It’s amazing to think I’ve done over six months of my training and I’ll be ordained in just 15 months’ time! It’s been a busy time since I started at St Mellitus and I’ve very much enjoyed my placement in the Parish of Keighley.
I’ve been using Facebook to chart my journey so far but I’m now changing to adding posts and updates via this blog. You can subscribe by following the links below, and I’ll periodically link posts from the blog to Facebook.
Here’s my posts from the last six months:
3 weeks ago
Extra study day
Finally beaten by the snow with drifts across our lane!
3 weeks ago
Congratulations to Jill Duff, fantastic news!
Congratulations to Jill Duff, Director of St Mellitus College, North West, who this morning was announced as the next Bishop of Lancaster! We hope you will join us in praying for Jill and her family as she prepares to take on this exciting new role.
1 month ago
On the way to Broxbourne
for my latest training weekend. Looking forward to pastoral simulations and studying the New Testament 🙂
1 month ago
Wasn’t expecting to be snowed in again!
1 month ago
Ever wondered how 1500 church leaders
get to Harrogate despite blizzards and thick snow? Ven Andy Jolley talks about the New Wine leaders conference and how the warmth of the Spirit and Christian fellowship draws people to #HCC
http://www.leeds.anglican.org/news/warmth-spirit-draws-diocesan-church-leaders-snowy%C2%A0harrogate
1 month ago
Snowy day for the boys.
1 month ago
Just back from an amazing few days
at the New Wine Leadership Conference. Great to be with my friends from the Parish of Keighley!
1 month ago
After 10 days of excessive tiredness
and other flu-like symptoms, including an incredibly sleepy retreat, I’m pleased to report that I’m almost back to ‘normal’ – one more early night should sort it!
1 month ago
It’s the first day of Lent.
Spend some time with Jesus in the wilderness, letting God show you what is essential in life and what isn’t.
Buck Woods Thackley – 2 months ago
Great day off catching up with an old friend
and then a brisk stroll before getting Amy from school.
2 months ago
What a difference a day makes.
Rainy and cold today but surprisingly sunny and warm yesterday. I walked to Hebden Bridge and had to strip down to my T shirt at one point! Wonderful to spend some quality time with God in his amazing creation! Verse for the day: ‘But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.’ Matthew 6:33 😎
2 months ago
Snow alert!
It took Sam four hours to get Zoe and Amy back from school last night and she had to abandon the car in Oxenhope. Pleased to say we’ve now managed to retrieve the car. Blowing a gale and more snow forecast tonight though ❄❄❄
2 months ago
There’s a touch
of, dare I say, Spring in the air this morning 😎
“For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.
Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise!”
3 months ago
Thanks Paul and Jeanette
for the walk yesterday! It wasn’t as damp as it could have been and it was great to catch up with friends, old and new 🙂
A huge thank you to everyone who came today. We had rain but we also had sunshine too! And lots of mud. Great food stop off at the Forester’s Arms in Grassington before the return leg for a rewarding pint in the Red Lion at Burnsall. Hope to see you all next year.
3 months ago
3 months ago
Good questions to ask
ourselves regarding not just the past day – but the past year.
3 months ago
No sign of any snow
left this morning on Thornton Moor.
3 months ago
Thanks very much to Billington Bioenergy
for braving the heavy snow and delivering our wood pellets. Heating is back on!
3 months ago
A very Happy Christmas to you all!
Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
3 months ago
Wonderful walk
up onto Thornton Moor this morning.
3 months ago
The last of today’s winter sun.
3 months ago
From Angels at Keighley Shared Church
to even more snow up in Oxenhope, it’s great to be back home 🙂
4 months ago
Delighted to have won the end of term prize
at St Mellitus for having the most unusual pets! Thanks Puck, Bottom, Hamlet & Othello …. couldn’t have done it without you 🙂 lol
4 months ago
4 months ago
Beautiful snowy morning here.
Welcome to winter 🙂
4 months ago
Assignment one submitted
and first term nearly finished already! Day off tomorrow then it’s on to the next project. Busy but exciting stuff 🙂
4 months ago
Derek Walmsley
visiting me and Mike Green at St Mellitus College in Liverpool.
4 months ago
Sunrise just before the school run
is impressive this time of the year too! (thanks to Amy for this one).
5 months ago
Me and my mate Othello 🙂
5 months ago
Derek Walmsley
catching up with friends old and new in his old parish 🙂
5 months ago
One of the blessings
of the nights drawing in is that you get to see amazing sunsets on the school run 🙂
5 months ago
5 months ago
Let’s keep shining that light
into the darkness…
5 months ago
Heading back ‘up North’
after an inspirational weekend at High Leigh 😎
5 months ago
I can’t believe it’s a year
since that wonderful visit to Parcevall Hall when I read a God of Surprises by Gerard Hughes. My BAP followed soon after and what a year of surprises it has been! Who would have thought that a year later I’d be getting ready for a weekend away in Broxbourne studying the Old Testament with a lively bunch of like-minded folk from across the country? God knows all about surprises… bring on the next 12 months!
Beautiful on Simon’s Seat 😎
5 months ago
One of my favourite
local spots, ideal for an autumnal day off. My fungi book reckons this might be Boletus Chrysenteron?
6 months ago
”Do not hesitate to love
and to love deeply. You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love even more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a stronger plant.
Every time you experience the pain of rejection, absence, or death, you are faced with a choice. You can become bitter and decide not to love again, or you can stand straight in your pain and let the soil on which you stand become richer and more able to give life to new seeds.”
Henri Nouwen THE INNER VOICE OF LOVE
www.henrinouwen.org
6 months ago
What to do on a study day…
Looks like one of our hens is on her last legs. Been feeding her readybrek all afternoon whilst skimming ‘The Land’ by Walter Brueggermann but her energy levels are dropping…
6 months ago
Amazing sunrise
on today’s school run. “In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
(Amy’s the photographer again!)
6 months ago
Beautiful morning here 🙂
After my epic drive to/from St Mellitus in Liverpool yesterday (because Lime Street Station was closed), all set for a day in Keighley Parish today.
“With the help of God we will,” was the overwhelming message from yesterday. We can’t do anything in our own strength, but with Jesus alongside us anything is possible!
(Thanks Amy Bennett for the photo.)
6 months ago
An afternoon off….
what to do? Meet my mate Puck 🙂
6 months ago
This resonated with me today:
“The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” Psalm 37:23-24.
Delightful sunny morning here in the South Pennines, and as I stumble my way through “systematic theology” I know I will get there one step at a time (not sure I can say the same about the Greek alphabet though – lol).
6 months ago
“I felt you and I knew you loved me”
…just spent a while pondering these words as the light cascades in …a humbling end to an intensive 4 days at St Mellitus …..time for the train…..
6 months ago
Mike Cansdale:
Good day at St Mellitus College (based at Liverpool Cathedral) with Anthony Bennett as he starts his training for ordination. Anthony will be spending half of his time with us in the parish alongside his theological training. Looking forward to having you in the team and your ministry with us.
7 months ago
Back from a wonderful
few days retreat near Appletreewick 🙂
Just a week’s holiday left before all systems go!
