I’ve recently arrived in Vancouver, Canada, for a very special part of my sabbatical time, but I wanted to give you a taste of what I’ve been up to over the last few weeks… apart from some really good reading and reflecting!

I’ve walked with very good friends on the Dorset coast which included the amazing Durdle Dor.

Carrie-Ann and I went to very good couples retreat at St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in North Wales. It was an opportunity to take stock and look forward, with God, to the future. St Beuno's was a wonderful place of peace and beauty run by the Jesuits. We met some lovely people there. pathwaystogod.org

I then went on a three-day silent retreat at Mucknell Abbey in Worcestershire. This is a community of Benedictine men and women. This retreat allowed me space to read, walk and reflect. Each day was punctuated by worship with the community in the chapel in the round. It was a little higher in style than I expected - the smell of that incense! - but it was such a refreshing experience. mucknellabbey.org.uk

I also went on a weekend retreat to Lee Abbey, set on the beautiful coast near Lynmouth, North Devon. Here, I heard teaching, worship and meet some lovely new people.

The one time I put my ‘dog-collar’ on was to act as one of the roving chaplains for the Church of England tent at The 3 Counties Show at Malvern. I loved meeting lots of farmers and chatting to them about their lives. A real privilege.

As you may know, running is very important to me. Not only do I love the exercise of running on trails and hills, it is a great way for me to be with God. So I’ve been able to do a bit more, and do some races.

So, now I’m in Vancouver for some time at Summer School at the fantastic Regent College ( regent-college.edu ). The first week’s course is 'Reading Paul missionally'.

Here’s the Course Description - Paul’s letters are marked above all by a passion for mission. In our own time, as in Paul’s, followers of Christ are called to participate in the mission of God not only speaking good news but also embodying it. This course will examine the ways in which the good news takes missional shape in the Pauline letters, growing into the practices of faithfulness, reconciliation, justice, and enemy-love.

Here are a couple of quick videos giving you a tour of my surroundings. I hope you've enjoyed this brief update, I'm looking forward to seeing what this trip brings!