The photo - a jigsaw piece and a tube of bubble mixture - was taken at yesterday's service... the jigsaw piece, a reminder that the jigsaw that is God's church doesn't have corners of edges, but is composed of pieces that can be rearranged endlessly, and connected to other partial jigsaws to form something beautiful... and bubbles as small, fleeting, vulnerable expressions of prayer.

I have now completed ministries with three 'smaller' churches...

• Dibley had a membership in the twenties, and, at the time, ran a lunch club with over sixty members
• The Gathering Place was middle sixties, and saw itself as small
• Railway Town has upper twenties in formal membership but now nearer eighty in regular contact

And Church No 4... ah yes, it has to await a nickname - has around sixty members

These churches have much in common, as well as much that is unique, but what strikes me is the beauty of their smallness and (relative at least) vulnerability... these are churches where you are known by name, and where you are missed if you missing... these are churches where you are needed (and also where you can't really hide)... these are churches that have to live with a degree of messiness and uncertainty... these are the churches that are like jigsaw pieces, and bubbles, and dandelion seeds... these are the churches that are like pearls of great price, formed in hidden places, wrought of sacrifice... these churches are beautiful... 

I am sure that God loves them, and I am privileged to serve them.