Internet down

Elna has just spent the best part of two days in the office, trying to sort out our internet connection, only to discover that the connection is down for all Orange users! It's amazing how dependent we have become on the internet in terms of communication. If the internet had been available this morning, I would have used this video clip as part of the service.

earthquakes

A massive earthquake has hit Chile this morning. While I was in Peru, I saw the damage caused by an 7.9- magnitude eathquake in 2007 which killed at least 519 people in the coastal province of Ica, about 145km (250 miles) south-east of the capital, Lima. Buildings still lie in ruins while new shacks emerge on the edge of the towns and villages. The new home funded by the Vine Trust in Ica looks after 40 boys, many of them orphaned by the earthquake. The earthquake in Chile was much larger than the recent one in Haiti. The relatively small number of casualties in comparison, is probably linked to the distance from the epicentre of major populations. Chile is also a much more prosperous nation, so the buildings are likely to be of a quality which would cope better with earthquakes.

names

Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. was a name which hit the headlines a couple of years ago. Here's a list which has just been compiled of unfortunate names. It can't be easy having a name like Stan Still!

Lighthouse news

I'm sure it's just a coincidence, but it seems that often all the exciting things happen when I go away! Last week, the Light house had it's busiest week ever, with business on some days being nearly 100% above the average! This is so encouraging. These very positive developments also bring their own challenges in terms of having enough people to help, so if you're reading this and have time to volunteer, even for a few hours per week or month, Michelle would be delighted to hear from you.

St Columba New charge

The latest meeting of the leadership team (commission) for the new charge of St Columba's took place last night. For me, the process is beginning to become much more exciting because the focus is increasingly on new beginnings. A community audit has taken place, a group is meeting regularly to pray and it is likely that services will begin in April.After the meeting last night, I was thinking about a question that Alan Hirsch often asks existing congregations: "If you could start all over again, would you do it the same way?" The commission has an opportunity to make a fresh start, to do things differently. Our concerns are now very much centred around how we begin.

Jean Houston writes,"We are the people of the parenthesis - at the end of one era but not quite at the beginning of the next one. Maps nolonger fit the new territories. In order to make sense of it all, we must cultivate a vision."

Please pray for the Commission and for those gathering around this new congregation, that we would be able to creatively imagine a new way of being church which would really connect with the culture of the surrounding community. I believe this is a very tall order, given that we are working out of an institutional base, but it's not impossible!

40 days

If you are looking for some on line inspiration during lent, jonny baker has a few interesting links.

FRENZY 2010

For several years, Frenzy has been a summer highlight for our youth. Publicity has arrived this morning for Frenzy 2010, which is being billed as "the last ever Frenzy." Here's the link with all the details.

Inverness TV

One of the things I really miss when I'm abroad is the quality of British TV. Yesterday, I discovered a new TV channel, Inverness TV. The web channel is very well presented in terms of its front page and there's at least one well known member of Hilton Church to be found on this new channel!

I miss

When you spend a period of time far from home, it brings the things you miss into sharp focus. Here's Robyn's list of what she misses

DEPARTURES

It's 12 hours each way on the KLM flight to Lima from Amsterdam. A good time to catch up with some new films on the inflight entertainment screens. I saw several good films, but the outstanding one was Departures which is actually showing this week at Eden Court. This Japanese film with english subtitles centres around the Japanese ritual of preparing bodies for encoffining! It sounds totally bizarre, but it's a wonderful and amusing story with a sublime sound track.

GIVING IT UP

This year, Lent began for me in the city of Iquitos. Shrove Tuesday is a festival day in Peru too, with plenty of pancakes being consumed! If you are looking for a book to read for Lent, I'm currently reading GIVING IT UP by Maggi Dawn, and would highly recommend it.

HOME AGAIN!

I've just returned after a visit to Peru with the Vine Trust. I'm still finding it a bit of a struggle to get over the jet lag with the 5 hour time change. A few folk have recommended taking melatonin to ease the symptoms, but I never seem to be organised enough when it comes to these trips. It's always a mad rush just to get everything done before leaving. It was good to be able to visit all the various Vine Trust projects during my trip, and over the next period of time, I'll try and give you a flavour of the experience. Perhaps it's an age thing, but I've never been so happy to get home again after a trip! It was great to be back at Hilton Church too, and to be at the evening service on Sunday. John MacLeod's sermon , as always, was a complete tonic. If you missed it, you can hear it via the church website.

The picture is of Via Salvador, a vast shantytown on the edge of Lima which is home to over 1 million people.

News of Kev MacPhee

Kev was operated on yesterday afternoon. The surgeon was very pleased with the way things went and Kevin continues to make a good recovery. He is now out of the high dependency ward and, in his own style, raring to go again! Please continue to pray for all the family and for Kev's continued healing. Give thanks too for answered prayer. We look forward to having him back with us.
Stuart.