Birmingham by boat?

And it was all going so well. yesterday I managed to cycle right into the heart of our 2nd city, barely seeing a car. I genuinely saw more horses than vehicles....anyone would think I am walking in the footsteps of Wesley or something!

There was one hill which probably ought to have persuaded me to avoid the peak district (which I am attempting today!) ...but the sponsorship didn't say....to Lindisfarne (mainly) by bike! 

So lunch in Birmingham followed by a potter along canals out to Lichfield in time for evensong......so I planned. Well you've heard of Roadworks, this was towpath repairs.... the diversion was definately designed for walkers, involving carrying my pannier laden bike up 12 flights of canal stairs. I thought about taking a picture, but was frankly too knackered! So I set of in the wrong direction, got renavigated  away from my chosen route, and learnt a few more lessons...my favourite from the midday prayer...patient endurance attaineth to all things. I did make it to the Cathedral...just before they closed up, but at this place where they have worshipped for nigh on 1400 years...I was too late! 

All in all, even though I definately saw less horses than cars in the afternoon..a good day, a route refound, and I must have crossed about 7 motorways.... My best encounter was with a sort of hippie/ down and out...who looked at my bike and simply said.... "I hope that's lighter than it looks." Fortunately this was before the 12 flights of stairs, so I didn't swear! I hope by the time I get to the sweet taste of Buxton, I will have avoided swearing today! 

Lichfield, the ancient capital of Mercia, one of the first centres of Christian worship after Northumbria...is now behind me...I press on, and today...up!

Who pays the ferryman

Day One to Per shore....

I arrived, my longest ride so far..... but to be fair, I had and needed help.
First there was the three musketeers:

1. thanks to the Riches and James... and quite a few support staff, supplying me even with sore bottom cream..I made it to Gloucester...and as I pootled on north of Gloucester I was feeling pretty chuffed with myself....what a wonderful quiet route I have planned I thought....all along the river Severn..wonderful. But then as I tootled down a quiet lane...a dead end...well actually a river...the Severn a big one. my sat nav gaily told me to cross the river and pick up the road on the other side and wholah Tewksbury! Who did the Sat Nav think I was....Moses.. I know some people have Faith in me but this was ridiculous. Hmmmm how to get back on the main road, this road less travelled stuff had got me nowhere...it was then I saw him, the little ferryman. Can I get the bike in that I asked, sure he said as he docked the boat (a bit wobbly I thought!) How much? £2 he called..a steal I thought, £2 or another 10 miles.... Then he asked me what I was doing, and as he whisked me across the Severn... he refused to take any money....what a wonderful bloke..Colin was his name.

 

So on a day that was meant to be all about Abbey's...Pershore, Tewkesbury and Gloucester (cathedral...well nearly an Abbey) suddenly my day was different. No longer was I reflecting about the past glories of Christianity..as I journey towards the place where it 1st established itself in our country... rather my question was..."Who pays the ferryman?" A small act of kindness, reminds me that all is not lost... God's goodness...is still very much alive in the Colin's of the world. so if you are so inclined do pray for Colin. if you are not so inclined, thank you that you are probably the kind of person who does the sort of little things that people like Colin do.

who pays the ferryman?

A great first day...thank you.

Nearly there... well nearly at the beginning

The old saying goes that every journey starts with the 1st step. Well mine starts with the first peddle....and although I've done 100's of miles of training....my pilgrimage starts on Saturday. I must admit to being very nervous... can I really maintain 50-60 miles a day, over hill down dale, in the country or city come rain or shine. (I for one am well chuffed with a wind change to a SWesterly.)
  Still every change, every pilgrimage must begin somewhere, and mine begins Saturday... wish me good fortune and perseverance and as the Irish celtic blessing says...

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand

Can I say a big thanks to all those who have got me to this point. Of course the URC for giving me this break... my friends for training me and teaching me how to peddle and navigate, and of course my family.. for laughing at my craziness. 

