Fellowship

It was a busy night at the church. Started off with Taize worship that we do once a month. This month I decided to try using powerpoint in the service so that we could look at icons and have the music with the words of the chants on a slide - very high tech for us! It seemed to work.
Then it was over to the hall for a silent auction. What fun. I've never managed along to one of those. And it was good to get to see members in a different setting. I had to leave before the end for our late night youth service but left my son bidding. It cost me a fortune - but all in a good cause. I feel really tired but its a happy kind of tiredness caused by a good buzz. I love those times just hanging out with folk. Isn't that at the heart of ministry for everyone?

Another retreat?

Yes, I'm retreating again. But this time I'm leading the retreat. I'm going with 16 folk from my church to Scottish Churches House in Dunblane for a long weekend. I've been putting together what I hope will be a fun programme along with some worship. I love messing with things like that. In another life I'd like to be a retreat hostess/organiser/whatever. I'm looking forward to huddling together in the small chapel, reputed to be 13th Century. Of course its what happens outside the programme that will probably make the weekend. I found myself checking out the Wifi availability of the accommodation before convincing myself that I really could manage for a couple of days without an internet connection. It will be good to do some old fashioned face to face connecting. None of this online chat, though isn't it fun? I love the way things come across sometimes when they're written in an instant message. Not always as intended - but it adds a whole new dimension to conversations. Hoping for a new dimension at the weekend retreat but offline.

Y on earth?

We're hosting a Y course in the local cafe. It is a course that claims to explore lots of the big questions of faith, run over 8 weeks. A couple of the weeks, we've found the presenters on DVD slightly pedantic. But we have a great group of folk who are not prepared to settle for easy options and aren't afraid to wrestle with the issues. Tonight we "dealt with" other religions and why so much suffering, just a light diet. With the maturity and experience in the group, our discussions are fascinating. This group certainly has an appetite and its fun trying to satisfy the hunger. They keep coming back for seconds. Any suggestions for our next venture?

Its a sair fecht

I was accused today (tongue in cheek) of being far too cheery for a minister. People were actually laughing out loud in worship. Tsk. Tsk.
So the accuser loaned me his wee book on Calvinism. The blurb for the book makes the promise that you will feel a lot worse after you read it. As soon as mirth threatens to bubble up, one should read a few pages of this self help book which will swiftly administer a "potent triple measure of guilt, misery and self-loathing". I can't wait. Presbyterianism is a sober affair. We need to get back to basics and convince folk again of the sin that afflicts them lest they begin to rise above themselves and actually enjoy life. Heaven forbid.
But then, that first Pentecost, didn't the irrepressible Spirit of God cause some unbridled enthusiasm too? I stand convicted.

A century of change

We have hundreds of Scouts camping in the village this weekend, celebrating the centenary of Scouting. Their camp site is impressive. This afternoon there were all sorts of activities underway: raft building, kayaking, duck racing, detergent slides, crate climbing, sumo wrestling, as well as a whole host of other fun outdoor ventures.
As we walked home from our visit to the camp, I found myself reflecting on what massive changes there must have been in Scouting through the ages.
On the way home we decided to go to the local chip shop to pick up supper only to be advised that service would be slow since they were feeding hundreds of scouts. Changed days indeed. Whatever happened to rubbing two sticks together and cooking over an open fire?
I look forward to being involved in the centenary service next weekend. Hopefully by then, the young folks and their leaders will have managed to scrub off most of the mud they were covered in today!

What is rather than what's not

This week has been a good week for catching up on lots of pastoral visits that have been piling up. Some visits need lots of time so can't be squeezed in just anywhere. This week, there has been the space to fit those in. But I caught myself thinking today how much there is still to do. The barrel is never empty. Fortunately I soon realised that there's no point dwelling on what's left undone for now. Better to celebrate the tasks that have been cleared from the to-do list. And hope that there are more weeks where there is room to manouvre, when more catching up can be done. The barrel is never going to be empty but it is still rolling. That will have to do for now.

Not being perfekt

One of my favourite parts in "Leaving Church" was, toward the end, when Barbara Brown Taylor quotes Jesus' words in Luke 14:26: Whoever comes to me and does not hate father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes and even life itself, cannot be my disciple.

She interprets this as the get out clause, Jesus' way of discouraging folk from going on to Jerusalem with him. That wasn't where he needed them but back at their normal haunts, serving others. It would have done no good for everyone to follow him to death.

I know that that everyday service is hard enough without heaping on more sacrifice. The thought that this was Jesus' way of telling us it's OK to be human makes a huge difference to all the guilt I carry for things undone or not done so well. Its good to know I don't have to be perfect all the time!!!