upside down Christmas tree!

I was in John Lewis yesterday and guess what I saw?!..

Yes, an upside down (or reversible) Christmas tree. WHY?

Why would anyone want one? It's complete madness! Has the world gone crazy or is it just another item that states how individualistic we all are?

I'm not having a tree this year to make my point. What that point is, I'm yet to decide.

Sophia Network

I have just joined the Sophia Network (which I should have done a year ago!) it has already proved thought provoking and helpful to my ministry as a woman in youthwork. Have a look.... www.sophianetwork.org.uk

5 people who have influenced my Spiritual Path

I have just been named by dennis as someone who has influenced his spiritual path and what he wrote made me shed a tear or two. he went on to challenge the 5 people to name their own 5 people so here goes:


Dennis Coburn
Dennis and I met on 25th February 1989 when I was just 16 years old (in a telephone box!). Dennis was a Christian and saw something in me that I didn't see myself....not for a long time. Dennis introduced me to church, to the possibility of knowing God personally and to long snogs. Dennis spent endless hours reassuring me that I was worth something, that I was lovable and that the future could be better than the past. I truly believe God guided me to Dennis and He knew what he was doing when He provided me with my soul mate.

Sandra Jowett
Is a great woman of hospitality and love and showed me how you could serve others in love, joy and humility. Sandra always had great passion in seeing the best in people and was a real inspiration to me in the early days. She invested in me. Sandra and her husband Geoff even went so far as to pay for us to go to Harvest in the NE so that we could grow in our faith. Thank you for the impact that you made on my life Sandra.


Bill Chapman
When I first learnt that Bill was a minister an Elim church, I thought he was joking. Not because he was lacking in anything but because he was so approachable, real and honest. He was funny and not distant if you know what I mean?? I hadn't come across anyone like him before. His love for young people was infectious and his attempt at discipline hilarious. Bill helped me to see what a minister could look like.


Rob Ryan
Who spent countless hours driving back and forth to Birmingham with me. Listening to my ramblings in a non judgemental way, sometimes offering advice, never pressing his own view but opening up possible solutions. Ideal qualities for the ministry that God has placed him in now. I miss our chats and will have to make more trips to Rochester to hear some more wise words.


Jake Coburn
Jake is my son and friend. From a tiny child, Jake has seen God's plan for people and never held back in telling them what it is. His boldness, truthfulness and courage are wonderful aspects of his young life that I admire and wish I had more of. When all else seems to be lost, it is Jake who gets us to pray and to seek God in our desperation with an open heart and a trust that helps us all to see impossibilities. I pray that he will cling onto God and not allow what he sees in the establishment of the church to shake his faith, that he will stay safe and focus on what God's plan might be for his life.


Well, there you go. I hope that I have done these 5 amazing people justice.

I would have put Jessica Coburn here but felt that her input into my life is more about how to be a girl rather than being spiritual. She is the girl I never was and loves bags and shoes and make-up and hair. I don't understand it all or how I parented such a child but she is teaching me how to appreciate such things. Thank you Jess. x

Bored`

At the moment I am not very well. I have caught this horrible cold which is going around and it's left me feeling awful.

I don't do 'ill' very well (excuse the pun). I dislike sitting around doing nothing. I can't keep my mind from working, hence this blog. Something to do as I'm sat here recovering!

Why is it that the mind doesn't stop even when the body does?

Park and Ride

Today was a rare opportunity to have a day off!

I had a meeting in the morning in Sandwich (which wasn't work) and then Den and I went into Canterbury for the day. It was lovely. We went into the Cathedral to take pictures, sat and drank coffee as we listened to young buskers and walked up and down the high street.

On thing I have noticed about Canterbury is the diversity of shopping. At one end you have all the high street 'normal' shops and then at the other end are all the individual retailers with weird and wonderful little shops worth exploring.

