Wake Me Up When September Ends

To be honest I have no idea what these lyrics refer to at all, I just think it is a cracking song by Green Day.

All I will say though is that we should learn from every experience we go through both the good and the bad. The pain of losing a loved one for example does fade over time, but the memories of that person will last forever.

The last verse says that twenty years have gone so fast, times does indeed go by rapidly. It does not seem to me like twenty four years since my own father died, or twenty two years since I met my wife for the first time, or nearly thirteen years since our eldest was born. We do not know how long we are on this earth for, but we have to make the most of every opportunity we are given.

"Wake Me Up When September Ends"

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Seven years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Ring out the bells again
Like we did when spring began
Wake me up when September ends

Here comes the rain again
Falling from the stars
Drenched in my pain again
Becoming who we are

As my memory rests
But never forgets what I lost
Wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass
Twenty years has gone so fast
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends
Wake me up when September ends

Trinity Veterans Football Match

Report taken from the Trinity Cheltenham website.

Trinity Vets vs. Trinity F.C. May 25th, 2010
Trinity vets, for a short period in the second half, threatened to cause the biggest upset in Trinity’s football history last night. Down 5-0 after the first half, Trinity Vets dominated early in the second half to come back to 5-3, only to see the relative youth of the regular squad shine through with three late goals to make the final score 8-3.

Last year, this annual fixture was played out in driving rain and howling wind. This year the sun shone brightly, the massive crowds (all three of them) sat on deck chairs and sunned themselves, and the game was played out amidst a beautiful sunset in the shadow of Cleeve Hill.

On paper, Trinity vets had no chance of making an impact on the young, fit and league-topping Trinity FC team. Their average age was 15 years greater, their average weight 2 stone higher, and their average hair line 6 inches further back. Further more, one or two of them were still wearing their short shorts that were all the rage in the 80’s, but now would be more at home in a Borat film than on a football pitch. And indeed, the first half was probably expected. A lot of huffing and puffing from the vets but not a lot else as Trinity FC scored 5 times.

At half time the Vets were treated to a ‘Dan Chatworthy Special’ rallying call. Dan, more renowned for crunching tackles and gutteral grunts, treated the vets to a masterly vocal recitation of true football heritage: they were reminded of the need to ‘keep it tight’, ‘look for the easy ball’, ‘pass it short’, ’support each other’ and not ‘give the opposition time to have a cup of tea’ before going in for the challenge.

Remarkably re-envisioned, the second half began with more enthusiasm from the vets, but with no impact on the field until manager Geoff Routledge made some incisive tactical changes. Grandad was moved from centre forward to goal-keeper, the Rev Gareth Dickinson was replaced by never-Rev Neil Bennetts, and the ex-Rev Jonathon Stott was asked to take his 6 foot 6 frame into the centre forward position. With Grandad shoring up the previously leaky goal, the short hairy legs of Dickinson removed from the field, the quick nimble Bennetts (his words) flying down the wing, and the Peter Crouch look-a-like Stott causing complete mayhem amongst the Trinity FC centre backs, the Vets managed to produce some outstanding penetrating runs into the opposition’s half, resulting in three quick goals that left Trinity FC nervous, and the now five-strong crowd breathless. Maybe if not-to-be-seen-anywhere Rev Bailey had been around to hack a few people down the result would have swung the Vets way. But then soon-to-be-Rev Jon Hills delivered what he had promised to do all evening, and scored a couple of very quick, well executed goals for Trinity FC.

So that was that – a healthy and encouraging result for the Vets, with a scoreline that betrays how close the game was. A technical victory for Trinity FC maybe, but a triumph of attitude, commitment and managing-not-to-die-in-the-process resilience from the Vets.

The return match is next September.

Game on.

A Pentecost Hymn

Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me,
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on us.
Melt us, mold us, fill us,use us,
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on us.

Find Me In The River

Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please

We've longed to see the roses
But never felt the thorns
And bought our pretty crowns
But never paid the price

Find me in the river
Find me there
Find me on my knees with my soul laid bare
Even though you're gone and I'm cracked and dry
Find me in the river, I'm waiting here

Find me in the river
Find me on my knees
I've walked against the water
Now I'm waiting if you please

We didn't count on suffering
We didn't count on pain
But if the blessing's in the valley
Then in the river I will wait

River In The City

River In The City is the name given to a pioneer ministry in Liverpool. My good friend Keith Hitchman has recently moved up there to be involved in this project. The following is the news release as shown on the Diocese of Liverpool website. I was privileged to have been present at his licensing.

