I'm back home and haven't even left the States

InK or two delays at check in though I eventually got through with a slightly overweight bag plus a whole row of seats to myself. At one point we were all re-directed to an adjacent location. The usual dash ensued, as I said to one lady, "just like Tesco". She then proceeded to edge in front me and then quite blatantly jump the queue. I hadn't seen behaviour like it from anybody for, oh let me see, at least eight days. And we say Americans are pushy!

Every valley lifted up... Every mountain and hill made low

Those words from the Book of Isaiah apply quite literally to Manhattan for, prior to the building works in the 19th Century, extensive remodelling of the landscape took place - hence the possibility of the level grid iron street pattern. 'True' Manhattan can be seen in Central Park which has it's fair share of hills and I should know because I've run up and down most of them!

Today, my last day, I wasn't planning to run partly because my legs were tired and also because I needed to vacate my room by midday. However, the weather was and is so good - still cold with lying snow on the Park, but accompanied by warm sunshine - that I thought I must. Didn't do the whole Park, but ran to The Belvedere - a castle like structure set on a rock about half way up. Great view and great joy! Came back via one of the woodland trails and then through E 60 Street and 2nd Ave. Apparently the first NY Marathon in 1970 was confined entirely to the Park. Later ones begin at Brooklyn Bridge, following a painted blue line through all five districts and then finish here. Maybe one day?!

Bethlehem Baptist Church, Brooklyn

I Called down again to the Rescue Mission Wednesday to meet up with the chef Pedro. Everyone seemed pleased to see me even though I wasn't actually helping. That night they fed over 230 and that following breakfast and lunch for the forty or so residents. Residents, by the way, can stay on the basis that they receive basic Christian instruction and in the longer term are prepared to help out with jobs.

Pedro and I travelled to his church, Bethlehem, for the midweek meeting. This consisted in half an hour or so of open worship followed by a brief address. Then into the following groups: men, women and married. This was the most interesting and revealing part of mmy visit. Basically a bible study with a practical thrust what came out was that most had been subject to some sort of addiction and had passed through a 12 step recovery. The men had a wide variety of employment, including several construction workers and all spoke in a direct sort of a way. Not entirely removed from what we do on Cheadle, but nevertheless very different. Turns out the actual Bethlehem church had become home to this new group and that they had breathed new life into it. Seems like this is a common happening here as it is in the UK - old buildings, but with new congregations.

Afterwards Pedro, his wife Shelley and myself went to a Diner then back on the subway, me to Manhattan and they to New Jersey. The very efficient and very well priced system - $25 for a weeks unlimited travel - make this sort of thing possible.

Going out in style - with Roxie, Mr Razzle Dazzle & the Cellophane Man!

Queued this afternoon in a bitterly cold Times Square for half price Broadway tickets. Couldn't decide between Chicago, Phantom of the Opera or Mamma Mia, but in the end went for the former and was sure glad I did. Of course, with a discount, you always need to ask 50% of what, but hey I did get one of the best seats in the house at half price(balanced the books by forgoing the restaurant meal I'd promised myself)

The theatre was compact and I was seated in the middle of the stalls about ten rows back. Sitting next to me was Ray from Korea to whom I had to explain the plot which, for me, took some doing (ask Teresa about my grasp of such things) And who says Americans don't do self-deprecation or can't take the rip out of themselves? Chicago was brilliantly written, exquisitely executed and thoroughly enjoyed even by a cultural and entertainment Philistine like me.

Running in NYC

Whilst over here I have been running here three times. Each time the temperature has been slightly warmer, but on all occasions the Park has been snow covered and the side walks icy.

Running the sidewalk

Only one tumble when a fairly slight lady walked into me from the side and sent me flying. We both fell, she said nothing and simply walked off. I wasn't sure what had happened and so said nothing, though as I was stationery at the time felt no responsibility.

Navigation is easy given that you know your start point as the streets are to a gridiron pattern with horizontals and verticals (not so easy when riding the tube and exit out of one of a multitude of access points) Neither does one attract any sort of attention even when running in a snowstorm, which must relate to the general level of craziness in NYC

Running the Park

Central Park is big - not quite sure how big - and the majority of runners take a 6.2 mile road circuit, though there are many minor tracks and pathways. It is also beautiful with 25,000 trees and a range of interesting buildings and artefacts including something like Cleopatra's needle. On each occasion I have stopped at the north of the Park to watch people skating on one of the two ice rinks (my excuse for a rest anyway). Today I also stopped at Strawberry Fields the John Lennon memorial which had been overlaid with snow in the shape of the peace symbol. On a previous occasion I ran through the Childrens Zoo and saw seals swimming. Those responsible for laying out the Park in the 19th Century have done generations of New Yorkers,both rich and poor alike - and there are many of the former hereabouts, including Bono and Sting - an inestimable service.

