Tonight we began a four weeks series of Night Prayer adapted from Common Worship.

A group of twelve women, the singing was beautiful - soprano and alto voices blended in harmony and in unison, a new hymn, an old hymn and a doxology.

Thoughtful extempore prayers.

And a request for longer silences next time.

At the end of a long and busy (and good) day it was good to be still, to reflect...

I hope the other three weeks manage to 'hit the spot'  in a similar way for those who attend, male or female!

With the European Championship road races leading to road closures and disruption, quite a few folk are unable to get to church today or next Sunday, some of whom are kind enough to read this stuff.

So, to be kind (I hope!) I'm posting the 'to ponder' questions early in case anyone wants to look at them in the comfort of their own home...

Questions to Ponder

1. The gospels tell us that Jesus attracted a lot of followers. Two words are used to describe them:
   
   - Disciples, which means ‘learners’ or possibly ‘students’
   - Apostles, which means ‘sent ones’
   
   Both terms are used within Christian churches for ‘the Twelve’, as the gospels also sometimes call them.  Which word do you more naturally use (if either) and why?
   
   
2. Two of the gospels (Matthew and Luke) have lists of the Twelve, with eleven of the same names, and one different.
   
   The fisherman brothers, Simon Peter and Andrew,

The sons of Zebedee, sometimes called the ‘Sons of Thunder’, James and John

Philip, who had brought Nathaniel to Jesus

Matthew the tax-gatherer, who may also be Levi

Thomas – who is often unkindly called the doubter

James son of Alphaeus

Simon the Zealot – a member of the group that wanted to drive out the Romans

Judas the son of James

Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.
Thaddeus (Matthew ) or Bartholomew (Luke)

What, if anything do we know about these men? Do you think that makes any difference in how we think about them or about ourselves?

3. In Luke’s gospel, we’re told that at a later date Jesus chose 70/72 more disciples and sent them out on a mission. No names are given, though through the centuries there has been a lot of speculation.  If you were going to choose people from the gospel stories to be part of the 72, who would that be, and why?

4. What do you think it means to a ‘disciple’ or ‘learner’ of Jesus in our church and our day? Is there anything more or different that is needed? What will you do about that?
   
   
5. Does Jesus still call people to be ‘apostles’ or ‘sent ones’ today? If so, how might that call be heard and tested, and what might it mean for us as a church, or you as an individual?

It all began as idea to take some of our folk who won't get a holiday for a day to the seaside.

Then it widened to an invitation for whoever wanted to come along to join us.

And in the end fourteen of us landed up in Troon, having travelled by train, had a picnic, made sandcastles, paddled in the sea, some went to a teashop, others to a play park, and most to the chippy for tea.

We were a very international group - eight non Brits, of three different ethnicities, and six Brits.

We were a wide range of ages - three children, and adults in the range 20s to early 70s

We were family or community or church...

And it was a grand day out.

Apologies to anyone who has been checking by in the hope I've written something - it's been the kind of week where a lot has been happening much of which it isn't appropriate to be sharing.

I had a lovely weekend away in Edinburgh, and would certainly recommend the student accommodation we rented to anyone looking for self-catering accommodation for a group of adults.  Always good to catch up with folk I haven't seen for ages. Tea and cake (as per photo) was de rigeur both in Edinburgh and on a day trip back to Glasgow!

Sasha has been back to the vet for blood tests.  Things seem finally to be moving in the 'right' direction, so hopefully her drugs can be reduced in the near future.

I am looking forward to tomorrow and a day trip to the seaside with 'our' asylum seeker families, and showing them the great British traditions of ice-cream, fish 'n' chips, paddling, sandcastles... and train rides!

For any Weegie readers, the European Championships are messing up the roads and public transport over the next week, but we will still be meeting for worship at the usual place at the usual time! If you want to check things out go to this link (click here)