24 April - Good food and fellowship at the University

It was a good spread at the bring and share lunch on Sunday 23 April. Thanks to the University of Essex Chaplaincy for having us to join in with their Sunday lunchtime gathering. I enjoyed meeting new people, talking about David Tennants Scottish accent in Dr Who(!), hearing about the mission work of the Chaplaincy team and Friends International....

We also learnt about Nehemiah from Michael White (of Friends International). Check out this Old Testament book for inspiration on hearing from God and acting confidently on His plans for our lives....

And we had a chance to pray for Mike Holden. He's leading the 24-7 mission to Pula, Croatia this summer. Want to be involved? Post a comment at the bottom of this post....

And we heard that Julian's off to the 24-7 Big Conversation in Belgrade. He'll be bringing back news of other Boiler Room Communities across Europe, and asks if there's any questions/observations that we should ask as part of that Big Conversation.

We had a chance to talk together as Boiler Room Community on Sunday. I observed that this is a time for gathering the Community, and establishing our shared values and practices. In particular it's a time for working out how we practice a rhythm of prayer, serving the poor, mission, creativity, hospitality and study.

Currently we practice a rhythm of prayer by praying together on Monday mornings, and at prayer rooms. We have heard of opportunities for action through working with Sanctuary (a new home for homeless with substance addiction problems). Also opportunities for practicing mission and hospitality through Friends International. Also an opportunity to support mission by standing with Mike in prayer as he leads a mission to Croatia this summer. Please keep ideas coming in....

Jamie is gathering people to walk, breakfast and pray at High Woods Country Park at 5am on Monday 1 May. Call Jamie on 07710 397824 to book your place (it's a Ranger-led birdsong walk).

We plan to meet again for a bring and share Sunday lunch on Sunday 28 May 1pm to 3pm. If you would like to host this Boiler Room gathering please let us know by posting a comment below.

Also, we still wait on the possibility of a weekend of 24 hour prayer at Castle Methodist on 10 & 11 June. And the opportunity to communicate with church congregations in the Colchester area.

My final thought...for this posting anyway! I have just been looking at the 10 day prayer meeting between Jesus' Ascension and Pentecost...and asking if I should be practicing a particular rhythm of prayer through this time.

with love, Richard

Monday Morning Prayer

We're still praying on Monday mornings! (not on bank holidays that's lie in time)

6am to 8am at the offices of Glover and Howe, above the Warehouse restaurant, 12 Chapel St North. To enter use the entrance to the Warehouse restaurant, next door to the Headgate Theatre. We pray in a back office at the top of the stairs.

Then we have breakfast afterwards at an exceptional local cafe!

Study report - Early Celtic Christianity

Good morning Boiler Room Bloggers...time for me to post some more thoughts.
This time a book report, as part of my developing rhythm of study.

I've been reading Early Celtic Christianity by Brendan Leharne (Constable, 1994). It jumped out at me from the shelves of Colchester library.

This book charts the rise of Irish cultural influence on Europe in the first seven centuries AD. This influence is achieved by the actions of the early Celtic missionaries - the book focuses on the lives of Brendan, Columba and Columbanus.

The book is written from a social history perspective. The author respects and admires the missionaries, but doesn't look at them from the perspective of building God's kingdom. He just sees them as cogs in the wheels of history. He is also a big fan of the Irish culture.

I was hoping for more detail about the prayers and rhythm of life of these Celtic missionaries, but this is lacking. Partly due to the lack of reliable historical sources from the time.

However, there's some inspiring description of the transformational impact that Columbanus had in France;

"Into an atmosphere of shift and deception walked bands of Irish with a clear and unequivocal sense of purpose. that purpose had nothing whatsoever to do with vendettas or luxury or making money or winning territory; little with emaciating themselves into scrawny and impotent worshippers of a far-removed god. Worship came first but good worship presupposed good health. They revived long term farming methods on the land they took over. With the product they fed themselves, gave free provisions to the needy and sold the rest to expand their activities. They were healthy in mind as well as body and gave no precedence to material things. They showed how to order things for the best in circumstances which were far from good. And in their dealings with people they showed little fear or favour to rich or poor; though some, other things being equal, to the latter, their need being greater."

I love it when I see people living out their love of Jesus in an effective, world changing rhythm. I want to find that rhythm as part of the Boiler Room Community.

I look forward to seeing people Sunday.

love Richard

Sunny sensations on Wednesday 12 April

Hello, Boiler Room Bloggers. I am loving the sunshine this morning. Thank God for beautiful days.

This week I went climbing for the day in the Peak District, with an outdoor pursuits club I help with. It was sunny, and we had a great day. Many of the young people were amazed that sometimes the sunshines in the Peaks!

Also, yesterday, I journeyed on the Labyrinth at St Leonards church at the Hythe. This is a prayer journey with many creative prayer activities laid out in the old church....Nice one to the folk of St Stephens church for organising and supervising it. Sounds like they got quite a few unchurched people in from the local community. If you want to visit it's open Wednesday lunch time and evening, and then on Easter Sunday afternoon....

Change of venue for Sunday lunch on April 23. Don't forget we're meeting for lunch on Sunday 23 April, 1pm to 3pm at the University Chaplaincy (Room3.320)...joining in with their holiday time Sunday lunches. Please bring some food to share...It'll be great to catch up and you can bring partners and family too. I want to talk more about how the Community can grow together and act a rhythm of prayer, action, mission, creativity, hospitality and study.

There's car parking right by the Chaplaincy. To get there turn into the main entrance of the University of Essex, off the B1028 Colchester Road to Wivenhoe. Drive straight ahead (passed the Sports Centre turning and a No Entry sign!) for 1 mile, down the hill and round the right hand bend. Take the turning on the right, which leads underneath the university buildings. After 100 metres there is a signpost showing Chaplaincy to the left. Follow this sign. Park in the open air area, and use use the glass doors in the corner to ascend to the Chaplaincy.

We're planning to meet for lunch on Sunday 28 May too, venue to be decided...

For study, I am reading a book on Early Celtic Christianity, but it seems to be more about fairy stories than about what the early Celtic missionaries actually did...I am persevering!

with love for you and Jesus,

Richard