Churches are possibly the oldest volunaray organisations.  Nowadays, most are registered as charities, usually with a staff of one.  Without volunteers, churches could not function at all.

So today here is a quick shout out to those who...

• Serve as Charity Trustees
• Serve on committees
• Lead/facilitate children's and youth work
• Visit, phone, and generally keep an eye on, others
• Organise rotas
• Arrange flowers
• Prepare Communion
• Set up or clear up the worship space
• Steward
• Read the Bible
• Lead intercessory prayer
• Participate in Bible Study
• Sing in the choir
• Play musical instruments
• Produce, print and fold service sheets
• Edit the church magazine
• Update the website
• Count and bank the offering, week by week
• Look after the finances
• Look after the administration
• Contribute to the church magazine
• Do all the things I've missed, forgotten or don't know about

That's quite some list - and for each person who gives their time, talent and commitment, I am very grateful

It's the beginning of summer.  A lot of people were away from church today.  So many that our congregation was scattered with big gaps, and after the Sunday School, Bible Class and creche had left we really were very depleted.  We were also a Communion server down.  So, during the offering (immediately before Communion) I did a quick head count and made a decision...

Instead of going out to serve the twenty or so folk scattered among sixty chairs (around a dozen folk had gone out), I decided to invite everyone to gather around the table in a "circle".  We passed bread in four directions, we passed wine in two.  We giggled when I had no 'holy words' at the end for 'you can now go back to your seats.'  And it was really special.  Unplanned - unplannable even - it was 'in and of the moment.' 

The old hymn says, 'sometimes a light surprises the Christian when he (sic) sings'... it was a bit like that this morning, a surprise that brightened the day.

Sometimes things move quickly, sometimes they move slowly.

Sometimes things are achieved quietly, sometimes they need howls of protest.

Sometimes a tipping point comes.

My own journey in thinking this one through took a very long time, and still hasn't moved far enough or fast enough for some people, but this from the US seems pretty important and significant to me.

I still accept the disicpline of the BUS and BUGB on this, as other matters, and I am still committed to working with my local congregation for full inclusion of all people, LGBTQI+ or otherwise.  We might move like a mighty tortoise, but we do move.

This morning I have packed, and either posted or put aside to be handed over in person, around 20 of the around 500 books culled from my shelves.  All resource books for small group study, they are headed off to six different women in Baptist ministry across the UK.  Over the next few weeks more books will be offered in more contexts, and hopefully many more people will find something they actually want to own, at least for a while.

It is kind of strange having spent most of my life acquiring and treasuring 'stuff' that I now quite happily pass it on to others and enjoy the resultant space without an overwhelming need to fill it (even if I have bought three new books this week!)

Looking forward to revisiting these books (or parts of them) as I prepare for the next couple of services "What Language Shall I Borrow" (2nd June) and "Bring Many Names" (16th June).  In between I have an 'away' preach for Pentecost in Fife, which will be quite different!!

Having time to set aside to read is really good, and really important - so I  will savour it!