The Diocese of Liverpool has made an exciting new appointment of a minister to focus on the development of a new style of Christian Community in the heart of Liverpool One. The Bishop of Warrington licensed Keith Hitchman to this role in the Tate Gallery this week.

Keith will be in charge of a new type of church for a new type of community. He will spend his time building relationships with the wide variety of people who come to Liverpool One. Keith’s aim is to link into the various networks that exist and explore how a faith based community can develop to help those within their own specific groups. The Diocese is looking at a model of church that doesn’t involve a large number of people coming together in one place but sees groups of people being established around a common interest – whatever that interest is.

As Keith explains “Liverpool One is an excellent example of a community that attracts a variety of people for a range of reasons. Some live here, many work here, even more visit for shopping and leisure. I want to relate to these natural networks and work to understand what people are looking for in their lives and how I can help them relate to God.

“In a world of choice and change people form groups with others who share the same interests and views on life. It is through these groups that they discuss and ask the big questions and I want to help people do that.”

Following this idea Keith’s first task will be to get to know the Liverpool One area and the people who live, work and shop there. He will spend time getting to know people and what they want. He will also be talking to other churches and faith communities in the area.

Keith comes to Liverpool from Gloucestershire where he has been vicar in a wide number of roles since his Ordination in 1995. He has had a wide experience in a variety of roles within the church including being a youth minister, university Chaplain and Chaplain to a community of “New Travellers.” Keith comes to Liverpool as an expert in reaching people who have had no experience of church. Keith is married with two sons.

The Bishop of Warrington said “I am delighted to have licensed Keith to this exciting new role in Liverpool One. The fact the licensing took place in the Tate is a fantastic example of how Keith will be working in this new type of church reaching out to the different networks in this city.”

In Christ Alone, My Hope Is Found

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

World Record Football Match

Below is the press report on this one, as taken from the Gloucestershire Echo site. Respect to all those involved both playing and organising. I was only there from 10.30 Friday night to 7.30 Saturday morning in a off the pitch helping capacity, and I was knackered after, so goodness only knows how the players are now feeling....

FOOTBALLERS took extra time to a whole new level when they smashed the world record for the longest game ever played.

Teams from the Cotswold Churches league scored a whopping 626 goals when they played a continuous 35 hours of football.

The Guinness World Record for the longest match was previously 33 hours.

Cambray FC, made up of members of the Cambray Baptist Church, faced the Cotswold All Stars team, from players from the churches league, in a bid to raise £30,000 to build a school for impoverished children in India.

Kick off at Bishop’s Cleeve Football Club was at 6.30pm on Friday and the full-time whistle was blown at 6.30am on Sunday when torrential rain stopped play.

The All Stars were crowned winners with a final score of 333 to 293.

Cambray player Andy Champion, 37, said he was impressed by how competitive the game was.

“We started off quite fast because we were all so excited, but I was actually surprised by the pace of some of the lads hours into the game,” he said.

“It was a great effort, but the main thing is raising money for the school in India. Every player has raised about £1,000 each.”

Each squad had 18 players, each on the pitch for three hours at a time before being substituted during a five minute break. The time accrued through the breaks was taken off the total mach time.

For every hour played they earned a five minute break which they could accumulate for a longer rest.

None of the players was allowed to leave the area around the pitch so tents were pitched up along the sidelines, where Guinness invigilators watched on.

Food and drink was brought to them by family, friends and supporters.

The teams had hoped to play for 40 hours, but the heavy rain made the pitch too dangerous.

Pete Sheppard, 24, was on the All Stars team, and said the tiredness was the biggest hurdle. “We did a lot of intense training sessions but they don’t prepare you for how long an ordeal this is,” he said.

“90 minutes is a long time but you are playing double that before you have a break. That last hour, everyone is really counting down the minutes.”

As well as smashing the world record, the players are on target to reach their £30,000 fundraising total.

The money will help the Dalit community in India, who are considered outcasts and denied access to public areas such as parks.

RED International will take the money raised to build a school for the children.

In 2008 Cambray Baptist Church gave money to build a school in Kalayarkovil for 450 pupils.

Footballer’s wife Emily McKeown, who helped organise the event, said: “Supporters have been coming through the night to watch them and have even pitched up their tents as well.

“The players are completely shattered and many of them have been left with injuries. We had to make the decision to stop when the rain got heavier and it became a bit too dangerous.”

To donate to the team’s cause online, visit www.football4dalits.com.