I have raised over £2,000 I believe, but if anyone would like to put some more in... here are the pages for my two charities again:
http://my.give.net/lindisfarnebybike
 this goes to a little charity called Romans 1.11... it is a charity set up to create links between the church in Uganda and the church in the UK... Romans 1.11 says, we should be mutually encouraged. This summer my family will visit one of the schools/orphanages/churches that I have supported for years....I am well encouraged!
http://www.justgiving.com/stephen-Newell2
This is for a charity called Mission Direct, my daughter visited the Dominican Republic with them, and was inspired. As a family we will work for them this summer in Uganda and help to build part of a school for children with disabilities...particularly the deaf...hard work but rewarding.
you can also give the money to me and I will split it equally.  Thanks for all your support
Stephen

Will I get to Lindisfarne like this?

Well for the last 12 days my cycling has been frankly pathetic.... My excuse is simple... I've had man flu... well flu, or a bad cough or .... I don't know what it's been but it hasn't been nice. Still coughing up trash now!

On the other hand in this time my other attempt to get to Lindisfarne has rocketed. Lindisfarne is the place where Christianity first became part of English society.... A Scottish monk by the name of Aiden, was brought down from Iona by the king of Northumbria to try and establish Christianity.... he did it, he taught, he listened he lived an alternative way... and something good happened.

Well many years have past since Aiden, that is quite sure... and something to be honest has gone quite wrong, Christianity once a clear source of goodness, kindness and truth became something else: a form of control a worldview that made us feel a little superior to others. All sorts of things went wrong, some of them definitely in me. So my pilgrimage to Lindisfarne is about rediscovering the good and throwing out some of what I've become. So I've been reading... and reading and reading.... I'm loving it. As most of you know I love the bible, I love the stories, something in Jesus just does it for me.... BUT... and it's been a pretty big but... some of the understandings of the bible and the way we've used the bible have really jarred with me. Well today, I felt like I practically arrived at Lindisfarne... this book "A new kind of Christianity" just blew me away. He undid loads of problems all in one go. The bible actually says that loads of us are going to hell right? It says that the world was perfect and we FELL and screwed it up right, so God hates sinners, right? Well no, wrong. We've read it like that because for 100's no 1,000's of years that's what we've been taught it says, but it doesn't say that. McLaren retells the fall story, like it is, a story full of grace, like a parent trying to teach her kids to learn to take responsibility. So those who screw up.... (all of us) can have a little hope again. Adam and Eve... naked, disobedient... what does our angry God do.... begins fashion... with fig leaves. Even Cain, who kills his brother.... what does God do...yes he banishes him.... it is bad stuff to kill your brother!! But it's not sorted by someone else killing Cain, so he's marked/ protected as he wanders the earth and learns to live with his mistakes. I could say more, but the best bit... and this is my GOD bit... what is God like, is he angry, vengeful, just waiting to catch us out. No, that couldn't be further from the truth in these stories, or indeed in my life... what is God like... he's the one who overcomes evil with Good. The first book of the bible Genesis, ends with the story of Joseph... he is wronged by his Dad, shows of to his brothers, is sold by them as a slave, is wronged by his master's wife and so wrongly imprisoned. even there he helps out people who forget him, until one day... it all turns on it's head, and God uses him to bless Egypt, to bless his Father and brothers... to bless the whole known world. What is God doing? "You intended it for evil, but God intended it for good." He is the one, the only one who can really show us how to overcome evil with good." Awesome stuff... mind you I failed to do it today. Out walking the dog... bemoaning other people who don't pick up their dog's poo...If I'm serious I guess I have to start taking out the extra poo bag... and helping God overcome evil with good in me........ So maybe I've still got a way to go till I reach Lindisfarne!
Stephen

Frampton to Holy Island part 2

Another Week of hard training has come and gone....

WEIGHT:  Still pretty heavy... but definitely shifting a few pounds!

KIT:   Nearly fully kitted out... I am officially a MAMMAL... a middle aged man in Lycra!

RIDES:  Have clocked up well over 200 miles in the last few weeks.... a quick 29 miles to Wooton Under Edge, with Mick Stoodley (it was quick for me but not for Mick!) and a not quite so quick 36 miles over the top of the Mendips to visit my brother in law in Glastonbury.... (fortunately Deb was there to give me a lift home!!)

FITNESS:   Well getting there.... but still a way to go. I have my sister training with me this Friday, which is great... she is going Paris to London in 4 days... even madder than me I fear!

