onmebus » Work

Pastoral Care

Simo — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 13:30:10 +0000

Found this, think it could be a useful guide in training us ordinands in how to help people who are struggling with various issues in their lives, enjoy!

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Story Time

Simo — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:52:04 +0000

This week we spent a couple of mornings doing ‘Walk Thru the Bible’ (in double time, 3 hours for each Old and New Testaments instead of 6) and I have to say it has been fantastic. Our teacher was Paul Keeys, the director of Walk Thru the Bible (although I am sure the other presenters are also very good). It has got me thinking a bit, over the last couple of years in my last post I had started using story a bit more, perhaps because I started doing more primary aged assemblies again and unlike in the past most of them I did on my own. One of the things I really enjoyed was the fact that exploring the bible this way even in such a quick overview it helped you to not only see how things fitted together a bit more but also made things click that I had just not noticed before. I have to say it is a brilliant resource and one that I may well consider looking into training for in the future especially seeing the way it can be used with both school Children and in adult seminars. It could work as a brilliant introduction to a series on the Old or New Testament, could perhaps even work as a whole for a weekend away but it has also challenged me to think a bit more about the use of story in my ministry, we often think of story time as something for the children yet it was Jesus main teaching method, maybe we could all do with a bit more story in our lives?

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Parenting Teens

Simo — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:01:01 +0000

For the last few weeks one of the projects that I have been working towards has been a course for parents of Teens (and Tweens). Last night was our first session and it seamed to go really well. It is a six week course starting with a short bit of input from me and then largely discussion based. We had 10 turn up out of the 12 booked in for the first session which I don’t think is a bad response and we had some great discussion thinking back to our own teenage years and remembering that this is one thing we definitely have in common with our teenagers, we have also been there.
Over the next few weeks we are going to be looking at issues such as Families, school, technology and sex etc. I have to say I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next few weeks as we explore these issues together!

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Almost Reverend?

Simo — Mon, 11 May 2009 13:18:30 +0000

Well the wait has felt like reasonable length of time but on Saturday evening I had the phone call with the conclusion of my Bishops Advisory Panel report.
The outcome is that I have been recommended for training (the outcome we were all hoping and praying for!) This means we will be moving up to Nottingham in the Summer to start training at St John’s collage in September for two years. After that I have to have another interview with the Bishop to be approved for ordination so keep on praying!
We are all very pleased and excited about the way God is calling us forward as a family, we know that the next few months and years there is a lot to do and it’s not going to be easy but we know this is Gods will for us and we look forward to all He has in store for us as we prepare to move, to train and all that will be involved.
Thank you for all those of you who have been praying and please keep them up, this is only the beginning!

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The Waiting Game

Simo — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:31:09 +0000

Well it has been a rather intense few days on a Bishops Advisory Panel although I have to say a much more pleasant experience than I perhaps anticipated. I now feel like the young apprentice sent to the store room to ask for a ‘long weight’!

To let you know what is happening now (at least as I understand it), the advisor’s are still there writing up their individual reports and then bringing them together and from all the information drawing their conclusions, the three advisor’s have to be unanimous in their decision. Once that has been sorted reports final reports are written up on all 15 of us and then all sent out to our relevant bishops together (so we should all hear around the same time!) Normally they say you should know by the end of the following week, however with the Bank Holiday that could take an extra day, which of course takes us into a weekend so I guess it could be beginning of the following week.

I can then get one of three responses:-

Yes, we recommend Simon for training for ordained ministry within the Church of England.
Yes, but… we recommend but think he needs to do/get more experience at before going for training, this will then be down to the diocese to work out how that is done.
No, we don’t feel this is the right path for Simon at the moment. (if it is this option I can try again in a couple of year, and can do that twice!)

So how am I feeling?

