Holy Week Blog part 2 - for Monday

I've been thinking today about stickability and Jesus sticking to a cause entering Jerusalem, indeed setting his face resolutely towards the city.
We've been thinking this weekend in my Circuit about stickability. Yesterday, we dedicated the fab new church in Battle "The Emmanuel Centre - Home of Battle Methodist Church" in an inspiring service. The people there have stuck at it through hard decisions, setbacks and uncertainty, and now celebrate immense possibilities.
I watched Britain's Got Talent - the amazing dance act with a man hurling an 80+ year old lady round the floor. They've had to stick at practising, Simon Cowell had to stick at watching it until he saw it liven up. It was brilliant - go find it on You Tube!
This lunchtime, I had a meeting with my St Helens congregation who have decided to vacate their poorly building next year. We are waiting to see what other churches round us what to do, perhaps coming together with us, but we had a very positive conversation about sticking to our vision to be present where people need us. I was heartened that people in their 80's and 90's were saying this, with deep emotional attachment to our present building, but seeing a bigger picture.
Then this afternoon and tonight, we've had a Circuit gathering preparing and sharing worship for all ages where we've explored what we stick with. Volunteers were asked to come out and share what they would stick with no matter what - Fair Trade, a school supporting the Gambia and Southampton FC. The congregation were invited to ridicule them to put them off. Then we had someone play Jesus and we shouted at him "Crucify" to see what that felt like.
I have known in life how much it is to stick at things, especially when others round you are not being very nice. You have to believe in what you are standing up for.
In an age where we so easily give up, replace, throw away, rubbish an idea that doesn't seem to be working, we need to take inspiration from Jesus. How would we be at sticking at Christianity if we had to stand up for it? Perhaps we have it too comfortable - but I've been heartened this weekend by people showing signs that sticking to a cause might bring life. And worship tonight by the way with dancing, children, flags, drama, a worship band, participation and a talk by me with no notes whatsoever - was stonking!
No blog tomorrow as it is my day off - but back on Tuesday with a thought for Tuesday.