One of the delights of serving the church I do is that there are always visitors.  Sometimes people on holiday, sometimes people visiting relatives, sometimes people studying, sometimes people in Glasgow on business.   From time to time someone visits who connects us together in surprising ways, as was the case today when the parents of a friend of mine visited, who happen through other connections to be well known by some of our folk.

Another delight is the diversity.  Our 'All Together' slot today was interactive finding out what our age range was (0 - >90 but not saying what!), how long people had been coming for (0 - >50 years) and who had been coming all their life (only three of the 60 or so present).  We shared our countries of birth, if beyond the UK, and lands we'd worked in other than where we born, including the UK (hence to Waleans (Welsh) could list both Scotland and England!).  It was fascinating and affirming to be reminded of who we are.

The world is small, and beautiful, and held in God's arms.  It is lovely to meet people who we know or who know of us, it is lovely to celebrate our diversity.  In moments like this I sense just a glimpse of what heaven might be like, at least if I was allowed to design it!

Here in Scotland the schools are back from tomorrow - only a fortnight or so after the last of the English schools closed for summer.  This means my 'year' has been strangely short - starting last year's academic year in England and starting this one in Scotland.

Special thoughts today are with S and C who will start school this week and B who transfers to secondary education.  It is also a time when Masters students complete their courses (universities use broadly the same academic years north and south of the border - just to add to the fun) so we will be saying farewell to come of our overseas folk who have completed their studies and return home, notably A and S.

In every ending is a new beginning, in every beginning an ending.  There is a mystery in all of this; sometimes we emphasise one or the other but each is part of the other and it is good to remind myself of this.

A busy few weeks as it is my turn to lead the joint evening services for three consecutive Sundays - something I'm really looking forward to and hope others will find enjoyable and helpful.  New year, new beginnings and same old same old... sounds good to me.