... and we all end up blind.

I was shocked to hear on the 7 a.m. news report the sound of President Obama announcing that the USA had killed Osama Bin Laden.  Shocked because this doesn't seem like any kind of justice I can relate to.  Shocked because there was celebration in the streets and people chanting "U.S.A."

What Bin Laden has been involved with is awful, there is no doubt of that, and some form of bringing to justice was necessary.  Assassination prevents that - now no-one will ever be able to ask what he did or why, details are lost forever.  It seems likely to me, whatever the claims about the lack of an equally charismatic successor, that this killing will prompt more, not less, violence.

Many other British Christian bloggers are voicing their concern over events as they are being reported, and are doing so far better than I can.

We listen.  We watch.  We try not to judge.  We pray for the incoming of God's Kingdom, we strain to glimpse the vision of a new creation, and in the meantime, in so far as we are able, we try to live at peace with all people (Romans 12/Hebrews 12) and to pray for, not about or against, our enemies (Matt 5/Luke 6).  Not easy... but no one said it would be.

Being the first, and so far only, ordained Baptist woman in pastoral charge of a Baptist Church in Scotland beings both privilege and responsibility.  Whether I like it or not, whether my peeps like it or not, one day, I and we will be part of Scottish Baptist history.

Most of the time that is something to which I, and we, can sit very lightly, getting on with life together, but now and again the responsibility aspect trumps the privilege.  I guess it has to really, since my ordination is to the wider church, not just to one fellowship.

It seems that a number of the Scottish Baptist women who are Associate Ministers have resigned in the last year, leaving the few who are hospital chaplains.  I don't know the reasons but it makes my role possibly ever more significant theologically and denominationally.

This week one of the students who preached for us during my sick leave meets the Board of Ministry as the final test of her call, we pray with and for her.  In a fortnight someone 'down south' faces her Min Rec ahead of coming to Scotland to start her training in September.  Rightly or wrongly, what I do, or don't do, say or don't say, will impact for good or ill how they fare in this beautiful and crazy Union.  I glimpse just a teeny bit of how it was for Edith Gates and Violet Hedger all those years back.

Please, if it's your thing, pray for F and A facing their boards over the next couple of weeks, and for all who find themselves thrust into pioneering or spotlighted roles.

This evening we sang this beautiful hymn....

For everyone born, a place at the table,

For everyone born, clean water and bread,

A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing

For everyone born, a star overhead

And God will delight

When we are creators of justice and joy

Yes God will delight

When we are creators of justice,

Justice and joy.

For woman and man, a place at the table

Revising the roles, deciding the share,

With wisdom and grace dividing the power

For woman and man, a system that's fair...

For young and for old, a place at the table

A voice to be heard, a part in the song

The hands of a child in hands kind and wrinkled

For young and for old, the right to belong...

For just and unjust, a place at the table

Abuser, abused, with need to forgive

In anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy

For just and unjust, a new way to live...

For everyone born, a place at the table

To live without fear, and simply to be

To work, to speak out, to witness and worship

For everyone born the right to be free...

Sheila Erena Murray (c) Hope Publishing

It's a beautiful hymn, and one that demands us to engage in some complicated thinking.  How do all these ideas, ideals even, really hold together in a world where sometimes we have to agree to disagree?  How can we live so that my 'rights' don't 'trump' yours or vice versa?  It isn't always easy.

I think the penultimate verse of the hymn captures something very special and profound, not least as all of us are, if we are honest, cast both in the roles of just and unjust, abused and abuser, yet there is for us, in our imperfection, a place at the table... and we must also make room for those with whom we disagree and maybe consider unjust and even abusive...

No, not a greeting, a description.  We had a good morning today at the Gathering Place - even if I managed to totally muff reading the institution narrative for the communion from 1 Cor 11!  As I say to other people, Jesus made it up the first time, so you can't actually do it 'wrong' in a logistical or liturgical sense (even if you can in terms of intent, attitude, etc.)

Our three year-old infant obliged by being held at the  required part of the blessing/dedication obviating the need for me either to chase him round the room or go all Presbyterian in order to do the Aaronic blessing for him.  It was lovely to have the song that he had, at one remove, chosen himself (he had been heard singing it at home after we used it on Palm Sunday)...

Who spoke words of wisdom and life?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Understood what people were like?

Nobody other than him

Who performed miraculous signs?

Nobody other than Jesus.

Healed the sick, gave sight to the blind?

Nobody other than him.

Hosanna, Hosanna,

Praise him come praise him

Hosanna, Hosanna

Lift up your voices and sing!

Who took children into his arms?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Spoke to storms and made them be calm?

Nobody other than him.

Who raised Lazarus up from the dead?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Made a feast of fishes and bread?

Nobody other than him.

Who made friends with people despised?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Turned the water into good wine?

Nobody other than him.

Who got people following him?

Only the one they call Jesus.

Changed thier lives forgave all their sin?

Nobody other than him.

Mark & Helen Johnson (c) Out of the Ark Music

From Kid Source or Really Good Songs for Junior Church

After the children had left for their own activities, we followed a theme of 'lows and highs' using parts of John 20 and Psalm 126, along with a few lyrics from Ronan Keating and Sandy Shaw, to centre our thoughts.  The essence of what I said was at any one time in a community of faith there are people experiencing highs, people experiencing lows and people somewhere in between and that we are in it together.  We recognised some of those among our fellowship who have a tough time just now - an overseas student recently bereaved, a family watching and waiting at the bedside of a loved one - and reminded ourselves of the promises that close Psalm 126 and that end Mathhew's gospel.

Sharing communion was, as always, special, and whilst I was annoyed with myself for muffing the institution narrative, it seemed a fitting culmination to our worship.

If I'm completely honest, I'd have loved to be in Blackpool at the (English) Baptist Assembly this weekend, but I wouldn't have missed this morning for anything - it was a Good Morning, and theirs cannot have been better, no matter how good it was.  (Plus of course theologically we were all together anyway!!)

(Or 26.2 for the really keen)

The route for the SHINE walk is now available and it looks good.

The half marathon (which is roughly the same as the first half of the whole one) starts at the SECC and heads for Bellahouston Park, then it moves on to Glasgow Green before turning back towards the University of Glasgow where the routes divide.  Those of us doing the half, will follow the Kelvin Way back to the SECC whilst the full marathon lot head for the Botanics, Park Circus, Glasgow School of Art back to Bellahouston and finally back the SECC.  It sounds a lovely walk and being in the north of brtian, should be light, or at least not totally dark, for much of the half marathon.

Target time of 4-5 hours means keeping up a good pace throughout but we won't rush!

So for all those who want to cheer us on, this is nearly five months' warning to bag your space!