This morning I had three helpers as we set about making enough sandwiches for the 5,000.  Jesus might have had five small loaves and two fish; we eventually used seven loaves and a few tins of salmon and tuna (so more a la 4,000 really) plus cheese, ham and eggs.  At 2 p.m. some more helpers arrived at school and we set up the hall cafe style, put crisps into bowls, cakes on plates, filled the urn and lined up the bowls ready for the strawberries!

At 3 p.m. we had 30 people gathered and singing.  Not a massive number, less than we'd hoped for and a fair few church folk noticeably absent.  Someone commented that it was a shame more lunch club folk hadn't come, especially as they'd chosen the hymns, and maybe it was.  But at the same time it was good to seven visitors, five of whom don't normally go to any church.  If a big congregation attracted a ~30% level of visitors it would be seen as wonderful, so why not when my little church does?

Everyone tucked in to the sandwiches, gobbled the cakes and demolished the strawberries; most people took a 'doggy bag' home with them for tomorrow's lunch or tea.

It was a good event and people really enjoyed the singing, the company and the food.  For me, it would have been worthwhile if no visitors had come ans we'd enjoyed quality time as a felllowship.  To have a 30% increase on the congregation we'd otherwise have had was a bonus. 

Next Sunday it's "Family Favourites" and the launch of the 2008 shoebox appeal (!) giving us another opportunity to worship God together and to reach out in a different way to share God's love with others who don't have blessings we take for granted.