Uncertainties

Clouds and slight drizzle again today. I couple of roofers turned up at eight this morning to do a small job of work extending the slate cover of the annexe at the back of the house, to prevent water seeping through the walls and replacing a few broken ones as well. This will cure a damp problem at the far corner of the building that has persisted since it was re-roofed fifteen years ago. It costs extra however, but never mind.

There were ten of us at the St Catherine's Eucharist, celebrated by Archbishop Rowan this morning. After coffee and a chat I collected this week's veggie bag and headed home. We had sausages and veg for lunch. Then after a snooze, Clare went out to fetch the grocery order from Beanfreaks while I started work on a Sunday sermon. When she returned, I went for groceries at the Coop. The sun was setting by the time I returned, so I had to finish the rest of my day's exercise as it was getting dark. Fortunately no rain.

I had an anxious message from Basma saying her lawyer was now less confident about her asylum request being granted at the hearing on March 4th. It's not clear whether he's mentioned her desire for baptism, to the tribunal or not. It's none of their business. She insisted she wouldn't be baptized until she had leave to stay in a place where it was safe to proceed. This is not the reason for her petition. If the tribunal has been briefed about this, it could constitute a breach of client confidentiality, and prejudice a fair judgement. It could however, simply be a case of crossed wires, due to translation/interpretation error. We'll see. 

The fact there have been serious criminal cases involving baptized converts from Islam using this as case for obtaining asylum, means churches have come in for criticism from those who know little about cross cultural pastoral ministry. Regardless of background, people with ulterior motives can lie about their intentions. Those exiled from their homeland and culture can come off the rails, and fail to understand that a new faith means consistency in a new way of life with a new sense of values, regardless of how sound or inadequate the baptism preparation and follow up they receive.

As a result of this exchange of messages, I missed the Diocese in Europe's on-line farewell celebration to Suffragan Bishop David Hamid, retiring after twenty two years in this role. No news yet about the appointment of a successor. Whoever this is, he'll be a hard act to follow.

Fr Colin called this evening to ask if I could replace him at the St John's Eucharist tomorrow morning, as he knows I go regularly, since was feeling unwell. It's the last day of the ministerial vacancy, with Andrew being licensed tomorrow evening. Not only happy to help, but also to have an opportunity to give thanks for all that has continued to happen during the past six months, and put the future into God's hands.

I seem to have spent the evening exchanging emails, and diary checking with Clare so she can book opera tickets for the '24-25 WNO season. It seems odd to me to be thinking so far ahead in such uncertain times. I think this is a legacy from the pandemic, when everyone who wasn't managing the health crisis could do little else apart from put their lives on hold until they were confident of survival. The older I get the more uncertainty stalks me. None of us really know how much time we have left here on earth, so planning too far seems a bit absurd. 

Rhiannon rang at ten from Bridgend, as she was on foot, heading for a train back to Cardiff. She has to be back there on call for six o'clock in the morning. She hadn't eaten since lunchtime. It's crazy. So I cooked her eggs, chips and green peas washed down with chamomile tea for a belated supper, and she went to bed at eleven forty. Me too.