Voice

After being ill a few weeks ago, I still don't seem to have quite got my voice back properly.
It never fully went, and now it's only a problem when singing.
But since that's something I spend a lot of time doing it's quite irritating!

Any suggestions?

For the benefit of Rachel (and Lucy)

It's great working in a charity shop isn't it?! ;)

Mainly for the benefit of mum...

Had a free hair cut

Talcum Powder

It's snowing/hailing right now.
But it's so heavy, and the wind is blowing so strongly that it just looks like talcum powder flying horizontally across the window.
It's already stacked up in the corner of my window after a few minutes!

Little Is Much...

"What is the measure of a life well lived
If all I can offer seems too small to give
This is a song for the weaker, the poorer
And so-called failures

Little is much when God's in it
And no one can fathom the plans He holds
Little is much when God's in it
He changes the world with the seeds we sow
Little is much, little is much

Who feels tired and under-qualified
Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry
This is a song for the broken, the beat-up
And so-called losers

Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed
Consider that giants fall to stones and slings
Consider a child in a manger
Consider the story isn't over
What can be done with what you still have"

from a band called Downhere been listening to it on the radio, I like it. It's encouraging that God uses even the smallest of people that the world looks down on.
You can listen to it here

Momentum - moving

After three days of being in bed, today I woke up and felt almost human :D

I am now going to Clifton Parish Church. It was a long and difficult decision, but in short I felt that it wasn't right for me to be at MV York any more. I've learnt a lot, but it's time to move on.

Tonight, David that vicar spoke. Him and a load of guys have just got back from two weeks in Rwanda (*mental note to figure out where that is, wonder if I could go there sometime...*). Of what he spoke about, the thing that stood out to me was what he said about momentum. Not momentum in the sense of Soul Survivor's student event, but momemtum as in movement. He compared it to starting to move a massive wheel. At first it's really hard, and it takes so much effort, and you really don't seem to be getting anyway for all this effort you're putting in. Then it starts to move, and you're pushing and pushing, and repetively doing the same little things, which again don't seem to amount to much on their own, and you still don't seem to be getting very far, but you've got to keep doing them or it'll stop. Then finally once the momentum is going, you really go for it and it takes little effort.

I like that picture. It encourages me.

He also said that it works especially well when you're using your gifting/talents, because that provides energy and enthusiam.

Not quite sure what I'm going to do with this, but hey ho!

Installation

Apologies for the lack of blogging. I don't really have an excuse!
Quick update:
Am currently unwell :(
Work is good, charity shop is good, housemates are great, as are friends.
I've been to the cinema and the theatre, and generally spent time socialising.

That brings us to today.

Today is the official installation day of The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Dr John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu as Chancellor of York St John University. (Where I study if you hadn't gathered...) Otherwise known as the Archbishop of York.

I am sad that I didn't take a camera, as the service (or act of worship as our chaplin called it) was varied and exciting - including a giant. I have included a picture of my order of service, and two badges that I was given. The small silver one was received as a member of staff at uni, the larger one with green bits everyone got who went to the service.

The service started with our gospel choir singing the Circle of Life from the Lion King, and Happy Day, some organ music and then the procession of minster officials. This was followed by the York St John University Fanfare, and a procession of gowned tutors and members of staff. I would be very interested to know what all their different styles and colours of gown mean.

The service was very 'Christian'. A lot more than I was expecting! Although it York St John was founded by the Church of England, so maybe I shouldn't be surprised. There were many Bible readings, including John 10:10b 'Jesus said, "I come that they may have life, and have it abundantly"' - this just so happens to be the verse we use at CU. There were a number of prayers throughout too, by staff, students, the chaplain.

We then had a performance by the Faculty of Arts called 'The Flourishing of York St John'. It basically told the story of St Johns and was all based around the idea of a seedling growing and florishing like the students of the university. It involved a giant version of Edward Cordukes the first student to enrol, students processing around the minster with small trees on their backs, young children from the minster school running down the minster and flags. It was good.

We sang two hymns - entertainingly some of the congragation thought they new one better than others and got out of time! We had a York St John University Prayer:
'Loving God,
you have bound us together in the unity of a learning community,
so that we may have live and have it in abundance.

Help us this day and in all our futures to draw on the wellsprings of your love,
so that people and justice may be on our lips and in our lives,
now and forever. Amen'

The actually installation took no time at all, and Kate and I wondered whether he came with an installation disc incase we need to uninstall him....

The Archbishop gave us an address, unfortunately I didn't hear much, but I did catch his final comment:
'Remember, never stand between a lamp post and a dog'

Clearly important...

I thoroughly enjoyed the service. Most excited to discover the York St John drummers - I wonder if I can join them...