FUNDRAISING:   Have raised over £1700 for the charities... so should be able to clear the £2000 target... thanks for anyone who has sponsored me or is still planning to. (Either give to me directly (preferably with gift aid details) or... use the two sites to give on the internet: 

To sponsor for Rom 1:11: https://my.give.net/lindisfarnebybike

For Mission Direct: http://www.justgiving.com/stephen-Newell2

ACADEMIC:  I have now passed my first essay which is a big relief... so now some more reading and I better get writing the second one!

View From a Cold Cottage.. Pastors last Ponderings for a while

(To See sponsorship details see earlier blog ref Lindisfarne)

                By the time most of you read this article I will have commenced my sabbatical. Truth is I’m feeling a bit guilty about that. At the same time, we as a church will have moved out of the building wherein we have worshipped for 44 years since our inception as Zion United Church. 

                Not much of a leader really… jumping ship whilst the crew have to steer through some fairly changeable and choppy waters. On the other hand, if I am the pilot, I should only ever consider myself the co-pilot, and in truth this is a time when of course we do want the chief shepherd the real pilot to guide us.  I am feeling a bit guilty, but at the same time I am feeling excited and confident for us as a church. A time of change is a real time of opportunity and I pray that my absence will make us all rely on God all the more.  If we do that then I believe this time of change and upheaval will also become a chance for us to develop as a community of God’s light… a beacon. 

                I am also a bit nervous, not so much about the work and the decisions that we will need to make, nor even about the upheaval… my prediction is that the car park is going to cause us the most problems… once the contractor starts shutting big bits of for safety reasons. No I am most nervous about people getting hurt… We all deal with change and upheaval differently and church is no different. I simply make this final plea to you all… Love one another. I think most of you love me….(even though you know me!) If you can love me, as I know you love Christ, please love one another… be patient with one another, forgive one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us.  I doubt that I am famed for my patience, but I say to you all, please be patient with one another and put on large layers of grace. If we do that our prayers that we remain united during this process will be heard and answered.

                When I return, I hope and pray that I will be different. Perhaps I will understand a little better the society in which we live. I hope I will also have simply spent time with Christ. I’m pretty confident that I will be a little lighter and fitter. (If you want to sponsor me for my cycle pilgrimage to Lindisfarne, please fill in the sponsor forms in church or go online via my blog www.zuchurch.co.uk  to sponsor me directly there.) But what about the church, will you be different? I hope so. Perhaps there will be new people among us; perhaps the prospect of worshipping in a community hall with a slightly different style of worship will attract some new people. Perhaps we will have learnt and got to know each other better as change often fosters new relationships. I hope you too will have been able to spend time with Christ.

“If you love me you will obey what I command, And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counsellor (Parakletos) to be with you for ever.” John 14:15-16

This really is a good time for us all to rely on God. We need the chief shepherd our captain to guide us through these changes. Not simply building works, but if we are going to impact and offer the love of Christ to our families and workplaces and communities I believe we need to learn new ways to be the authentic church of Jesus Christ, to become a beacon of his love.  This is in effect what Jesus promised his disciples before he left them. He promised them another counsellor (Parakletos) the person of the Holy Spirit who would remain with them forever. The Greek word Parakletos, was actually the name that Greek sailors gave to boats which would come alongside vessels and steer them safely into harbour. Surely that is what we need, not a new or improved minister, or even one who will remain with you while you go through big changes… we all need a Parakletos a “New Counsellor.” To this end while I am away many important things will be happening. Perhaps though none is more important than the Ignite day, of which details are in the magazine.  The strapline reads.. An introductory ‘taster’ event, exploring the person and work of the Holy Spirit.  I do encourage you all to try and attend that event, certainly for me that particular teaching has been the most important I have ever experienced. 

I commend you all into God’s sure and safe keeping. I thank you for your on-going love and prayers for me. And I look forward to God guiding us together into every place that he will call us.

To Him be all the glory: Hallelujah

Stephen

training Week 3

Well, this week it was seriously cold..... Still had Chris to help me, which was great.

Hinton Hill was still achieved, but the cold made it a bit scary, especially going down hill... still I am getting used to going out, even when I didn't fancy it.

Equipment update: I now have a very fancy pair of well it's like a leotard really with a silly bib type thing... they did keep my legs warm... still no shoes.. My feet are too big!

Next week I'll be upping to two cycles a week....