Anyway, the reason for this blog is to promote the park and ride! Brilliant! no messing about, looking for a space. Nice easy journey in and cheaper parking. It makes the whole experience much more relaxed. I like park and ride and after using it a few times in Maidstone, I think I will use it more. Well done Mr & Mrs bus driver.

Tired

Today has had it's ups and downs.

Do you ever start off the day feeling tired? The day doesn't seem to get better as it goes along does it? You just get more tired.

Well I started the day having to meet a deadline with the edits I am working on. I then left my computer with a headache and went off to enjoy a leaders meeting (which was the up!) Being with like minded people seems to give you a little boost. But as I was driving away, I suddenly felt tired again and it was back to editing.

I wonder why tiredness seems to leave you when you are enjoying yourself?

It must be something to do with how the body works....

A great evening

Den and I went to see Lou Fellingham last night as she released her new album in Brighton.

The evening went well and Lou has an amazing voice. I recommend the album and going to see her live. I think she is better live! Not something that you can say about most artists.

Well done Lou and the band, a great evening.

New car or not a new car?

My car is well out of it's warranty now and because of all the driving I do back and forth to HQ in Birmingham, I am considering a newer car (with warranty).

It's just that my car at the moment has everything I need but any other car within my price range would mean me giving up some aspects!

I know that I am fortunate to have a car at all and I thank God for it so don't get me wrong!

If I do get another car, it will be a smaller engine so it will be better for the environment.

Decisions, decisions!

Distictive at Spring Harvest

I have just returned from Spring Harvest. I was Pastoral Coordinator for Distinctive (11 - 14's Minehead week 3). I had an amazing week with lots of challenges. It was a real privilege to work with the team and the young people and my legs are still sore from jumping!

This picture was the fund raising day, we raised over £1500 for The Bible Society to translate bibles for the Solomon Islands.

I am still buzzing from Distinctive and have worship songs going around my head constantly. I don't want to come down from this high but pray that the young people that went won't come crashing back to earth with a bang but will be able to remain close to God. Amen

Angelfest

Angelfest is a festival that will take place on Saturday 6th June 2009 at Aylesford Priory. It will be for ages 5 - 18 and is taking shape nicely.

Today the Angelfest team had a meeting at Rochester and some amazing ideas came out of it. I am really excited at providing this day for our young people and their leaders.

Watch out for more info!

Can you help?

Today the whole of British Youth for Christ that work from head office in Halesowen are seeking to meet the need of Personal Support. Me included!

Personal Support is part of our ministry and it means that we find individuals to give monthly to YFC to support us in the work that we do.

I have to raise 50% of my own salary as part of my ministry and it is probably the hardest thing that I do with YFC. I do this as my commitment to the vision of YFC and YFC commits itself to finding the other 50% plus expenses. This enables the Charity to have more staff to take good news relevantly to every young person in britain. find out more at http://www.yfc.co.uk/

I have individuals and churches who give between £5 and £200 per month, quarter or year. If you would like to help out by giving a donation to the work that I do, please contact me and I will guide you through this simple process. Please consider this prayerfully.

Newsletter Sharron Coburn April 2008

Family News

We are all recovering from an extremely busy period and are feeling the consequences of this at the moment. We intend to take a week off to do nothing in May and it can’t come soon enough!

Dennis’ health remains good and we thank God for this. Jake got every question right in his Science GCSE exam which is reward for the hours of revision that he put in and Jessica has secured a role in her school performance of The Wizard of Oz.

We are all planning for a busy summer and are looking forward to the new challenges ahead. We remain reliant upon God for all our needs including our salaries and know that He always provides, sometimes in the most unexpected way. I sometimes despair at this but see His greatness through the tough times.

Being busy can sometimes get in the way of seeing old friends but we hope to catch up with some of you soon. Please stay in touch.


Give thanks

For the many opportunities to meet and share with young people about the Gospel.
For my family and the past provision that God has blessed us with.
For the good health of Dennis and may it continue.
For the support given by many through prayer, finance and help.
For an encouraging start to 2008 with Hope and vision to see young peoples lives changed.

