The long courtship path of Dibley and D+1 is complete.  D+1 have decided, overwhelmingly, that they do not see it as the right way forward to 'marry' (merge with) Dibley.  In one sense this is very sad, the future of either is more tentative apart than together.  In another sense it is a relief - at least both parties are able to move forward and think where God is leading them.  I hope that the two congregations will be able to remain friends and that on reflection will consider the journey has been worthwhile.

Tonight we had our Home Mission visit and our two new visitors asked some good questions - I hope they found the answers they needed to make an appropriate recommendation.  It is always interesting to see how my folk behave when HMF come along - way more positive about finances than any other day of the year!  Still, I trust the insight of these visitors to work out the 'story behind the words.'

Then the Church Meeting - only just quorate, which I had anticipated as it was a late start and lots of emotive building stuff to talk about: what next on planning, can we sell this or that from inside the building, what about the vandalism, etc etc.  The upshot is that we will get the stained glass boarded over to protect it, board up the bits that were broken into and leave it at that until we are clearer on the planning issues and legal position.

I am now pretty drained phyiscally, emotionally and spritually and am glad I still had a residual 'glow' from last Sunday to carry me through what has been a very stressful and aggro filled week.  Finally a day off tomorrow...