How great are posties? A lovely lady in my last church addressed a Christmas card to me at “The Vicarage, Walkden” yes. yes it found me!

For more than 800 years Christians have worshipped in this lovely spot in the river’s loop. What a joy to celebrate Christmas Eucharist here this morning. And to be on my sofa in a Christmas jumper for the afternoon. #ClergyChristmas

I’m a new vicar whose vicarage wasn’t ready for me to move into. But I have midnight mass and early morning service so I’m camping in the mainly empty house tonight. There now after the crib service. A friend told me about #DuvetKnowItsChristmas

I’m not saying I’m unfit but my Apple Watch thinks I’m doing exercise and I’ve just put the bins out. Yes yes Apple. I’m outdoor walking.

Recommendations for audio books or podcasts please. I tend to listen more to thinky books on audio and find my mind wanders a bit with novels. But if you have e good one I’ll give it a go. I have audible credits. I’m looking for something my brain can do while my eyes are shut.

Tell me why, when I am a clergywoman, when I mention a clergyperson my mother assumes they are a man? “I’m going to a colleague’s licensing on Friday” “what is that? Is it his first service in his new church?” Yes it is her new church welcoming her. #everydaysexism.

Walked to one of my churches to contribute more flags in celebration of our refugee and migrant friends who are valued members of our congregation.

When you order cheese and onion pringles instead of sour cream and chive in the online order and why oh why must I suffer so?

When one is invited to give out the awards at Rainbows and informed it is a come in your PJs and bring a stuffie evening. One puts on one’s best geese in red wellies PJs. A little girl greeted me with breathless delight. Miss I just love otters.

Ted thinks I should sort out the pickle he has gotten us into

Little girl I just baptised is five. She arrived in a beautiful dress that looked like it had a good twirl to it but she was too shy to show it off. “Well when I get my special clothes on I might give you a twirl” I said.

Reasons I cannot walk my friend’s dog and pray at the same time according to year 2. “Miss if it rained your knees would get muddy” “Miss if you did this 🙏 you might let go of the dog and it would run off” “Nooo because you would bump into things”

Lovely day yesterday at the UK Games Expo. I bought a couple of games. Meanwhile this dragon is a bit frustrated as it was not allowed to eat Liam #ukgamesexpo #boardgames

I don’t speak the same language as my Uber driver and his sister. But I think she is at the end of her tether about something that doesn’t bother him too much but is willing to engage with to calm her down.

I was grateful on Good Friday to go to a service I didn’t have to do anything. And I was grateful this morning for all the behind the scenes folks who turned up to turn St John’s from community centre to beautiful church. And I’m grateful now that prep is done. #40GratefulDays #lent Day 44 &5

After the blessing of oils service they invited folks into the nave if they’d like to be anointed. It was quiet and smelled lovely and felt like strength for whatever new beginning is coming. #40GratefulDays #lent day 40

The special thing about this job is how I get to be in the community I live in. I get to buy trinkets at the fair, loan the Congregational minister some rocks, go to Easter Bingo, cuddle a baby, laugh with church friends about what this chicken might be thinking. #40GratefulDays #lent day 38

Grateful that my work puts me in a community. Helping clean up the streets with loads of volunteers this morning. This is a group singing dirty old town with all the rubbish we collected in the background. Day 31 #40GratefulDays #lent I did 355% of my daily exercise target today.

I forgot to be grateful yesterday. But on Tuesday it is always the funny lovely noisy and ever so thoughtful children at St Paul Peel school. No pics but look at this poor koala. #40GratefulDays #Lent day 27

At the Easter Service the children told the story dressed as angels, a donkey, friends of Jesus, romans. Toddlers boogied to the songs. A hush as they led us in prayer. A supportive dad raised his hands in a heart shape as his little angel spoke. They gave me joy #40GratefulDays #lent day 23

That my job sometimes takes me into strangers houses and they tell me how much they loved their mum. Who sounds like she was strong and hilarious and determined. #40GratefulDays #lent Walked back from the visit 39mins

At a training thing at the cathedral. A lady who did the ALM course I tutored came to tell me about the prayer group she started using what I taught her. And we have a a motto from you “pray as you can not as you can’t” My heart. #40GratefulDays #lent day 20 I did 200% of my moving about goal!

My 4y old friend made me play lots of top trumps today. Glad to see the debate is over. Man risk of encounter 10. Bear 5 #ChooseTheBear

Went for delicious Filipino food with my friend William and his mama. William is four and wanted to hold my hand all the way there. We saw a hedgehog crossing, but no hedgehogs crossing. #40gratefuldays #lent day 18. Exercise. 165%

For the Celtic saints of the north and the saints with whom I prayed this morning on st Cuthbert’s day. The otter is one of a little gang my vicar prison besties have. We named them for the northern saints. #40GratefulDays #lent Day 16

Got spontaneously kidnapped by our Ordinand today to have dinner with him and his lovely wife. He does a daily night prayer podcast so I did have to speak for my supper. Grateful for new friendships and lovely people. #40GratefulDays #lent day 15 open.spotify.com/episode/2EKx...