The Gift of Giving

God has blessed both myself and Dennis with ten years of provision for our salaries and we thank Him for this. It is also because of this length of time that it becomes increasingly harder to find individuals who are prepared to support us.

I am looking for some people to ‘personally support’ the work that I do with British YFC. To be a Personal Supporter involves you filling out a standing order form to give as little or as much as you can each month, quarter or year to British YFC which will be allocated to my 50% of salary that I need to raise.

You may think that your small amount won’t make a difference but every person who gives are equally valued by me, regardless of the amount given (£5 to £200). It not only indicates that you believe in the work of British YFC but I take it as a sign that you have faith in me to put your gift to good use. Please consider this now before you move on to your next task. Thank you.

If you would like to consider this, I would love to hear from you.



Summer Rock Fun Day

The fun day will take place at Marlborough House School in Hawkhurst on Saturday 14th June and I am not only looking for groups to book in to this great day but people who are willing to help.

Could you give up one Saturday to see 100s of young people come together to hear about God and have a great day. Please let me know. Details of this event are on http://www.wealdyfc.co.uk/

Detling Summer Conference and Summer camp

Plans are now well underway for the youth side of Detling. We have managed to get three bands to come (My Spoon, DoXology an Thebandwithnoname) and are establishing a team of volunteers. Some have been to Detling many times and are prepared to come and work alongside myself and Dennis, some are new and some are yet to discover they are coming!

Dennis will be heading up the worship and some teaching while I will be miss organised, making sure that everything and everyone works and rests at the right time.

We are looking for people aged 16+ who have a servant heart and want to join us both at providing for the young people at Detling this year. (2nd—7th Aug).

We have also space for campers and staff at our own Summer camp held in Northiam (11th—15th Aug). If you are interested or you know someone who will be, please let me know.

You can find out more information about Detling at www.detling.com or contact me direct and Summer Camp at www.wealdyfc.co.uk


Please Pray

For individual givers to this work who want to join in the vision of YFC. For more income as gift aid goes down from 28% to 25% effecting both our ministries.

For my family that we will all have time to rest and become refreshed in our ministry and for good health and provision.

For Spring Harvest and my role in praying with and for young people. For the evening of giving the message to the young people that they will have understanding of what God may be saying to each of them.

For the Summer Rock Fun Day that young people will hear from God and will be changed for life. For volunteers who are willing to give their time.

For Detling that plans will go smoothly and the team will grow. For the young people that they will experience God like never before. For the team to be blessed as well as the young people.

For my new role in YFC with the 14-18s. For time management to be effective and for me to rest when I can. For the vision of the church to expand so that we can see more of this age group coming to know God and staying with Him for a life of faith.
Amen


New Role

My new title is the 14-18s Co-ordinator for British YFC. This means that I have to look after resources, residentials, teaching and equipping of this age range. Some of you may have heard of Mettle the resource and Mettle Bible Reading Notes, these are now my responsibility and I have to commission writers, write myself and edit the material.

There are hundreds of groups around the country who use this weekly material and thousands of young people who read the daily bible reading notes so my aim is to make this resource as good and accessible as it can be.

This is the age group that churches find it really hard to connect with and keep so my challenge is difficult and the added pressure of deadlines etc has took its toll on me. As I get into the new rhythm of the publishing world, I will have to work my socks off at certain points in the year and learn to rest at others. I will still be the regional person for Kent so have lost the South East but gained the country! The work continues….

Spring Harvest

I have been asked to be pastoral co-ordinator for Minehead week 3 with the 11-14s. It is a privilege and an honour to do this and I am looking forward to going. I know that some of you will be there so say hi. I will be leading sessions on prayer, an alpha session on Who is the Holy Spirit and giving the evening message on the Thursday.

