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.  

Yesterday was my final service as the minister of Railway Town Baptist Church.  We reflected on Romans 12, shared some activities, released each other from the covenant of ministry, broke bread and I handed back my keys.

After the blessing I was sent to sit on the front pew, as the choir and musicians sang a beautiful rendition of 'For the Joys and For the Sorrows' which they had prepared specially.  There were speeches, there were incredibly generous gifts, and then the choir sang an Irish Blessing... plus of course we had a plentiful buffet and a LOT of cake (there were two special cakes!).

It felt like a good ending, the culmination of three years when we have all worked hard, taken risks and found unexpected blessings along the way.

Yesterday, we filled 60 communion glasses and needed every single one of them - for sure, we had one or two extra people present, but we also had a fair few away... which is pretty much double what we put out when I first arrived (and always had some left over).  It's not that we've done anything very radical, it's just the mysterious graciousness of the God who is always there, in joyful times and sorrowful times, and who sometimes likes to surprise us.

I take happy memories of these three years - it may not have been a long ministry, but, with God's help, it was a meaningful one.   

Apologies for being so silent... between packing, moving and unpacking I have been very occupied... also a few practical glitches (due to previous owner taking away box that clearly says 'do not remove') meant slight delay getting broadband up and running.

Anyway, I think I can say that I am about 90% sorted, if by that we mean having opened every box, removed its contents and with rooms functional.  Nowhere near that if we recognise that the books in the office have simply been plonked on shelves unsorted (apart from the Bible commentaries which are in order!).

It is fair to say that the office is now functional, and I really enjoyed spending yesterday doing college work (I am technically back at work this week) at my desk.

I find myself reflecting on the truth that 'functional' is good enough, and that the place will never be fully 'sorted' even if I spend every moment of every day sorting it.  A bit like life, really... we need to be able to function, to do a 'good enough' version of whatever it is we do, but it will not - and cannot - ever be perfect.

Meanwhile, the Clepto Kitties are settling in remarkably well, and seem to be enjoying having a much bigger house to rule!   

My time in Railway Town Baptist Church ends on 31st August, and my final preach is 30th August.  At the time of typing, I am surrounded by boxes, piles of books, bin bags and goodness knows what else as I sort stuff ready to move to Manchester next week.

One result of this is that I am writing my last two services this weekend, and thinking where to store them so that they don't get lost in transit... I am leaning towards printing them and taking them to church so that at least I know they (and the accompanying 'tat') are there. 

Way back in 2009, as I prepared to leave Dibley, a small church that had run out of money to pay me, I crafted a liturgy for a release of covenant at the end of a ministry - a sort of spiritual undoing of the promises we made to each other at the induction.  Over the years, I shared the liturgy with others, and in 2020 it was published as part of a collection of Baptist women's writing.  In 2023, I adapted it slightly as I prepared to leave The Gathering Place, and on 30th August it will once again be refreshed for this context.

Each time I have revisited these words, it has been surprisingly emotional... recalling what has been good and what hasn't been so good, what I think I got right and what I know I got wrong... and so on.

Moving to what will be my last pastorate before I retire also feels decidedly different... it is not the open end of Dibley or the Gathering Place, and it is not the transitional role of Railway Town, but is its own, unique, waiting to be discovered 'thing'.

I know that I have worked hard for this congregation, and as our paths diverge, I journey onward with a positive sense that this calling is now complete.

Yesterday was another 'last' - the last time I was 'second adult' for our monthly children's group.  It's always fun to spend time with young children, to work with gifted and creative volunteers, and to explore the Bible, faith and spirituality in ways that are experimental and experiential.  Yesterday we were thinking about 'Jesus the Good Shepherd' through story, craft, colouring, puzzles and movement.  Eight children, including one first timer, boys and girls, enjoyed their time together.

I have enjoyed my time with this group of children, and will miss them, but I am already looking forward to getting to know a new group of children and young people in the new church I will be part of in just a few week.