This evening we sang this beautiful hymn....

For everyone born, a place at the table,

For everyone born, clean water and bread,

A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing

For everyone born, a star overhead

And God will delight

When we are creators of justice and joy

Yes God will delight

When we are creators of justice,

Justice and joy.

For woman and man, a place at the table

Revising the roles, deciding the share,

With wisdom and grace dividing the power

For woman and man, a system that's fair...

For young and for old, a place at the table

A voice to be heard, a part in the song

The hands of a child in hands kind and wrinkled

For young and for old, the right to belong...

For just and unjust, a place at the table

Abuser, abused, with need to forgive

In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy

For just and unjust, a new way to live...

For everyone born, a place at the table

To live without fear, and simply to be

To work, to speak out, to witness and worship

For everyone born the right to be free...

Sheila Erena Murray (c) Hope Publishing

It's a beautiful hymn, and one that demands us to engage in some complicated thinking.  How do all these ideas, ideals even, really hold together in a world where sometimes we have to agree to disagree?  How can we live so that my 'rights' don't 'trump' yours or vice versa?  It isn't always easy.

I think the penultimate verse of the hymn captures something very special and profound, not least as all of us are, if we are honest, cast both in the roles of just and unjust, abused and abuser, yet there is for us, in our imperfection, a place at the table... and we must also make room for those with whom we disagree and maybe consider unjust and even abusive...

No, not a greeting, a description.  We had a good morning today at the Gathering Place - even if I managed to totally muff reading the institution narrative for the communion from 1 Cor 11!  As I say to other people, Jesus made it up the first time, so you can't actually do it 'wrong' in a logistical or liturgical sense (even if you can in terms of intent, attitude, etc.)

Our three year-old infant obliged by being held at the  required part of the blessing/dedication obviating the need for me either to chase him round the room or go all Presbyterian in order to do the Aaronic blessing for him.  It was lovely to have the song that he had, at one remove, chosen himself (he had been heard singing it at home after we used it on Palm Sunday)...

Who spoke words of wisdom and life?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Understood what people were like?

Nobody other than him

Who performed miraculous signs?

Nobody other than Jesus.

Healed the sick, gave sight to the blind?

Nobody other than him.

Hosanna, Hosanna,

Praise him come praise him

Hosanna, Hosanna

Lift up your voices and sing!

Who took children into his arms?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Spoke to storms and made them be calm?

Nobody other than him.

Who raised Lazarus up from the dead?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Made a feast of fishes and bread?

Nobody other than him.

Who made friends with people despised?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Turned the water into good wine?

Nobody other than him.

Who got people following him?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Changed thier lives forgave all their sin?

Nobody other than him.

Mark & Helen Johnson (c) Out of the Ark Music

From Kid Source or Really Good Songs for Junior Church

After the children had left for their own activities, we followed a theme of 'lows and highs' using parts of John 20 and Psalm 126, along with a few lyrics from Ronan Keating and Sandy Shaw, to centre our thoughts.  The essence of what I said was at any one time in a community of faith there are people experiencing highs, people experiencing lows and people somewhere in between and that we are in it together.  We recognised some of those among our fellowship who have a tough time just now - an overseas student recently bereaved, a family watching and waiting at the bedside of a loved one - and reminded ourselves of the promises that close Psalm 126 and that end Mathhew's gospel.

Sharing communion was, as always, special, and whilst I was annoyed with myself for muffing the institution narrative, it seemed a fitting culmination to our worship.

If I'm completely honest, I'd have loved to be in Blackpool at the (English) Baptist Assembly this weekend, but I wouldn't have missed this morning for anything - it was a Good Morning, and theirs cannot have been better, no matter how good it was.  (Plus of course theologically we were all together anyway!!)