Now I need to knuckle down and get my assignment out the way...

Derbyshire
Currently in Derbyshire for Baptist Union Council, although at the moment I've ducked out and am up the road at Cliff College for a research day. Back to Council's deliberations later this afternoon.

Cultural Engagement
Great thought provoking post from William Willimon on Not reaching our culture through our preaching.
As I posted yesterday, I'm in the middle of an essay on inculturation, contextualisation etc. and its place in mission. Willimon's post is a challenging one for our mission in the Western context. He suggests that we need to embrace our uniqueness as church rather than go for "relevance" at the expense of gospel.
Here's the final part:
"The point is not to speak to the culture. The point is to change it. God's appointed means of producing change is called church. God's typical way of producing church is called preaching."

Assignment Fever
Couple of weeks to go until my next assignment deadline for Cliff College.
The title is all about inculturation, and is that a sufficient expression of mission. So lots of thinking about gospel and culture and contextualisation etc.
And lots more to write...
Of course blogging is a good distraction!

Challenging Behaviour
Last night church.co.uk hosted Nigel's Pimlott's fantastic "challenging behaviour" training session.
Was a good session, with a decent turnout.
I've read the Grove booklet and heard the session before, but it was well received and with all these things those attending make a difference to the shape and direction.
The idea has emerged to do some more training in partnership with church.co.uk (and maybe some others), focusing on some more urban stuff, that some of the youthwork conferences don't hit (or at least not in depth).