From time to time, I hear/read/see ministers bemoaning the level of attendance at their Church Meetings and wondering how to increase this from around 10%, usually 10% of a large number. 

Having always been in smaller churches, and usually having been in those whose meetings have a regular pattern and a reaosnable sense of purpose, I have never experienced this.  In "Dibley" as membership shrank in absolute terms, attendance actually increased, with people gaining a greater sense of ownership, that their voice mattered.  I think the same is true at the Gathering Place - our total membership is stable, and more than double that of Dibley, and we too have good to excellent attendance at church meetings.

In some bigger churches, a cycle is perpetuated in which 10% of the people make 100% of the decisions, leaving the Trustees with limited confidence in the quality of the decisions made.  In smaller churches where attendance rarely falls below 50% and can easily be more than 70% even for 'routine' matters, everyone has a greater sense that their voice matters, that their vote (when votes are used) counts, that this affects them... and the Trustees can be confident that decisions are made on a demonstrably sound basis.

We had a good little meeting today - somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes long- with some good questions asked and an important decision made.  I feel very proud of my church, and very reassured as a sort-of-trustee!

I think this photo serves as a reasonable illustration of my week - varied colours, designs and textures all within an overall scheme and a clear purpose.

This week has been pretty relentless one way and another, nothing unexpected (though I did gain at least one extra meeting) just a lot of stuff even before my brain had caught up with the fact that it was back from its holidays.

Some long days (today by far the shortest, though there is still stuff I ought to do) filled with important, enjoyable and interesting activity.  A bit of a scamper to get a sermon written but things are now just about under control.

Tomorrow I hope to start stitching the knitted squares together to make a blanket for a small cancer charity... in between times, is the metaphorical knitting and joining of the squares that make up the patchwork of ministerial life.

As part of my prep for Sunday, I've been doing a quick English language based redaction exercise with the story of the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" from all four gospels.

What struck me is that we usually tell this story in its Johannine form, which differs quite starkly from the other three, notably in the inclusion of the 'small boy' (which could be translated as 'servant').  This has got me wondering quite why this gospel alone has the child at this point, rather than the locations chosen by the writers of the synoptics.  Interestingly, rather than a mere 'object' or 'visual aid' the child has an active role in the story... which makes me more curious as to what John's purpose is here.

Such commentaries as I have are of little or no help, most just ignore this detail, but I am curious.  Any Bible scholalrs or people with decent commentaries who fancy checking and commenting, I'd be pleased to know.  In the meantime I'm working on my own interpretation, justified or otherwise, that sees this detail as significant within the narrative of the fourth sign.

The wedding today has, I am told, a purple - and green colour scheme, and there is an underlying theme of knitting (in my address and, as I discovered last night, in the groom's vows).

There is something fitting in the TT minister knitting a cover for a champagne bottle which will act as a visiual aid for the wedding address.

I'm looking forward to sharing in this very special day, in the grand surroundings of Glasgow University's Memorial Chapel.

Well, at about 4 a.m. tomorrow when a taxi whisks me away to Glasgow airport to start my holiday in Malta!

It has been a remarkably busy week, lots of meetings, lots of people to spend time with, lots of final preparation to do for a wedding (in just three hours from now) and just generally lots of doing.

It is actually around six months since I had a proper break, I've had the odd overnight with friends, which has been lovely, but most of my travel and time away has been work or urgent family stuff.  I have a slight concern that I am too tired really to benefit from my week off, that I probably need is a week to sleep first, but hey ho, the die is cast.

I'm very much looking forward to five days in Malta with one of my oldest friends, which will allow me to relax and unwind before the run up to Christmas gets going.

And I do get the "bonus" of eight hours in Gatwick airport tomorrow, and another six on the way back!!