So you might’ve noticed that cunningly hidden in the title of this blog post is THE MOST EXCITING news to hit Dock-World yet!

‘Titanic Quarter chaplainS’ isn’t a misprint.  The Shared Medley is happening.  The Dock is becoming a team.

Lots more info, an introduction to the new face, and details about a Launch Day will appear soon – keep checking in!  In the meantime, have a squint at this artfully darkened photo and see if you can name the new face – answers on a postcard…

(Prize: the satisfaction of being right.)

So it’s been a week where The Dock’s profile has suddenly skyrocketed thanks to the radio – so how about a few images to go with the words?  You’ve heard what The Dock sounds like (an enthusiastic Dalek, apparently) – so what does it look like?

As always, there was lots of walking involved – including a pilgrimage walk from Saul (the richly-evocative site of the first Christian community in Ireland) to Downpatrick on St Patrick’s Day:

– and a tour of the Titanic Quarter with some visitors from Albany, some of whom are planting similar “churches without walls” in their communities in The States:

Some of these visitors were here this time last year, and it’s always amazing to see the Titanic Quarter through the eyes of occasional visitors – who are staggered by the pace of change.  (The signature project was still a hole in the ground when they visited last March – now it stands gleaming in the sun, visible for miles around!)

Also well-advanced within the last year (in fact almost ready to open) is the new campus of the Belfast Metropolitan College – I had a fantastic visit this week with the Director and got a sense of just how exciting this new campus is, both for the Met and for the TQ.  From next September, thousands of students will be training, learning and building their futures here in the Titanic Quarter – a major new part of the Dock community.

As well as walking, there’s also always lots of coffee in Dock World.  This week I enjoyed a brew at the Common Grounds cafe on University Ave in the Holy Lands area of Belfast, and had great chats with the founders and people who run it.  Common Grounds is going into the Dock Business Plan as one of the case studies – as a great model of how a coffee shop can be an ethical business, a community hub and a powerful way for the church to be present, open and active in the midst of its community.  Well worth a visit – you can find out all about it here.

And as always the weekly highlight was the Dock Walk on Sunday afternoon – this week was one of those walks where every denomination and age group were represented!  Which always makes for the most fascinating conversations as we walk, talk, pray and connect.

The BBC web article has sparked a really interesting discussion on the Slugger O’Toole blog.  Some fascinating comments on the post – have a look for yourself here.

It’s a slightly novel experience for me, having my actions discussed openly on the world wide web! – but I’m glad it’s happening, and all comments, whatever your opinion, are welcome as the Dock Vision enters the public sphere…

The radio… the BBC website… there’s just no escaping me today!

The BBC have very kindly written this morning’s radio interview up into a full article on the BBC website – you can find it here.  Very surreal to see my smiley wee face beside headline links for Libya updates and news on Gaddafi – but the world does need good news as well!

(And they generously shaved two years off my age – thanks BBC!)

And if you’d rather listen to my dulcet tones than gaze upon my ugly mug, the interview is on iPlayer here – at about 1:52:20 into the programme.

I’m just warming up with a coffee after a live interview with Helen Jones off of BBC Radio Ulster, both of us standing shivering at the Abercorn Basin to provide that authentic ‘live broadcast’ feel! Continue reading →