Insomniacs rejoice!  The Dock pops up on Radio 4’s ‘Prayer For The Day’ throughout this week, at the prime time of 5:45am (sounds like a made-up time, I know, but apparently it does exist…)

If you’d like to catch up at a more civilised hour, you can find each episode on iPlayer for 7 days after broadcast by clicking here

So you can catch up with Saturday’s Remembrance-themed prayer here

Or hear the first of a couple of prayers inspired by the Old Testament story of Joseph here

Or walk for a while in Potiphar’s wife’s shoes (jewel-encrusted kitten heels I imagine) here

Or click the final jigsaw piece of the Joseph story into place here

Or check out the Dock-birthday-themed thoughts here (along with a sudden, inexplicable decision to change the iPlayer background picture to some pigs…)

Or finally, some Honesty Box-related thoughts and prayers here.

(And in case you’re worried, it doesn’t go out live… the episodes are all pre-recorded.  Phew!)

Mark the date in your diary – The Dock turns three next Thursday, 15th November.  It’s now a toddler!

We have some fantastic plans for a really special day – and so much to give thanks for – so make sure you’re free to join us at 7pm for a Birthday party to beat them all!

I could not be prouder of the Dock volunteers… different ages, backgrounds, from all walks of life, different personalities and gifts – but together the 47 (yes 47!  When did that happen?!) of them make a force to be reckoned with.  Joining them for a day of training, storytelling, walking, Suki-tea-tasting, Indian-banquet-eating and general banter on Saturday was an unforgettable day.

Thanks to Jeremy for the great photos!  And thanks to Katy G, the Dock’s unspeakably talented Volunteer Co-ordinator, for putting together a fabulous team and fabulous day.

A little personal tribute today.

Today in church we marked the Sunday closest to All Saints Day – the time of year when we remember absent friends, and give thanks for those whose lives have touched ours.  So I’d like to introduce you to John Yoder – or Smiley John as we all called him – who, to our great shock and sorrow, passed away a few weeks ago.

John had been back in his homeland in the States for the past couple of years, but I was privileged to know him during the exciting, powerful couple of years he spent in Holywood.  He was a gifted musician, an anointed worship leader, a natural-born youth worker, a great friend, and a person of massive integrity.

Among the countless reasons why he will be missed is that we won’t hear any more of his songs.  I don’t think he ever got the recognition he deserved.  A lot of Christian music can be a bit maudlin or derivative, but John had a great knack with a catchy tune, an honest, down-to-earth lyric, and an infectious joy which shone through all his songs.

‘You Broke Through’ was his classic (we begged him to perform it again and again!) and you can actually hear him smile as he sings his story – the difference that Jesus made in his life.

First up, don’t forget that Dock Cafe is closing the doors – for the first time ever!! – on Saturday 3rd November, as we gather together the fantastic Dock volunteer team for a day of training – so from now on they will reach even higher heights…

Speaking of higher heights – men on ladders have been towering over us all week in the cafe, fitting our fantastic new Parisian-street-cafe-style heaters – due to be connected up on Monday.  I can’t wait!

And speaking of people towering over us, another visit this week from John and the amazing spider-man window-cleaning team who abseil down the Arc apartments with a bucket and sponge.  If you ever spot them at work, make sure to pop into the cafe and lie in wait to watch Tegan’s face when they suddenly drop into view at the cafe windows – quality comedy.

That wasn’t the only interesting thing happening through the window of Dock Cafe this week – there was also the fireworks display at the Odyssey on Sunday, which we watched with nice steaming cups of coffee at the end of the Dock Walk:

And finally for now – a huge privilege today to help show a group from the Ulster Project around the TQ.  The Ulster Project has been engaged in building peace and inspiring peacemakers for decades, and as the tragic news this week showed all-too-clearly, there is still so much work to be done.  A truly inspiring group.