Yoblog - Musings of a Church Youth Officer

My keyboard in the office now goes squelch.

A certain Bishop’s secretary kindly offloaded 3 litres of out-of-date fizzy mineral water onto me. While attempting to drink it, a full glass landed on and in the keyboard and I said naughty words very loudly.  Is that allowed in a Diocesan Office?

Swearing was actively encouraged in my old job, but it seems contrary to the gentle atmosphere of the Diocesan Office.

Thank goodness it’s not open-plan here!

I’m looking forward to the next few days. 

I will drag myself away from my computer screen and get out and about a bit.  Tomorrow morning I have an exploratory meeting with other denominations around children’s ministry and in the evening some culture, hosted by the Councillor for families,  at the EICC for St Andrew’s Day (with the promise of a ‘reception’ afterwards!) 

On Saturday I will meet the Provincial Youth Network team for the first time followed by the famous St Columba’s Christmas lunch.  On Sunday I will spend the morning visiting Christ Church, Duns if my satellite navigation system finds it for me!

It’ll be good to meet people who I have only ever communciated with on-line.

I’ve enjoyed a fine floral display in my hall today. I just don’t know who they were meant for!
I took them in for a neighbour who was out, except they weren’t for them either.  But the neighbour is now enjoying a shot of them while they ponder the next move.

How far can you investigate other similar addresses, or do you bin the card and smile??

I quite like the idea of a transient flowers going round each house in the development - everyone can enjoy them on a grey November day. 

Except Mr and Mrs C who they are meant for!

Every man above a ‘certain’ age should take note!

I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the past few days.

Do they want to be left alone? Do they want to meet up with others for organised activities. Do they want to organise their own activities?

Should the Diocese be organising events involving craft activity linked to the liturgical calendar on Saturdays in church halls like we perhaps did ourselves when we were young?  Could we bring this up-to-date using the modern media that surround us? A podcasting workshop perhaps? 

Any thoughts?

I write this from the United Reformed Church in Saughtonhall Drive in Edinburgh.  The church has been transformed into an IT training suite, WiFi enabled and everything.  About 20 people from churches around Scotland are learning all about technology we can use to communicate to our young people.

We’ve done Bebo, Facebook, Habbo so far and it’s podcasting after lunch.

Look out for more on-line networking opportunities - I think I’ll set up an Edinburgh Youth Facebook group to compliment the website.

It’s all so clever.  But it is nice to talk to people face-to-face sometimes too!

I feel sorry for kids at this time of year.  It seems that every action is being monitored by this mythical man called Santa who will dictate whether they get their much wanted toy for Christmas or not.

 Some mothers at nursery even seem to have his phone number and threaten to report things to him quite frequently.

It’s tempting to use any strategy available when dealing with toddler tantrums.  But I’m not good at explaining Santa (on a par with explaining death?).  

So my children’s presents will be from real people and will be give unconditionally.    And that has to be a little closer to the real Christmas message.

Having collated the reports for our wee church’s AGM next week, and photocopied them in a very flash manner (thanks again Anna!), an unnamed person tried to hand me an illegible handwritten report on Sunday. Aaagh!! 

Do you say no, too late?  Do you say no, e-mail only please?  Or do you smile and say through gritted teeth, we better do an insert then??!

I’m not good at saying no.  I tried it once in an old job with somebody rather senior, who was trying to fleece a bonus scheme I was responsible for and the words “no” followed closely by ”tough titty” emerged from my mouth.

Career suicide! Hey, I don’t work there any more!

And I was still right!

Do not change nappies while wearing a dangly scarf.

 Unless it is a brown one.

In my job as youth officer, I thought it necessary to try and improve the support the Sunday Club had in my own church, before launching myself around the Diocese.

How and why do you ask people to get more involved?  Because they have children?  Because you know they would find it hard to say no? Because they would be good at it? Because they would enjoy it?

Having been phoning round last night I’m still reflecting, but am swaying towards the last two reasons rather than the first.  I think nobody wants to get too committed so that they miss half the services or have to plan sessions.

I hope that people feel comfortable saying no. 

I wonder how to get some men involved?