'Good Catriona she went out

On 20th December

Checked the snow that lay about

Wasn't deep enough to close church'

Among the 'things they never taught me at college' is that the decision to close the church because of snow lies, ultimately, with the minister.  For most people in most churches that means, 'are the roads so treacherous or the car park so slippery that it would be too dangerous for people to get to church?'  Here it means, 'is the snow loading on the roof such that our insurance is void.'  Setting aside that we aren't quite sure if it 50mm or 100mm that triggers this decision, and setting aside that I'd have thought the density/compaction of said snow would be a factor, and setting aside that actually we couldn't physically get up there to check the depth defintively without risky life and limb in all manner of other ways, it was with some relief that as I walked through the park, ending up looking like an abominable snow-woman, that I could see quite clearly that the snow was quite definitely thin (< 5mm), soft and mushy (not compacted).  So barring a sudden blizzard during the time we are at worship - which we won't see because we'll be inside with the doors closed - we wont be 'calling it' any time soon.  Oh, and regarding the massive blizzard during the service - I reckon I'd argue 'time at risk' and dazzle the insurers with phrases like 'ten thousand year return period' if worst came to worst.  Which it won't.

'Therefore Gatherers all be sure

As you come to worship

That your Rev is on the case

And the roof's not bro-o-ken!'

Joking aside, keeping our folk safe is a real responsibility, whether it is icy paths, freezing meeting rooms or wonky steps.  I'm glad that folk here take seriously the conditions of insurance rather than saying (as I have heard elsewhere) "oh, God will never let that happen."

Now I must do some proper work before worship!!