Richard's Blog

A great post for the start (nearly) of the new year from Seth Godin - whose book, Tribes, I've just finished reading (more on that very soon):

Unless you work in a nuclear power plant, the answer is certainly no (and if you work there, I hope the answer is yes.)

No, everything is not okay. Not in a growing organization. Not if your company is making change happen, or dealing with customers. How could it be?

And yet, that's what so many managers focus on. How to make everything okay.

We spend so much time smoothing things out, we lose the opportunity for change, or for texture or creativity.

Instead of working so hard to make everything okay, perhaps it is more helpful to work hard at living with a world that rarely is.

Very easy indeed in church life to get sucked into merely making sure everyting is "okay" and missing (as he puts it) the opportunity for "change, texture or creativity".

Christmas starts here!

Great to celebrate amongst the fun of this morning's Children's Celebration. I was saying to someone that All Souls specialises in "glorious chaos" - and this morning was both, but more the former than the latter... great singing, costumes, fun and a strong message about the celebration of Jesus' birthday together.

Sad that it's Emma's last with us - but one of the many great things to remember her ministry with us by. More photos (just a few - and all taken in rather low light, so don't enlarge them too far!) here.

Hadn't had a chance to see progress since the weekend, but a great sight today - the roof going on!

More latest pictures on the Making Room Project progress page ...

Week three of the think-spot for families in Advent - a Bible focus, things to chat about during the week and activities.

[read more...]

Thanks to Maggi for the link - I'd forgotten about the Advent Conspiracy website... and this genius (and uncomfortably well aimed) video.

Watch at your own risk - the risk of rethinking Christmas, that is.

Great news for us today:

The next Bishop of Kensington will be the Revd Canon Paul Gavin Williams, Downing Street has announced today. He will be consecrated as Bishop at St Paul's Cathedral on 25 March 2009.

Delighted to hear the announcement (you can read the rest of it, with further details, on the London Diocesan website , from which this picture of the new Bishop together with the Bishop of London is taken) - both because it's been a long time in the Area with no Bishop, but also because he's someone with a commitment to mission and church growth.

Paul is 40 (and before you think that's young to be a bishop, don't forget that Barack Obama is only 47!!), trained at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford and ministered at St James, Muswell Hill and then Christ Church Clifton before moving to his current church, St James Gerrards Cross some ten years' ago. It looks a great place!

We were chatting at staff meeting this afternoon about the particular pressures on a new Bishop and his family as they move and settle in - we were praying for them and will continue to do so over the coming three months.

Very good news indeed :o)

We had a wonderful time this morning with Bishop Pete Broadbent visiting All Souls to conduct a confirmation service for candidates from here and from five other churches.

Bishop Pete is the Are Bishop for Willesden (as well as Assistant Bishop for London as a whole), but kindly stood in to Confirm here given that Kensington is currently (not for many more hours - watch this space!) without its own.

More than 250 adults - and I don't yet know how many children - packed into the building to see 25 people stand up for their faith and publicly declare their belonging to and service with this part of God's people.

Very moving to hear Ollie and Warren interviewed about their faith and how they came to decide to be confirmed - such different stories, but both shot through with the grace of God at work.

A few photos online - sorry if you or your family member isn't on there: I was snapping when I wasn't needed in the service itself and deliberately without a flash, so it was  little limiting!