For yesterday's service I was using the Lectionary readings, which included Psalm 126 (remember the good old days? God can you please make life good again), Isaiah 43 (stop looking backwards, I'm doing a new thing, can't you see it yet?), Philippians 3 (Paul  - I haven't got there yet but I keep on keeping on), along with John 12 (Mary anointing Jesus at Bethany).

The linkage of the first three was fairly straight forward, especially in reflecting on the reality for this little church, and indeed all churches... but what of the fourth? 

My sermon ran something like this... all through the Bible the same theme seems to recur, people look back at the 'good old days' (Psalm 126) and are told to stop looking back and go forward (Isaiah 43 and Philippians 3) with God saying 'I am already doing something new, can't you see it yet (Isaiah 43)?  So is this the case, too with Mary at Bethany... does she catch a glimpse of the new thing that God is doing in the life of Jesus... the preacher who commends her for her desire to sit at his feet ... the wonder worker who lets her down by not coming in time to heal her brother ... the one who brings back Lazarus... the one who now reclines at their table... And does this prompt her to pour out her pension pot (literally) in anointing him?  And isn't this actually a bit like the widow's mite of Luke's account, where a woman spends her all... And what is anointing all about anyway?  Preparing for death... Healing...  Commissioning... (Priests and Monarchs)... And if all this is the case, what's the new thing God is doing, and wants us to catch a glimpse of here and now... and will we throw in our lot, give our all (or at least our best)...

As part of the 'response' I offered anointing, and was really moved as almost everyone came forward, with a few less mobile signalling a request for me to come to them.  From babes in arms, to toddlers and school-age children, to Gen Z (just about), millennials, Gen X, Boomers and before-such-things-were-inventered-ers.... The gentle fragrance of myrrh anointing balm, warmed by contact with human skin, the quiet background music, and the sense of people wanting to respond to the God who calls, heals and commissions was very striking.

During our closing the hymn, the children distributed little bags of fragrant pot pourri that they had been preparing during the sermon.  As they skipped, and hurled, and almost squabbled, and giggled, and nearly dropped, and ensured that everyone had a gift to take away, it felt good - that in that moment we had indeed glimpsed the playfulness of the God of new things, in whom continuity and change are perfectly held in creative tension to bring new life and new hope.

Psst, says God, I'm doing something new exciting, and I want you to be part of it... will you join in?  

This rather lovely flower, composed of hearts, is one of several that we made this morning in Cafe Church for Mothering Sunday.  The premise was simple and effective - we were invited to write the names of our mothers or other significant women in our lives on strips of coloured card.  These were then folded round into a heart shape and joined together to form flower shapes, which we hung at various points in the room we were using.

It was joyous to see people of all ages having a go from my vantage point at the back (where I was on 'lurk' duty in case anyone needed to step out).  A big thank you to D, a single man in his forties, who led us creatively, sensitively and thoughtfully in reflecting on motherhood.

Everyone who attended received a tiny pansy plant to take home and enjoy - or to pass on to someone else they love.  A very inclusive approach to a tricky day.

It's only a couple of weeks away now and whilst tickets are selling, they aren't selling fast enough for our liking!  If you are on reasonable distance of us, please consider coming along. 

These beautiful bees and butterflies were crafted by some of our staff and students during their lunch break on Tuesday.  They are winging their way south to the Church of England Commissioners as part for the Wild Card project encouraging the church to rewild some of its land.

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Yesterday was unusual...we  worshipped morning and evening, and neither time in our own place or style

In the morning, we joined with friends at a local Methodist Church for a joint service as part of a gentle experiment to see whether this might become a 'thing' with two small congregations supporting and encouraging each other, and reducing the burden of finding pulpit supply 52 Sundays a year... potentially each church would now need to find 46, including 6 joint services, which is a small but significant change.  Yesterday there were around 60 people worshipping together, and it was good.  The Methodist minister helpfully led some thoughts around repentance, but I have to admit I was more struck by the parable of the unfruitful fig tree and the gardener who wanted to give it one last chance... I feel (and fear) this is where so many of our churches are, in that 'last chance saloon' as a former boss of mine would describe it, needing to change or die, needing to be dug around and plenty of manure added in the hope of a fruitful future.  Tough teaching by Jesus, and yet hopeful too.

In the evening we were at a small URC church (pictured) for a Churches Together service.  It was well attended, mostly the faithful regulars, but a few others.   I have to be honest and say the sermon didn't do a lot for me, but it was good to sing and pray together, and as a wise person once said, we don't go to church to like it, we go to worship God.  The idea is that rather than lowest common denominator, each church hosts in its own style, and, on the whole, that works well, giving us a more authentic experience of the diversity of Christian expression.

This morning I am back to planning the next series of services, which will include some gentle changes to the familiar pattern of this little church... evolution not revolution, seeking sustainability and flexibility, and all of it doing our best to follow Jesus faithfully.