(7) Back to a bit of work for LLM weekend

I had agreed - in the middle of my sabbatical - to go on their final retreat with the trainee LLM's I'd been working with for 2 years. Not really doing anything - just being there as a friendly, pastoral presence.

All good until the retreat leader was called away to a family emergency on the first evening! We did have a speaker for the teaching on the Saturday, but other than that....it was down to me! Oh well, they're a good bunch of nearly licensed lay ministers so they didn't need too much looking after, and it's good to know I haven't forgotten how to take a Communion service!

Cliff college (back to my Methodist roots) and the weather were beautiful, and we had a lot of fun - especially on the Saturday when our evening quiz was interrupted by 'some football team' going to penalties - so we replaced the quiz on the screen with penalties, then went to the pub down the road to celebrate! We did also worship and pray together, and think about how we sustain ministry in the long term, and the importance of continuing to encourage one another. It was good to be there, and we look forward to the licensing in October.

What might God be saying?

Well, I guess God hasn't finished me yet! It turned out to be very useful that I had agreed to go!

It's such a privilege to see what God is doing in people's lives, and watch them growing in God, and in their ministries. A great reminder that God uses different people in different ways - all for His glory. We don't all need to be the same, but we can still travel together and encourage each other in life and ministry.