Antiquated Sunday school songs, don't you just love 'em.  Well, in this case, no, actually.  But it came to mind because our lunch club is 2 today and it only seems five minutes since we were starting it up.

Sixty six, I think, sat down for lunch.  I am glad we use the restaurant- few churches could cope with this number all at once.

Every time we meet we do 'birthdays' and give cards to those who celebrate in this month.  This time the ages ranged from 70 to 88 - our oldest member is 101 and the youngest early 60's.  Quite strange to think that, in principle, we could have parents and children within the club (we do have aunts and nieces) and that some of them are just about old enough to be my grandparents.

I like lunch club days, the buzz of conversation, the laughter, the sense that we are actually doing something with and for people rather than wanting things from them.  I guess cutting up food for a blind person, pushing a wheel chair or writing a note for someone with no short term memory will never appear on the list of core competencies for Baptist ministers, but sometimes doing just that feels so much more authentic than standing up front on a Sunday.

Happy September birthdays Gladys, Mona, Joan and Kathleen.  Happy birthday PLUS+ lunch club... "through the sunshine, through the rain, God has brought us safe again."