I should say, right at the start, because I know lots of my lovely people read this, that my tongue is planted firmly in my cheek as I type this, because I know you are all wonderfully accommodating of my crazy ideas and I love you all for that (and many other reasons) and there is absolutely no suggestion that you are resistant to change.

We don't very often use a data projector at church - this may surprise some who know I am quite a fan of their use.  The reason is basically that our premises are far from ideally suited to their use - too light and bright even on on dull days.  Nevertheless, now and then I use film clips or PowerPoint in worship, and yesterday I wanted to show some of the photos from the sea Baptism  as part of the reception into membership of the person concerned.  Recently we have been experimenting with a 'less bad' set up for projection which means using a centrally located screen and the projector in the middle of the floor space.  On an 'ordinary' Sunday this is fine, but yesterday was communion, and I really did not want the projector becoming de facto the visual focus by its location.

So

Shock, horror...

(are you sitting down...?)

The Communion Table

was

relocated!

Yes, I moved the Communion Table to a place in front of the projector stand and turned it through ninety degrees so it was longways (i.e. narrow end forward).  It was actually easier to arrange the various plates and trays so that everything was visible.

But

It meant there was no room for the servers to sit behind the table, so they had to occupy seats on the front row

yes

the FRONT row!

It all went really well, and as it was an all age service my liturgy was very child-friendly in its language (I will post it when I am back at church as it's on the church computer not my laptop)

So far I have had no negative comments and several positive ones, notably that people felt it was more 'friendly' and less sense of 'them and us' (servers and congregation)

So who knows, just maybe a new tradition will be born...

Only time will tell!

This week it seems that Christian Aid held a meeting to work on their 2012 Christmas material, a meeting that was disrupted by adverse weather conditions which prevented people from reaching Scotland, where it was being held.  Like the greeting card designers and confectionery makers, we are already thinking at least one, if not more, festivals ahead.

Among my post this week was a little book, just published, called Messy Nativity by Jane Leadbetter which includes three different, but potentially integrated, activities for Advent and Christmas.  Whilst I lament the 'branding' of Messy Church, which has the potential to reduce to a formula that which many have done for decades, the resources it is producing offer some new and creative outreach ideas.

I am really taken with the knitted sheep trail idea, whereby you persuade local shops to host a hand-knitted sheep, which they can name, and then be part of a 'sheep trail' aimed at families who visit the shops to collect the names of all the sheep (good increase in footfall for participating shops) and maybe offer a prize for the 'grand draw' of completed trail sheets which coincides with the event to be held at church (e.g. crib service, christingle, etc.).

Other ideas are the 'messy nativity set journey' and the 'messy street nativity' (the latter not too disimilar from 'Get In The Picture').

Gatherers beware... I am enthused by these ideas, not least as we are so near to 'Sheepfold Street', whose shops attract loads of people during Advent... a sheep trail, getting in the picture, free gift wrapping and a few other ideas are all bubbling away in my mind!

Today Baptist Times reports the agreement of Council to some significant restructuring of BUGB.  The decisions have been made carefully and prayerfully and the implications will be determined over many, many years into the future.  Reading the report is only one level of the story though.  Many people will lose their jobs.  One major challenge for all of us in Baptist churches affiliated to this union (or any other union or convention) is to play our part in making the process as God-honouring as possible.

Behind the story are real people, with real lives and real feelings.  Some will be sad.  Some will be angry.  Some will feel guilty.  Some will feel relieved.  Some will be various combinations of these and other emotions.  Baptist House won't be a comfortable place to be in the coming months; people will work hard to keep the show on the road knowing that their own futures are uncertain.  It behoves us to pray for everyone who works there and to generous and gracious in our dealings with those with whom we have contact.

Mysterious God,

We thank you for the people called Baptist

And specifically for those who covenasnt together within the BUGB

In this time of pruning

Comfort those who are sad

Shelter those who who are afraid

Be a safe space for those who need to vent rage

In the tasks of restructuring

Grant wisdom to decision makers

Compassion to line managers

And hope to those who see no way forward

Hear our prayers...

... and show us how we may live the answers

AMEN

Yesterday I was at the seaside with our Coffee Club folks.  It rained quite a lot, but most still had a walk along the front.

Here are some hints of what else we got up to...

This Sunday we will be starting a seven week series of all age services looking at aspects of discipleship viewed through the lens of Mark's gospel.  It is technically a lectionary-based series but for good reason we are starting it about 3 weeks late!  Anyways, this week's gospel reading is Mark 3: 25 - 35, which is not exactly easy reading.

The thing that has really got me thinking is the call to be Jesus' 'brothers, sisters and mother.'  The sibling bit I get.  It's not an easy call, but it's one that makes sense.  But the mothering bit - now that's more tricky!  How can I - or anyone - be 'mother of Jesus' or 'mother to Jesus'?  What does it mean?  How do we bring Christ to birth in others maybe?  Or how do we nurture the child Christ glimpsed in every human child?  Or how do we fulfil the prophetic message of Magnificat?  What is/was the unique role of mother wihtin the (human) household of Jesus or the (spiritual) household of God? 

Hmmm.  I really don't know.  But it's a challenge for sure.