Dear Friends,
I find myself writing in a much quieter home setting than usual, as a result of our two children being away at present over half term. As I know has been the experience of a number of you, the house doesn’t quite seem the same without the bustle of frenetic energy; a kitchen on the go constantly, and conversations (usually FaceTime, Instagram or through Playstation, rather than face to face) taking place in bizarre locations in the home due to a poor wi-fi signal. It’s peaceful, but if I’m honest, I sort of miss the hubbub of four comparatively loud members of a household, co-existing and making their presence felt in the building, each person making their own unique contribution!
Last Sunday in church, as we came to the end of a teaching series looking at the book Exodus, we reflected that almost a third of the book, (chapters 25 - 40) is concerned with the setting up, furnishing and decoration of the 'place of meeting’ – the tabernacle where God might be encountered. We learnt of the joy of contributing to this place, whereby both individual skills, gifts and possessions, were gladly thrown into the mix for the greater good.
Of course such a passage is quite timely, for we as a congregation are embarking on our own project to improve our building; The Brunswick Refurb Project - as it is called, holds a vision whereby we are working:
"To have an attractive and warm building where love of God and neighbour is expressed in worship, and hosting of a hub for community activities.”
These are potentially exiting times, with challenges ahead, and for me one such challenge and opportunity will be to find ways whereby as many in our congregation and wider community can have a sense of contributing to the future improved building, that combination of involvement and joy that the Israelites were able to experience, rather than simply being “done to”.
Whilst the building project might be a while away, the joy of contributing together remains available to us as we gather for worship on each and every Sunday. Church is never the same without you, so if you are able, please consider joining us this coming Sunday as we meet to worship God, using the great psalm of praise, Psalm 136 as our inspiration.
God Bless
Simon
I find myself writing in a much quieter home setting than usual, as a result of our two children being away at present over half term. As I know has been the experience of a number of you, the house doesn’t quite seem the same without the bustle of frenetic energy; a kitchen on the go constantly, and conversations (usually FaceTime, Instagram or through Playstation, rather than face to face) taking place in bizarre locations in the home due to a poor wi-fi signal. It’s peaceful, but if I’m honest, I sort of miss the hubbub of four comparatively loud members of a household, co-existing and making their presence felt in the building, each person making their own unique contribution!
Last Sunday in church, as we came to the end of a teaching series looking at the book Exodus, we reflected that almost a third of the book, (chapters 25 - 40) is concerned with the setting up, furnishing and decoration of the 'place of meeting’ – the tabernacle where God might be encountered. We learnt of the joy of contributing to this place, whereby both individual skills, gifts and possessions, were gladly thrown into the mix for the greater good.
Of course such a passage is quite timely, for we as a congregation are embarking on our own project to improve our building; The Brunswick Refurb Project - as it is called, holds a vision whereby we are working:
"To have an attractive and warm building where love of God and neighbour is expressed in worship, and hosting of a hub for community activities.”
These are potentially exiting times, with challenges ahead, and for me one such challenge and opportunity will be to find ways whereby as many in our congregation and wider community can have a sense of contributing to the future improved building, that combination of involvement and joy that the Israelites were able to experience, rather than simply being “done to”.
Whilst the building project might be a while away, the joy of contributing together remains available to us as we gather for worship on each and every Sunday. Church is never the same without you, so if you are able, please consider joining us this coming Sunday as we meet to worship God, using the great psalm of praise, Psalm 136 as our inspiration.
God Bless
Simon
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