It feels so safe here!

Throughout my trip I have been astounded by how much safer NYC has been than I had imagined. Not that I scare particularly easily, but I had visions of rather aggressive, pushy people with an 'in your face' attitude along with restless, if I am honest, mainly black youths, possibly armed, hanging on street corners in the less affluent districts. None of these fears were realised, whether in uptown Manhattan, downtown Soho or across the water in out of town Brooklyn. Even the drivers are markedly less aggressive than in the UK with drivers proceeding cautiously at right turns and being patient with pedestrians at lights and this can't all be down to the price of gas! (the greatest danger comes from cyclists, especially at night, as they dodge about as in the UK, but unlike at home, with no lights). No worries about the iPhone either. Nearly everybody, grannies included, appears to have one and if not they've got a Blackberry!

How to explain the difference? Partly, I think, it is a result of a Citywide strategy developed over the last 20 or so years. Police are everywhere with, for example, a patrol car passing every five or so minutes in Central Park. After all tourism is NY' biggest industry. I also get the feeling from the more deferential attitude shown, that youth and others feel less like messing the police about than in the UK.

At a deeper level, folks here seem genuinely more considerate. They truly do want you to 'have a good day'. This appears to be part and parcel of the American psyche or dream as articulated by President Obama at the inauguration. People here are, it seems, for the most part working hard to achieve a more civil society. Or to put it another way, their individualism is not as individualistic as ours.

Ever spoken to a 32 year old bishop?

Just had coffee - naturally - with Jon Tyson leader of Trinity Grace Church which consists of five congregations across Manhattan. He is Australian, became a Christian aged nineteen, worked in various churches, then came to NYC three years ago and started the church along with his wife and a group of friends! It now totals 600 or so members with an average age of 25!

What accounts for this extraordinary success? Well, John often prays for a couple hours a day, usually from the office roof (the office is in a building recently vacated by hookers and possibly owned by the Mafia). He does a lot of thinking, not least during his two month (sic) summer vacation. He is also in Manhattan at a key moment. Evangelical
churches are few here - Redeemer is the biggest (average age 30) - their membership accounting for only approx 1% of the population. Consequently they can start afresh offering what the others can't, don't want to, or have forgotten. Finally, Jon and his church have received training and finance from Redeemer (100,000 dollars no strings attached)

John isn't, of course, a proper bishop for his church is independent, though affiliated to the Origins movement, part of the 'emerging' church. He has, though, a strong affinity with Anglicanism and even talked of aligning his church with that of the Anglican Communion via an African Archbishop. Even more interestingly, his churches utilise the resources of the Book of Common Prayer in their meetings and individual discipline. This lends a depth and provides a historical frame of reference who would otherwise be lacking. They also follow the church's year e.g. Lent, Easter, Pentecost etc. and also aim to operate the a Parish like system of mission and pastoral care.

These observations, along with various bits of reading I have been doing, cause me to think that C of E churches have a unique missionary opportunity, being both Catholic and Reformed thus, hopefully reflecting the best of both traditions and are also both national and local, having resources to draw on from outside whilst retaining touch with the community near at hand. Finally, there is permission to experiment, given that the leadership, including not least Archbishop Rowan, are encouraging a 'mixed economy' of more traditional church and 'fresh expressions'. Get in!

The final thing to say about John is that he has has the wisdom to build a team to lead TG. He has five governing elders who run the practical side of the church. He also has a growing staff which includes Gary Wiley - Fellowship & Care - with whom I also had a coffee. Gary spoke of the challenge of a new church with so great a number of young members. Many try and fail to 'live the dream' that is Manhattan, struggling to remain afloat amongst so many beautiful and successful people. Others are searching for an identity in a culture where anything goes and so all options. Still others feel they have failed outright. Even given the difference in attitude between the UK and US when it comes to counselling, it is revealing to hear that the church has upwards of 50 people receiving specific help in these and other areas.