Incontinence and decadence

A couple of girl friends took me to Mar Hall for afternoon tea at the weekend. It was lovely. This old country house was last used as a kind of annexe for Erskine Hospital - a facility for disabled ex servicemen and women. I worked for a time at the parish church there and conducted services in the hall. I was intrigued to see how it had been refurbished, given that it was very beautiful then. I'm pleased to say that the great hall and reception rooms with their lovely ceilings and wood panelling and fire places haven't changed greatly although the smell of incontinence is now absent! But it felt so decadent to nibble tiny smoked salmon sandwiches and all manner of pastries in a place in which I had formerly conducted worship. And then it got me wondering - couldn't we do much more of that with our beautiful church buildings - maybe not the multi-million pound makeovers but the inviting folk in, spoiling them a little, allowing them to relax and enjoy the surroundings, a real ministry of welcome and hospitality. There are times when we should encourage decadence!

That's what its all about!

Members at Avalon Baptist church were angered to discover that the soap used for years in the church restrooms was replaced by a new, economical foaming soap. "You get this bubbly mound that disappears once you rub it in your hands," one man complained as he exited the restroom. "It’s all show, this new soap." Others agree. "What happened to the thick, slimy stuff?" one man asked. "That really worked." Last Sunday was supposed to be the kick-off of the church’s annual Missions Week. But the buzz in the foyer was about the soap change. Some suggested taking a special offering to restore the original liquid soap. "You have to wonder about the leadership’s judgment, if they’re willing to make a poor decision like this," says one woman. "It signals weakness at the top." The pastor and custodian released a joint statement on Monday saying they believe people will get used to "the new foaming action soap, and appreciate its many benefits for our church going forward."

We like to think that we are not as strange as some of our brothers and sisters across the pond but, I have to say, we're getting much closer. I guess churches are just the same all over?

Majesty and minutiae

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Your glory is higher than the heavens.

You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honour. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Psalm 8

Often, especially in realtionships, the small things really do matter. And so the creator of all the universe values each of his creatures and gets involved in the small stuff as well as the big picture. Humbling and uplifting. Scary and awe inspiring. Challenging and reassuring.

Ring any bells?

CINCINNATI — Rolling Hills Christian Church has spent fifty years diligently cultivating a good neighbor image, and this week they celebrated their spiritual irrelevance and moral acquiescence with a Sunday morning festival. "We get along perfectly with everybody in the community," said pastor James Doheny before climbing into the dunk tank. "Peace is our value of choice." During the celebration the mayor lauded the church for being "a friend of the entire city." "There's not one negative thing that could be said about this church, and the citizens of Cincinnati appreciate that," he said. Doheny thanked the congregation through tears, and promised to lead the church toward "fifty more years of benign accommodation." •

Life in the gaps

If you look carefully you will see a squirrel and a bunny in this pic - both trying to get out of shot. They were companions on an unexpected interlude in my day yesterday. Looking at the day filled me with dread - meeting after meeting after meeting. But, as it happened, there was a short gap which I used to catch some fresh air and admire the snowy surrounds - and the wildlife.

If only there were space in every day to do that. But life is about making the most of the gaps when they do occur and giving thanks for any space we can carve out of the busyness.

Too nice

A colleague recently told me that I was "far too nice". I don't think it was meant as a complement. Right now I'm being criticised for not being confrontational enough. I don't think we can - or should- change our natural styles. It is possible to use other styles on occasion to achieve desired movement. But, in a long term game plan, striving to become something we aren't simply isn't an effective tool. So I will continue to be nice. I will continue, through subtlety and cajoling and the simplicity of love to effect change. I will use my God given femininity and not try to mirror the aggressivenes of some of my male - and female- colleagues. I reserve the right to be nice!

Battling the elements

The Glen through which I walk in the morning is, for me, a place of refuge, a place of calm in the storm. And there has been a lot of stormy weather around these parts - outside and inside. The glen offers shelter and, climbing gently beside the burn coursing down through the trees, allows processing of thoughts. Quite a few trees have fallen this winter but most of those are being supported by their neighbours. There's a closing of ranks as the strong trees hold up the fallen and even those trees uprooted by the weather begin to serve a different purpose. They take on a new life, their trunks offer new opportunities for growth of fungi and lichen and their branches continue to provide shelter for wildlife. I love walking in the glen when there's a hooly outside. It feels like a real battling of the elements. It chimes in with the tenor of life in ministry at present. I hope and pray that I too can find new life and new purpose and strength to keep on weathering the storm.