Been a very busy, but very happy day... I got home from church around eight hours after I left home, so suffice to say I am bushed, cream-crackered, whacked whatever word you prefer.. and in a good way.

Who wouldn't be happy to celebrate five years of ministry as diverse and interesting as we've shared?  Who would fail to delight in welcoming four folk into covenanted membership?  How could I not rejoice in a toddler building with bricks, at my invitation, whilst the congregation sang 'Let us build a house where love can dwell?'  How broad was my smile when the student who looks like she's settling with us said "I really like this church"... pretty ginormous.

Ministry is hard work, really hard work, and sometimes I worry far too much about what I say or do, or don't do or say, but there's nothing else I could do or be.

Today is a happy day, a day to delight in so much that is exciting and rewarding, a day to celebrate the God who is in it all.  Too many happy moments to record, lots to process...

So, letting myself off evening worship, cooking crinkle cup oven chips (on a Sunday!  I know!) and looking forward to a restful evening.

Today is the fifth anniversary of my induction as minister at the Gathering Place... time flies when you are having fun.  Of course it hasn't all been plain sailing, we've encountered a few squalls and negotiated a few reefs, rocks and sharks along the way, but we are here, and it's good to celebrate.

Today we will welcome four folk into covenanted membership, reflect on where we are in relation to the Pauline injunction to 'rejoice!', then after lunch share in an information meeting relating to some of our next steps together before I head off with another perosn to take communion to one of our 'shut-ins'.

This, then is ministry: joy and sorrow, flawed followers determined to keep going, community discernment, pastoral care.

This, then, is ministry: I am content to be part of it.

Happy Birthday to us!!

As the saying goes: for what is past, thank you, for what's to come, yes.

Sorry to those gracious readers who call by regularly, even frequently, in the hope of something from me.  This week has been a little bit loopy with consequent tail chasing and no posting.  I still have a fair old list of stuff I haven't done and really ought to... bad minister person that I am.

So, service prep, mission forum, mentor training for the fourth time of asking, deacons meeting, home communion, pastoral catch-up, admin... where did the time go?!

Hopefully things will settle a little bit after the weekend, and I will get back into more of a regular rhythm again

This Sunday we are receiving four friends into Church membership - which is fantastic.  Following what I think is pretty standard custom and practice, I invited each of them to choose a hymn or a song for the service... and as always the choices are wonderful: expressions of faith, commitment, trust, disicpleship, hope, vision...

Always, it's a blessing to celebrate with siblings-in-Christ; always a blessing to share the songs/hymns that are meaningful for them.

According to the Bible, Euodia and Syntyche had a quarrel, right?

Well, I actually took the time to read what it says... they clearly disagreed but I don't find the words 'quarrel' or 'fell out' or 'had a barney' or any such similar thing in the Greek.

Sure, they needed some help to resolve their disagreement, but then isn't that just an example of the kind of a model described in Matt 18 now seen in action?

I can't help feeling that centring on the perceived squabbling, bitching, bickering women is to read in what it doesn't actually say (eisegesis).  These women clearly had a significant role in the mission of the early church, and their failure to agree did not somehow debar them from office, rather together with help from others, they needed to sort it out... I reckon that's just common sense.

I'm preaching on this passage on Sunday (it's something of a gift!) so wait and see what I end up saying!