Yesterday was unusual...we  worshipped morning and evening, and neither time in our own place or style

In the morning, we joined with friends at a local Methodist Church for a joint service as part of a gentle experiment to see whether this might become a 'thing' with two small congregations supporting and encouraging each other, and reducing the burden of finding pulpit supply 52 Sundays a year... potentially each church would now need to find 46, including 6 joint services, which is a small but significant change.  Yesterday there were around 60 people worshipping together, and it was good.  The Methodist minister helpfully led some thoughts around repentance, but I have to admit I was more struck by the parable of the unfruitful fig tree and the gardener who wanted to give it one last chance... I feel (and fear) this is where so many of our churches are, in that 'last chance saloon' as a former boss of mine would describe it, needing to change or die, needing to be dug around and plenty of manure added in the hope of a fruitful future.  Tough teaching by Jesus, and yet hopeful too.

In the evening we were at a small URC church (pictured) for a Churches Together service.  It was well attended, mostly the faithful regulars, but a few others.   I have to be honest and say the sermon didn't do a lot for me, but it was good to sing and pray together, and as a wise person once said, we don't go to church to like it, we go to worship God.  The idea is that rather than lowest common denominator, each church hosts in its own style, and, on the whole, that works well, giving us a more authentic experience of the diversity of Christian expression.

This morning I am back to planning the next series of services, which will include some gentle changes to the familiar pattern of this little church... evolution not revolution, seeking sustainability and flexibility, and all of it doing our best to follow Jesus faithfully.