The Art of Public Speaking

Our theme at TABLEtalk last night was 'The Art of Public Speaking'.  It was a great evening,with some challenges for students as we played the game Just a Minute.
I had prepared a selection of speaking topics which ranged from 'potatoes' (which I spoke on) to 'shampoo', 'world peace', 'My favourite day of the week' or 'Is there life on other planets?'

Here are some of the brave candidates ...

 

And some videos ...
(cut and paste the links below)

Here's Chris Tozer waxing lyrical on the topic of 'Faith, Hope & Love'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hr7bhe1eahy78su/VID_20141125_204314.mp4?dl=0

Basel speaks on 'Crisis Management'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4jwgvow0a44zajt/VID_20141125_204753.mp4?dl=0

Aiste enlightens us on 'How to drive a Car'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b1b2ew0vrj2brq3/VID_20141125_205325.mp4?dl=0

Anu wows us on the topic of 'Public Speaking'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/dlamur97lh9yfuz/VID_20141125_203957.mp4?dl=0

Chiao talks on the subject of 'clothing'

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oy1z2y3vbv3d3gd/VID_20141125_205943.mp4?dl=0

Smile!

I saw this sign when I was in Greenwich today.

Whilst I'm not advocating doing something just to annoy 

other people it did occur to me that a genuine smile is 

something truly wonderful that translates across all 

languages and cultures and boundaries.

Smiley people are infectious to be around.

Smiley people are good for the soul.

Remembrance & Thanksgiving

Once a year our Chaplaincy team at the Medway Campus facilitate a day of Remembrance & Thanksgiving.  Whilst this often happens in November each year, it is not directly related to Remembrance Day itself. Rather it is a day for us to honour the memories of staff members, students, friends or family who have passed away during the last year.



As always, Sally Apokis, gave her creative touch to providing a space where people could come, be silent and remember those they've lost. Within our two and a half hour slot we had a short service with scripture readings and poetry and a time to read out the names we had been given and for people to light a candle in remembrance.


This year our time together was especially poignant as the University of Greenwich had lost a much loved staff member during the week prior to our event.

For me personally, this is such an important day in my annual calendar.  This is the heart of our Chaplaincy team ... to provide some space and comfort and a listening ear for those who are hurting in the middle of the demands that make up university life and work.

Coming soon ...

Watch this space ...  we are in the process of putting together a promotional video to show more about TABLEtalk, the World Cafe and our Sunday Lunch Scheme. 

This will be a great tool to share with new students, university staff, local churches, family, friends and supporters. 

More information coming soon.

On a personal note ...

Had a wonderful day out today with my friend and work colleague, Pauline.  We went to see the poppy display at the Tower of London.

It is a truly profound display with 888,246 handmade ceramic poppies; each flower representing a life lost between 1914-1918 in the name of war.

I was so glad to see the display in person and took umpteen photos ... here are just a few.

Fireworks Night

A great turn out for this year's Fireworks night
- thankfully it wasn't half as cold as last year!!

It was good to gather back at the Vicarage Hall afterwards for hot Thai sweet potato soup, snack and games.

Did you know?

Did you know that Remembrance Day, in the United Kingdom, is held on November 11^th each year. This date marks Armistice Day, which in turn marks an end to the hostilities of the First World War at 11am, November 11^th 1918.

Remembrance Sunday is the second Sunday in November (as it’s closest to 11^th) and is held "to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts".

Around this time of year you will see many people wearing red poppies on their coats.  This symbol was inspired by the famous World War One poem ‘In Flanders Fields’.  Flanders was one of the great battle sites of the war and the poem begins …

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

This year commemorates the 100^th anniversary of the start of the First World War. At the Tower of London there is a special artistic installation entitled 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' and the Tower's famous dry moat is filled with over 800,000 ceramic poppies to create a powerful visual commemoration.

As my international family

you are welcome to join us for a traditional

Remembrance Sunday service

@ St Mark’s Church 10:30am

November 9th, 2014