I've just been to the service at Barrow Hospital (my second time) and will reflect on that in the future. Today's topic though is that, what with being away next weekend - diaconal exploration (another topic for the future, they are getting stacked up, please pray etc) - and my church not having an evening service, by the time the end of the month comes around it'll be a whole month since attending a "normal" service at my own church (tonight's discussion service should be fun but is not typical).
Blessings first. You do meet some interesting people, who, because they live in different locations, have a different view of life. It opens your eyes. You get a variety of styles of worship. You get intimate services and grand services. There is architecture and design.
But you quickly can lose touch with the folk in your own congregation. The notices sheet can't contain all the news - the small things, which are still important, pass you by. Who's had a good week, who's been away, who's going away. You feel disconnected. One of the pluses of not preaching lately (at least elsewhere) - discipline of theological college study - has been feeling a much closer part of the community. There's that word again, you see.
I wonder how Amos felt at being called away? Paul? Did he lose the feel of a "home" church? To quote Neil Diamond "LA's fine but it ain't home, New York's home but it ain't mine no more" - (Neil is always better at sad songs) put in your own placenames and see if you understand.
Did Philip talk to the eunuch because he was desperate for contact? Did Luke start writing to reconnect? Peter?
Perhaps I should have called this post "the loneliness of the long-distance preacher". It seems to have lost its way a bit itself. To be continued ....
No comments:
Post a Comment