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I can't believe 6 weeks have gone past since last I blogged. A quick summary of all that has happened:

• It has been hectic with work - I have had great fun organising about 3 activities a week with work. This included trips to theme parks, craft activities and a dinner out. However the two highlights were camping with the younger PALS and then a week long trip to the Calvert Trust. It was so inspiring to see how much our young people could achieve. We had people who are in wheelchairs being able to climb walls, abseil and ride horses. I wonder how we can encourage people with disabilities to fully engage in church life and to realise and achieve their full purpose. There has got to be more to it than just providing wider doorways and accessible toilets. How can we encourage more people with disabilities to engage with faith and talk about faith in a public setting? I long to see more people with disabilities leading worship and preaching.
• I am now the Chairman of the steering group to make Thatcham a Fairtrade Town. Fairtrade is something that I have long had a passion for and so was very excited when I discovered that there was a campaign starting for Thatcham to achieve Fairtrade Town status. It is campaigns like this that the church should be involved in as it impacts so many lives. One thing that I have come to think about Fairtrade is that there needs to be a local emphasis as well as the global one. There are many products (meat, dairy fruit etc) that is produced locally and we need to campaign to ensure fair trade for these people as well. There is a great post on visualtheology about the need for us to work for the Kingdom of God on Earth in the here and now ( visualtheology: heaven can wait: the demise of escalator theology ). This is one way that we can challenge the injustices in our world and seek the Kingdom of God in the here and now.
• I have filled in the online form expressing an interest in candidating for ministry in the coming Connexional year. This is by far the scariest thing that I have done this summer (even scarier than climbing the climbing walls at Calvert Trust!). It is something that I have considered for many years - but suddenly it is becoming very close and very real. As I read various books needed for my portfolio I realise how little I actually know and how utterly unprepared I feel. All I can do is trust that God will be with me, and that he will ensure that the right outcome is reached. Your prayers would be much appreciated.

Hopefully there will now resume a more regular blog!