This morning's worship was the start of a short series for the season leading up to Christ the King.  The lectionary passages from Deuteronomy 6 and Mark 12 were very familiar so it was a bit of challenge to decide what to do with them, especially as under our experimental pattern, I do a 10 min reflection on Communion Sundays.  Anyway, it seemed to go OK, picking up the Roots idea of slogans and graffiti (and a brilliant moment when the person leading intercessions had independently decided to use the church logo as his jumping off point (cue spooky music)).  Once the children joined us, we thought very briefly about the Queen's jubilee and the concept of Jesus as King of Jubilee.  After setting off some party poppers, blowing up a few balloons and hurling streamers around the place, we danced in the aisles as we sang the kidides' song 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords'.  It felt as if we ended in a happy place, an upbeat place, and that is good.

This evening I am sharing in the leading of the annual 'Grieving and Gratitude' service at a local C of S church.  This will have a very different feel, quiet, sobre, reflective.  With a theme of 'past, present, future' it offers space to recall those who have passed ahead of us into God's presence.  I have been allocated 'past' and hope the words I wrote make osme knd of sense for people.  It is good to have contrasts; good to celebrate and to to commemorate, to remember and to reflect.