Of course when in London it is also an opportunity to take in a show. We managed to get tickets to go and see “Phanton of the Opera” now I must confess that I’m not a great fan of Lloyd Weber’s music to me much of it all sounds the same and it has a touch of the production line about it. But hey who am I to critise, one of the staff was telling me the show has been running for over 23 years in the same theatre and is played to packed audiences most evenings. So I guess there is a huge audience for musicals.

As I looked around at the packed theatre it got me thinking how many of our churches would be packed like this on a daily basis seven days a week? I began to wonder is their a story of faith that would engage people to the same extent. Any ideas? What would you make a musical about to engage people with faith issues? I’ve just read in the paper recently that the Vatican are promoting a three hour musical centred around the life and times of the late Pope John Paul the second. the musical is entitled ‘ Don’t Be Afraid” it would appear this was a phrase John Paul used a lot to inspire those round him to live lives of faith.

So why the photo? Where is the Guard? Well having a look around the Palace I thought there was milage in the idea of a Phatom of the Palace. But don’t be afraid. If you look closely you’ll see the guard is still on his horse its the way the photo has been taken.

It was a great honour to have the company of our Patron The Princess Royal and also to have been given the use of the Palace by Her Majesty the Queen for this event. We had people from every walk of life with us including Oscar Schiappa Pietra who currently advises the Minister and the Secretary of National Planning in Papua New Guinea as a UNDP Officer. Oscar in the past has been a Senior Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Executive Director of the Peruvian Agency for International Aid, in Peru. He has also been a great friend and advisor to the Trust. It was also great to see some of the first members of the Trust attend the dinner and to remind ourselves of our early challenges and difficulties.
However it is because of people who were prepared to carry on in the face of difficuties that we have the Trust as it is today. We all had a wonderful time. I was especially pleased that Princess Anne highlighted the work that the Trust is now developing in partnership with schools in the UK and also paid tribute to the way we work trying to be innovative and inclusive networking accross the whole strata of society.

I can hardly believe that 25 years have past since we first opened the Branches shop here in Bo’ness. Today much of our success has been brought about by the grace of God working in the hearts and minds of people of faith and even no faith. I particularly want to say a huge thank you to Willie McPherson our Executive Director and his small but dynamic staff who have worked so hard to make the Trust an effective partner as we work alongside Scripture Union in Peru bringing Health care to over 100,000 people in the Amazon through our Medical Programme and supporting over 200 children in the five homes we have built and continue to fund. All this is a far cry away from our first falteriing steps as we opened a shop in the Market Square in Bo’ness. Its a great privelege to be Chairman of the Vine Board and to have such a creative group of people on our team.

We were at a brilliant Barbecue on Saturday in aid of raising funds for the work of the  Vine Trust This was a real heavy duty barbe! Steaks all round! I believe they were bought at the auction in the Roxburghe Hotel last January. So the meat was put to good use to earn more money for the Trust.

I’d like to say huge thanks to Gordon Stewart and his team of helpers  for putting on an excellent event. Of course the weather helped to make it an outstanding weekend.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Anyway here is a preview of the latest Vine Trust Video. We hope to get copies of this out to all the congregations within the next few weeks. Let me know what you think. If you’d like a copy contact the Vine Trust Office or drop me an email. Yes its another great production from SANCTUS MEDIA LTD

SANCTUS MEDIA

Talking about Sanctus Media, I had quite a creative day today working on the material to fill the new Sanctuary First website. We’re hoping to launch this new venture within the next few months however we need loads of content on the website to attract potential users to return on a daily basis. the theme i chosen for the first month is “Faith and Mystery” I think it is a rich seam to develop over a month. The following four topics with be discussed on a weekly basis.

1. The mystery of God

2. The mystery of Creation

3. The mystery of the Church

4. The mystery of Worship

I’ve made a start on the topic of the Mystery of God. part of the structure is to have a daily prayer based on the weekly topic and daily Bible readings centred around the theme. We hope to offer worshippers the opportunity to comment and reflection the weekly topic. Then one a month everyone will have the opportunity to meet together and share in an event centred around the theme of the month. If anyone feels they’d like to get involved with the creative writing side of this project please get in touch.

BOGLE’S PARAPHRASE

I will give you all the strength you need. I myself will even help you. In fact I will hold you up with my own hands. Isaiah 41.10

Well you may recall that I mentioned a few weeks ago that the Bogle Band had started gigging again after having a few years off,or as they say in the business “resting”.

Well here is a short video of the trip we made “doon the watter” and the music in the background is the Bogle Band playing the song “Brave Hearts” live. If you like what your hearing you can hear us playing again this Saturday at St Andrew’s Bo’ness. We’re playing at the “There Must Be More Festival” There’s a barbecue in the church garden at 6.30pm and the concerts starts at 7.30 in the church.

We’re also delighted that Vangel will be performimg with us. The whole weekend Festival is trying to encourage more people to think outside the box and discover their potential. On Friday Night a number of young peole who were in India visiting our partners there will be giving their feedback on their trip. I think its going to be a great night. On Sunday I’m looking forward to having a joint Praise Band, made up between St Andrew’s and the Apostolics in Bo’ness leading us in a gread night of praise and worship. So if you want something more than you’ve got ! See you Sunday Night.

Meanwhile pray for an old rocker who seems to be turning a bit folky with age, pray that he’ll remember his words on Saturday or have good inspiration to write better words.

I came across a fellow blogger while on holiday in Orkney. Andrew Jones is quite a well known writer especially on the topic of the Emerging Church . He was telling me that he set Jonny Baker up with his first blog

Anyway I looked up the Skinny Kiwi and found he was writing this week about an article that appeared in the Washington Post about churches in America rethinking their short term mission projects. One church spent over $30,000 in airfares to build a $2,000 dollar house. No doubt the economics need to be looked at, but what was missing from all of these American programmes was the recognition that the mission is not just the house building but it is the journey and the mix of people who go on the journey. The journey itself is mission. We always need to allow space fro the seeker and the doubter to journey with us on mission.

However used in the right way, going on a short mission trip can change the outlook and purpose of many a person. When it comes to the Vine Trust just think how many people who started out on the journey to Peru with no faith are now discovering that God can be encountered in the face of the poor. Just think how the work party trips to Peru has influenced someone like Erica. Today she and Lorna ( Known in the blogging community as Soultouch ), are in the forefront of the new missionary movement. Using technology to help bring about change by allowing ordinary people to have a voice.

I think it is really exciting when we begin to think what we have achieved to date. However there is a much bigger prize awaiting those who are prepared to think “out of the box ” when it comes to engaging with the Spirit of God. Have a look at our present worldwithoutwalls web page its only the beginning but already we have over 130 movies up with around 30 partnerships all telling their stories. Before the end of the year I hope that we will be engaged in a couple of projects that will take WWW to another level. And you know what when something is missing you go looking for it. You don’t give up. So ell me what do you think ? What’s missing from short term mission?