Back from France

I’m writing this on the M20, on the way home from France. We’ve been away for 10 days, visiting family in the Alps (lots of cheese, galette des rois, snow and sledging) and the Bilsons in Paris (more cheese, more galette, views of the Eiffel Tower and discovering Play-Mobil Funland). It’s been good to go away, but it’s nice now to be heading home.

2012 looks set to start well. It’s Jack and Claire’s wedding tomorrow, which is going to be a really joyous affair. Then, we start a new series on Sunday called ‘Rooted…’ that will look at where Christian life, wisdom, strength and joy all come from, so it’s going to be very encouraging for all who come. I’m also looking forward to a stimulating day conference on the evidence for the biblical gospels on Sat 21st, and then a month of prayer being launched at a celebration gathering of our regional group of churches on Sun 22nd Jan.

The New Year also sees our local school proposal moving on from the visionary and consultative stages into the final preparations for submission to the Department of Education by Feb 24th. There is now a dedicated website up-and-running. Check it out at www.tyndalecommunityschool.co.uk, and download the brochure to find out more, including how you can register your support.

There is lots of work being done of site-finding, filling out the educational plan and much more, but one key need is now to evidence demand from local parents for the kind of school that we envisage. Since we have spent a lot of time listening to a wide range of people before crystallising our vision, I am confident that lots of parents will be excited by what we are offering, but it does feel more than a little nerve-wracking as we wait to see that proven during the coming seven weeks. It’s great that this period will coincide with a month of prayer, knowing that Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7).