The folks who gathered in my living room to talk about … creation… trees… communion… forgiveness… worthiness… children… blessing… #40GratefulDays #lent day 13 I did 19m hula hoop and 6 putting the bins out and sweeping my path.

Invited the congregation to stick two stars to the wall. One for a today or tomorrow thing. And one for the future. And they so reverently and prayerfully came forward and stuck them up. Mums with babes in arms. Little kids. Older folks. Day 11 or 12a #40GratefulDays #lent Got my 25m on sat.

Went for spiritual direction in realings and appreciated what a force for good thats been in my life. Saw a former colleague and was reminded how great FCJ sisters are. #40GratefulDays #lent day10 Exercise. Got off bus a few stops early

Long day. Grateful for being able to go to communion like a person and receive. And the opportunity to pass on some of my knowledge and experience around making good decisions in Ignatian Spirituality to my colleagues. #40GratefulDays #lent day 8 Exercise. Walked up the hill to church.

Got the kids to tell each other. “God made you wonderful” we looked at my fave psalm. “Does anyone know what a psalm is?” I said. Hand at the back. “A book of songs or poems in the bible written by King David!” Go kids! #40GratefulDays #lent day 7 Exercise. 15 mins on my weird hula hoop

For the folk who came and talked about faith and sacraments and prayed in my living room. #40gratefuldays #lent day 6 Exercise. I went to the shop. 23 mins of my target 20

Yesterdays post. Flowers my bestie bought me for international women’s day. Grateful for all the women who fought for the freedoms I enjoy. #40GratefulDays #lent day 5 Exercise: leave me alone Sunday is a feast day.

Faithful Women. The women in the Cook islands who wrote this lovely liturgy and the local lay women who planned it. (With tech support from me, I printed some pictures of boats) #40gratefuldays #lent day 3 Exercise: I cleaned my house.

I may have given the TikTok algorithm too much affirmation for showing me sleepy Muslim cats. Now it’s excited. Marie Marie! May we show you Ukrainian battlefield cats? May we? Ah go on then TikTok.

I went to the shop dressed thus because my eco loo hadn’t arrived and I needed cash for Coffee Cake & Chat. A young mum gestured me to her car. “Are you a priest?” She said “cos you are wearing the…” tugs own collar I said I was. 1/2

Every lent I do this project. For what am I most grateful today? And every year it strengthens my gratitude muscles. #40gratefuldays #lent Also I’m going to move my body every day because I’m turning into a sedentary potato person. I walked a mile and half back from the morning service today. 1/2

Things I am currently enjoying on social media: …all the outpouring of love and admiration for Zelenskyy (on whom I have a little crush) 🇺🇦 …Cats who are confused by Ramadan. “Why are you all up? Where’s my breakfast?” Their confused little faces! 🐱

I always forget what delicious and easy food pancakes are. Why do I not eat them more often? #shrovetuesday

I built it myself. Ikea said I would need a friend with a pencil behind their ear but I triumphed. Apparently I must buy more games now to fill it. #boardgames

I'm not procrastinating, You are procrastinating. In fact, I bet it was you who broke into my study and cleaned my desk, didn't you?

I just had a man who had never met me before interrupt a conversation I was having with someone else to say that “you might be surprised to learn XYZ” No no my dude. That would not surprise me for I did that actual thing for six years of my one precious life. #everydaysexism #church

A refreshing joy today to be with Spiritual Companions in the diocese and hear Bishop Jack Nicholls’ thoughts. And to be at beautiful Whalley Abbey. Look at it.

So impressed with the kids this morning. I talked about St Paul and how he learned not to hate anyone, no matter who they are or what they look like or believe. We talked about seeing with the eyes of our heart and they totally got it. Trying to equip em for a tidal wave tho arent I? #hopenothate

Is anyone out there planning a lent course? Any good recommendations? #lent #cofepeeps #churchofengland Particularly from an inclusive or justice seeking perspective

It's increasingly difficult to navigate social media, especially as a values-led organisation that uses social media to recruit new students, but the move from X to Bluesky was a simple choice. Now we could use your help finding our people on this new platform! Follow and repost if you love:

Tickled by text from churchwarden this morning. A lovely lady on our reading rota wants to know the Sunday reading for feb 2 so she can practice reading them aloud to her dog. He’s the most biblically literate French Bulldog in England, apparently. #curatejoys #cofepeeps

A parishioner came to the vicarage for a cuppa and a biscuit and a chat about his baptism. “But where’s your TV?” he asked confused. Tempted to pretend I just didn’t watch it but I use a data projector.

20 years after the first time it was nostalgic and lovely to see @jimmoray.bsky.social tonight And be introduced to Amelia Coburn, fabulous opening. I feel like at a gig many many moons ago Jim Moray and another artist whose name I don’t remember had me sit on the floor and sing Postman Pat.

Putting in pyjamas from your heating drying rack. Is there anything more luxurious? #LittleThings