Church and Travel

It's been really interesting and also challenging re: travelling and trying to get to church. Sometimes we've just not been anywhere near one on a Sunday, or have booked onto a trip because that was the time and date it was available. Sometimes we tried to get to an evening service having arrived somewhere new, only to find that there was no evening service going on anywhere in the town.

On average, we've managed to get to church about once every two weeks, mainly in the morning, which isn't bad going given all the challenges to getting there! It been a real mixed bag. A couple of times we've felt very welcomed and have been able to worship God, but some of the time it's been a bit more difficult. One time I had to sit on my hands and zip my mouth up, because I was so riled by what the preacher was saying (he was very "health wealth & prosperity" meaning that he was promoting a Christianity whereby if only you were a good enough Christian then everything in life will go well, and if things are wrong then it's your fault...grrrrrr!!!). Another place we were excited to find that the 20s-30s group was leading the service, but it was sadly very stayed, conservative and reserved in every way, and nobody said hello or even tried to make conversation, before or after the service which was held in a small room where there was no excuse for not noticing visitors!

I was really moved when attending a lunchtime Taize style communion service in Christchurch Cathedral. It was simple, moving, we were all welcomed and it really was a special time of worshipping God and being held in the "communion" of sharing with others. Certainly, welcome (or lack of) really sets the tone for visitors, something I'm quite passionate about and this has definitely been highlighted by travelling.

I know that there are many factors concerning what contributes to a service, and that a lot of it is subjective and a matter of taste, but there have certainly been very differing degrees of experience, largely not helpful (sad to say) but thankfully also some opportunities to really draw close to God and his people.

As we've travelled, there have been some incredibly spiritual moments seeing God at work in His world, through creation in its many forms. A small part of my MA dissertation considered some aspects of those who find God in creation and the outdoors more than in churches, and gain spiritual energy and growth through those means rather than through collective worship. Therefore, it has been, and continues to be, interesting to find myself in a similar situation for a relatively long period of time, and noting the ways that I too continue to draw spiritual nurture from "the elements" and creation (as well as daily Bible study, personal prayer, and praying each week with Pen).

Anyway, this is now in danger of turning into some sort of thesis, but for those of you who know me well, you know that I have many questions about church services, accessibility to visitors, being relevant in the world and open to change/challenge etc so these travels have added food for though! Maybe I'm missing preparing sermons, so you lucky blogetts get my thoughts instead!?

By the way, it's been really interesting as we've travelled when we get to the inevitable "so what do you do " questions with people we meet. I've had a range of responses, all of them positive, some quite disbelieving, a few expletives, lots of apologies for swear words and blasphemies. Bar none, this has led onto some really interesting chats about spirituality, the role of a priest, being at the younger end of the scale, not "looking like one" etc etc. It's a real privilege after such encounters (sadly not normally whilst still with them) to be able to pray for these new friends, asking God to bless them and be at work in their lives. We can sow seeds, it's the Lord and his spirit at work that does the rest. Every time I have the "job" conversation I still expect someone somewhere to be really negative or suddenly stop talking to me, but there's definitely an interest and a hunger out there amongst many people who have no formal or regular links with church in any way. There are a lot of bridges to be built, one plank at a time!

Anyway, now signing off, and wondering what the next few weeks will bring.......exciting times ahead, as always. Apologies for those of you who're now asleep after my little sermonette!

Love n prayers, Linda xx