juggling

Multi-tasking.

It's supposedly a female trait. Virtually unknown amongst the male of the species. Or so they say (usually while they're doing something else!).

But needs must!

And today's been a multi-tasking sort of day. The beadle's off on holiday. The secretary's off as well. And it's a Tuesday - which means it's my turn for the soup-making.

So, as I say, needs must!

All the different tasks are creative. I think that's why I enjoy it all so much.

Making the soup is plainly that sort of thing. Essentially creative. Especially the way I go about it!

And so, too, is the secretary's work - albeit in a very different way. Bringing order out of chaos. Or what might otherwise be chaos (particularly if I were left to do it all for long!).

And the beadle's work as well. Setting out the hall with tables, chairs and plants and lights in such a way we make a reallly very warm environment.

That's, all of it, creative. Doing what God himself has always done. Making a thing of beauty out of something that is dark and void and empty at the start.

I wanted it to be nice. We had three separate sets of visiting groups coming in to the halls for their lunch. It's great when it's like that! (We gave them a treat with our Tarracarrotomango soup and a shot at the old, traditional Scottish Cock-a-leekie soup, a meal in itself).

We had one of the fellowship groups in for a lunch together. They meet here in the morning as if this were their home. And then they go and share this meal together - courtesy of all the catering here. I think it's lovely and it stirs my heart when I see that happening.

The local fraternal was meeting here, too. And I have to say these times are almost always really good. Stimulating chat, deepening friendships, the sharing of dreams. And the sitting round a table at a meal is very much an integral part of that.

And then there was a sizeable group from the local primary school. The school is part of a scheme that's called 'Comenius'. Which basically (I think!) is all about their being able to make connections with schools and staff from right across Europe.

The primary school's been doing this now for a while. And so some bonds have already been forged. This week they've had these teachers here from Poland, France and Cyprus. I think about eleven visiting teachers in all.

And what warmed my heart was the desire of the staff at the school to bring them across to our halls for their lunch. Especially on a Tuesday, since they know at the school that that's my day for making the soups!

So lunch was a bit of multi-tasking once again. Or 'multi-tabling'. Moving between the tables and chatting with one and all. Relational stuff.

And then the local teachers asked if I would show the visitors inside the church building. Strange (but exciting) to see the way the teachers here had obviously a certain pride in their own local church building.

Because they've been before, of course. They know it well and clearly, too, they really think it's great inside - and want to show it off.

It's great to see these links being always deepened. And the chance to sit and chat with folk, not least in the context of a meal, that's got to be so vital in commending our Lord Jesus and conveying his good news.

That's what he did. Sat with people. Ate with tax collectors and sinners. Places, occasions where people relaxed. Where there was the chance for chat.

I suppose that's what I'm trying to see being formed among the leaders here. A different sort of leadership that's less about decisions being made and more about discussion being had. The forming of bonds of friendship and trust: the chance to meet and to pray and to talk.

The meeting at night of the elders here had this sort of thing as its focus. How best to be a people who are living in this way. How best to grow that sort or 'style' of leadership. Which doesn't force decisions on an unsuspecting church but rather gives a comprehensive focus to the work we're all about and aims just to facilitate the ministry of all.

Because the body of Christ is always multi-tasking. Together we're displaying multi-ministry. Juggling.

And somehow in that juggling of these multi-coloured 'balls' we're painting for the people and community around a picture of the multi-coloured glory of our risen Lord.