Holy Fair

Smoking kippers was just one of the strange sites in Mauchline yesterday as they celebrated their connection with Scotland's bard, Robert Burns. The streets were full of activity and, in the church, there was an entertaining pageant recalling some of Burns friends and companions on the way, all wonderfully accompanied by music from Borealis. I'm off to the parish church this morning, where Burns regularly appeared before Session to account for the vagaries of his lifestyle. I'm sure today will be just as exciting!

The big picture

Another General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has come and gone. For me, one of the highlights of this year's bash was the discussion and adherence to the Third Article Declaratory which is, in simple terms, a commitment to bring the ordinances of religion to the whole of Scotland. In these days of economic recession it would be all too easy to give up on that principle and cease to be a church that exists to serve those not in its membership.

It seems to me that many congregations would be happy to monopolise the services of their minister and not share with the rest of the parish who also take up a significant proportion of a minister's time. But that would reduce ministry to a petty survival of the fittest or wealthiest and lose sight of the mission of the church to serve all God's people. It would also, I'm sure, reduce the task of ministry to keeping a few folks happy in their narrow, limited vision rather than reaching out to our neighbours, the poor and needy on our own doorsteps. Perhaps this General Assembly affirmation is a chance to remind our congregations of our calling to serve beyond the walls of our church buildings even when and perhaps especially when there is little likelihood of return on our investment. Of such is the Kingdom of God.

Receiving the Spirit

Was reminded in preparing to celebrate Pentecost this week, that what is important today is not so much God giving the Spirit- that Spirit was always there - brooding on the waters. But, more important is our receiving the Holy spirit and allowing her to wreak havoc in our lives and in our worship. She certainly caused chaos in worship this morning as we placed all the elements of the service in balloons and, by bursting the balloons, allowed the Spirit to determine our order. Fun and revealing. There were lots of visitors present and, at one point I thought: I hope they won't think it's this chaotic every week - before catching myself and realising that that's exactly what we are inviting by receiving the Spirit - our carefully ordered offering turned on its head. Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Ne'er cast a cloot

All month folk have been muttering: "ne'er cast a cloot til May is oot". And plummeting temperatures have affirmed the wisdom in that. Today, however, it's warm enough to have breakfast outside - bacon, waffles and maple syrup. Mmm. Later on I have a wedding - what a beautiful day to celebrate. Cloots cast can always be put back on!

Simply the best

Some of the highlights of this week:

• 3 school assemblies
• watching the school football team win 4:1
• nursing home visits
• nurturing a friendship
• providing a foot rub for a hospital patient
• introducing 6 year olds to church
• not having to attend General Assembly
• discovering the message for Kindle

All in a week's parish ministry - is this the best job in the world?

Changing perspective

I've been reflecting with teenagers this week on the need to sometimes look at things from a different angle - particularly when things don't go according to plan. We can either become totally disorientated or we can make the best of different opportunities presented.

I've also spent time this week with couples in the autumn of their lives whose plans have changed beyond imagining but who, in love and with grace, are re-negotiating a way through the chaos that life has thrown at them, discovering resilience and demonstrating the reality of love that bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things and endures all things.

Refreshing

A bunch of Primary 2 children came to visit the church this morning. It was great to see the excitement of those 6 and 7 year olds. They asked loads of questions and thoroughly explored the sanctuary with no inhibitions. Now why can't the Sunday congregation be like that?