Well a little exhausted, the experience is mentally draining, but it was actually quite good fun as well most of the time, there were 15 candidate and as we were all in the same boat and there is no competition, we could all get a yes, we could all get a no, there was a lot of mutual support, even the advisor’s although not giving things away there was a real sense that they are not there to say yes or no but to help us discern Gods call. I know I have been myself, I have tried to give of my best and let them see who I am, I could not have done any more and now I need to trust God for the right outcome, whatever that may be. I am of course slightly nervous, slightly excited and perhaps slightly scared, and I think that is perhaps right for whatever the outcome might be.

I want to say a huge thank you for all the prayers that I know many of you have been sending up, for the encouraging comments that have been left on Facebook or emailed that have really helped me feel loved and supported by so many during the three days. Now I just have to wait and continue to pray and I will let you know once I hear.

Thank you all

God bless

Simon

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a quick update and question about Music.

Simo — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:31:01 +0000

It just hasn’t made it onto here yet!
Just over a week ago Gill and I went to look round our first Collage, St Johns in Nottingham, the collage had a really good welcome and we were made to feel very comfortable and happy during our visit, it was also good to catch up with some old friends who are currently studying there. I have got to sort out going to look at a couple of other places before making a decision (all of course assuming I get accepted for training anyway!)
Last week I was away for two days a Depth a retreat for youth and children’s workers from the Oxford diocese. We had led sessions looking at leadership and time to reflect and discuss the issues raised. It was a very beneficial couple of days on so many levels.
On top of all that of course has been the wonderful snow, a chance to go sledging and build snowmen with the kids which was great. On the down side though it did mean I missed my monthly visit to one of the youth groups which was a real shame.
A question to finish which came up at the retreat when we were having a bit of fun:-
We were talking about what songs you could have on a list of inappropriate for a part of youth and children’s workers, so what would be on your list?

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The sex talk

Simo — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:29:49 +0000

Earlier this week I was visiting one of the youth groups in the area that I go along to once a month, on this occasion I had been asked if I could do something on the big S word. This is not a problem as it is something I have talked to youth groups about several times before. One of the things I do to get the ball rolling is I get a selection of lads and girls ‘general interest’ magazines ( I think the idea came from youth work magazine some years ago) and I get the to look at the front cover and later the adverts looking at how sex is used to sell both the magazine and many of the products advertised inside. With it being two or three years since I have done this session it was time to go and get some new magazine and I have to say I was quite shocked, I found it very difficult to find a lads mag that I felt I could even show the front cover of to a group of young people, I did get one (where as I would have got two or three) but then I wouldn’t let them open it. What is the world coming to when I go to speak to a youth group about sex and the only thing I find particularly embarrassing is looking at a couple of current youth aimed publications to help the discussion. Of course it doesn’t help when I live and work in a small market town and I go to the local news agent to buy these magazines as well!

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Social Networking

Simo — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:29:07 +0000

Currently trying to develop a policy for using Social networking as a youth work tool, thinking about issues of the balance between meeting young people where they are and endorsing the use of particular networks, how much time? Can you measure the impact? I tend to work to a personal policy of I don’t add young people, I let them know I am there and will accept friendship invites from them but I don’t invite them myself. Do you have a policy? If so can I see a copy please, if you don’t but are working on similar things can we share ideas? If you weren’t even thinking about it but you’ve suddenly thought “if I were to produce some sort of policy I would include this” please share your ideas.
Many thanks
Simo

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Money for young volunteers

Simo — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:48:27 +0000

Vcashpiont are offering grants of up to £2500 for people aged between 16 & 25 to start a volunteer project in their local communities. The projects need to be run by young people and for young people, applications are from individuals but for projects that will involve both that person and at least three other young volunteers in helping their community, interested or no anybody that might be?
Check out www.vinspired.com to find out more.

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Worship

Simo — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:26:43 +0000

Just received this video on Facebook (thanks to Carol), it is something that is encouraging the church to get back to the heart of Worship, reminding us that worship is for God and not for us, thought you might find it interesting/useful.
Enjoy.

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