New Report

Interesting article in the Church Times last week ‘What really happens at university?’  Dr Mathew Guest, Senior Lecturer in Theology and Religion at Durham University, with colleagues, has undertaken a survey of more than 4,000 undergraduates and has now published his findings.  His statistics reveal that more than half of all students who call themselves Christians stay away from church while they are at university.  However, of those who do attend church, the biggest proportions go to independent evangelical and to Anglican churches.  He also asserts that CU members are the most likely among the student body to engage in volunteer work in the community.

‘Christianity and the University Experience: Understanding student faith’ by Mathew Guest, Kristin Aune, Sonya Sharma and Rob Warner.  Published by Bloomsbury £21.99

http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/christianity-and-the-university-experience-9781780936017/

And then there were two!

So… elder daughter gone off to uni in one direction and younger one duly taken with all her stuff in another direction!

Move in day was ok.  The room is ok – not wonderful – and the kitchen is poky with no table for eating.  But it was at least all clean and in working order.  It’s funny isn’t it – you spend all that time touring round all the accommodation on open day and then, despite putting down your preferences, you end up with something completely different.  Oh well, perhaps there’s a reason as yet unknown.  However, the drinking games and crashing around in the early hours meant that she didn’t exactly have the best night’s sleep ever on Sat night. 

However, on the positive side, she met some nice people at the service on campus on Sun morning and this in turn led to several of them taking the bus into town for a church service in the evening.  Then today a CU Freshers event also meant meeting more nice folk, so I’m really happy that she’s meeting people on a similar wavelength to her.

It’s all very odd at home – just the two of us.

And back at work today the current Year 12 are waking up to the fact that they need to think about university applications.

So where are you up to?  Are you about to take son/daughter off to university for the first time?  Are they thinking about an application and booking last-minute open days?

The Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.      Isaiah 52:12

Three days to go...

Well since my last post things have moved apace.  Online university registration has happened, payment set up for the accommodation, student bank account sorted, and various tickets for Freshers’ events purchased.  We’ve just been looking together at the Freshers’ events – pleased to see there’s a CU picnic and an introduction to the local churches planned, alongside various other events and subject introductions. 

An ever-growing multitude of bags, boxes and sundry receptacles is filling the spare room, her room and now the living room.  Will it all fit in the car?  Will it all fit into an unknown-sized room on campus?

And now we’re down to the last few days at home.  It’s come round so fast.  Fond farewells taking place with sundry friends, most of whom are also off to uni.

Where are you up to with all of this?  Would love to hear your thoughts as the Big Day approaches…

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.             Romans 15:13