Continuing with my reflective mood from yesterday I was pondering this morning about some of the things that have happened over the last year. At church we have had some great experiences; enjoyed some unique, amazing, Spirit filled times where I can honestly say I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else in the world.
We have made steps into our community, visiting the local residential care home twice a month after our main church service to share communion with the residents. This comprises of a short and simple service, singing a couple of old hymns and taking the opportunity to remind the people there that God loves them too. Maybe the most enjoyable and important moments in these visits is chatting with the people in the home and starting to make some real connections.
We had a great Christmas at church which included a candle lit Carol Service with hardly an empty seat in the building, followed by a Christmas eve crib service where another forty people laughed together, sang the twelve days of Christmas and played games. Add on to these an intimate Christmas day morning communion and we see that the true message of Christmas was presented in three very different but equally effective ways to three groups of people. I loved each one of those services and spoke to many people who were touched individually and uniquely at each event.
Easter was a similarly varied and special time - on Maundy Thursday we met in the evening and were led through the steps from Jesus praying with His Disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to His death on the cross. This was a powerful, moving and emotional time that honestly left several people drained from the experience. On Good Friday we met in the afternoon and recreated the 'stations of the cross' in, around and outside the church building. A church full of people criss-crossed their way around the premises reading, praying and looking at symbols of Jesus journey, the same one we had experienced in a different format the day before. Both of these occasions reminded us of Jesus amazing sacrifice in very different but equally meaningful ways. Easter Sunday we again met, but this time with a spirit of celebration, as we partied together praising God that Jesus didn't just die but rose again in majesty.
Again all three of these times were varied as they could have been but completely in tune, complimenting each other and together making whole greater the sum of the parts.
Easily some of the most enjoyable and memorable moments of this last twelve months, where spent with a group of people in Selston united by just one thing. This group of 40-50 people in normal circumstances probably may not have even met and may have very little in common share one thing. We are joined by the love of God and the knowledge that we are adopted into His family and that one bond has made those experiences together so very special.
It's been a truly great year, with many many highs and also some lows, but I wouldn't have wanted to spend it anywhere or with anyone else - more to come in part two.
Have a great day
God bless
Chris
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