I just thought I would update the blog on the last two meetings. I was very hopeful, the time before last that some new people would come along. One regular member had said she had asked three people and was expecting to meet at lest two of them to come up to the house. However, at the last minute, she couldnt come herself as she was taken shopping by her daughter to buy a new outfit for her grandson's wedding.

That session we did a little bit of drama. Or rather we read through some sketches together. One person was petrified of this. She made lots of mistakes but at least this turned to hilarity! Another person was most impressed by one of the sketches because it was a biblical story - the wedding at Cana, but written in the style of Fawlty Towers. Again, this was an example of how their faith was brought to life by a different slant on an old story.

In the following meeting there was fewer people and we had a general knowledge quiz. And we also organised a trip which will appeal to a number of people. We are able to use our funds to subsidise the cost of the coach which I hope will enable people to come along.

Incidentally.. what I have discovered in the last couple of weeks is that ... although the bigo session couldnt be given up when I asked to use the space at the pensioners complex, bingo has now been given up for another activity. Ho hum!

well ... we had four lent lunches. They were well-received and people contributed on the whole. Different people prepared soup, another person brought bread rolls, and we each paid £3 for the privilege. We had a Bible reading and a prayer. But as yet, there are no people attending who do not go to church. So this is a real disappointment. It is a church I think (as opposed to a group) but it is a subset of the original church. What we need is some overlap. ... just one person coming along who doesnt go to the main church ... please!

the beauty of God's creation?

So the next meeting was a beetle-drive. Only 8 people decided to play but the others were happy chatting. Ibnstead of working on pieces of paper, I had some plastic beetles that had to be put together as and when the dice allowed.

We began with a reading from the creation story:- And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. Gen 1:24-25 NRSV. A little bit tongue in cheek but it did begin a discussion on why certain animals and insects were created.

The following week, a number joined with the mother church in the next village for a pancake tea. This was positive as getting the two to join together is always difficult. Next time - Lent lunches.

To cut a long story short, the next two meetings were cancelled. The first was cancelled because I wasnt too well. The second, In January because of the weather. Or, at least, I didnt cancel the meeting, but no-one came.

The next time we came together, we played games (especially rummikub which has become a firm favourite) and listened to hymns and planned ahead. I omitted to read from the Bible but we did pray for ourselves and others.

We planned to have some Lent lunches. To my surprise this hasn't been done before in the mother church. But I think it will be a good way of encouraging people to bring others along. Some people may come just for those meetings and then stop again. But it will be 'outreach' and raising money for the Bishop's Lent Appeal. I think it might be a good idea to make it clear where the money has come from when we donate it. The problem with that is that the group doesnt know its an emerging church yet.

continuation

well, so successful was the previous meeting, a fortnight later, we continued. Still very interesting. Not so much hilarity but more conversations about the problems ... or people who have passed on ... or how things have changed. Still no 'non-church people'. But we're enjoying ourselves so does it matter? - yes, very churchy.

looking back - God's faithfulness

We publicised the next meeting as' looking back' and quoted Psalm 89 verses1 :- God's faithfulness to all generations. 12 people came to the meeting. mostly church people but two are people who only manage to come on a Sunday occassionally. I had found some old slides. Again ... we had such a laugh. I couldnt believe it. They loved seeing the old pictures of 50+ years ago. They were often hysterical. And memories were all flooding back.

One thing that astounded me - having previously heard about how great the old church was - was how shabby it looked. I guess by today's standards it was just very bare. Maybe they could see that too.

Before long they were crowding around the picture that was projected on the wall that it wasn't possible for everyone to see.

I began the afternoon with the Bible verse, and helped us to understansd that previous generations are not overlooked. God was faithful then and will be faithful now.

We finished the afternoon (an hour late) with a simple prayer.