There could be up to 400 young people at this event and it is very humbling but also awesome to be in this job sometimes. I really do thank God for placing me in this ministry.

Montanism and essays

I have this wonderful essay to write on Montanism which is great!!! uuumm.

Anyway, I was looking at facebook and was quite surprised to see how many people have wrote on their daily update that they have an essay to write and are either struggling or looking for inspiration. I think that I am doing both.

It helps to know that I am not the only one.

And yes, I do know that facebook may be getting in the way of my work!

Mother's Day

My daughter has made me the best Mother's day gift ever. She gave me my favourite songs by downloading them and collating them onto a single cd.

She must have spent hours on the design for the cd case and hand wrote all the song details on the back of the case for me. I have been listening to it today in the car.

It's not about money and how much people spend is it? It's about the thought that has gone into something, the background researched and the time taken to develop something.

A bit like youth work really!

My kids are great, what a great day.

Ducks!

Carrying on from the last blog, I have decided that the ducks in our village are in fact teenage ducks!

Identity Crisis

Outside our house is a lovely village pond. On the pond live a family of adorable ducks. Each day they play around the pond and the various puddles that they have created having so much fun.

That is until midnight arrives!

These ducks then come alive, waking everyone up with their loud quacking, underneath our window. They have this mad half hour. I think that they are confused as to what they are!

The other day I found them in the middle of the road playing chicken with the cars. Yet more evidence that they are unaware that they are really ducks.

If they don't start behaving soon, I may buy some orange sauce and crispy pancakes.

Top tip of the month

Always keep a cold can of pop in you fridge!

Last night I was cooking dinner and put the long handled pan in the oven. I brought the pan out after 30 mins and placed it on the top of the stove. While adding water I went to shake the pan using the handle but forgot to put the oven glove back on. ooops! or should I say owww.

I burnt all my fingers and tried running them under cold water for a while. I had to abandon that though because the pork was cooking too quickly and had to sort that out. Not being able to keep my hand under water and cook at the same time, I grabbed the coldest thing out of the fridge (All the ice was gone).

This can of coke cooled my hand down enabling me to continue to cook the dinner at the same time. I could invent something like an ice glove!

Wedding

I went to the most amazing wedding on Saturday. Phil (YFC Worker) married Dani (Youth Worker) in Birmingham. There must have been 400 guests there.

These two guys unashamedly put Jesus at the centre of their day and I am sure will place him as the centre of their marriage.

The message, the prayers, the worship, the groom's speech and even the best man's speech all centred around Jesus and what he had done to change the lives of both Dani and Phil, how he had given them hope and how he guides their lives.

I thought that it was beautifully done and anyone who went was touched by the sincerity and joy of the day.

I pray that God will have his hand on both of these guys.

Q's

I took my brother food shopping today and ended up in a queue of 16 trolleys waiting for the till. Every till was open. We joined the queue as trolley number 9.

2 minutes later, I turned around to see that a further 7 trolleys had joined the queue behind us.

What a nightmare Christmas shopping is!

study

Christmas is a time for family, relaxing and enjoying being with your children. Oh yes, of course, how could I forget, and studying the reformation!

So my essay question is 'Was the English Reformation in England a continuation of the European Reformation or was it of an entirely different order?

Comments please!

Shopping, shopping and more shopping!

Trying to shop and not spend too much money is an art form.

I discovered today that Next in the outlet centre Ashford has a big sale on.

I got lots of stuff for not very much!

Girls (and boys) a few of my bargains were:

A studded belt for £1
A shiny brown bag for £1
A leather belt for Den for £1
A dress for £5
A jacket for a wedding for £5
and a pair of shoes, also for the wedding, for £5

I went early at 10am and it was empty! No huge Christmas crowds, great.

If I hadn't already done most of my Christmas shopping, I would have got everyone something from Next for £1 and saved loads. Never mind.

Just feel it my duty to pass on possible bargain opportunities.