I have finished my Sunday! I've taken four services today, two this morning, one this afternoon and one this evening. This evening's was especially poignant as we were in a church that took a vote on Thursday night at Church Council about its long term future - should it stay in its Victorian building, put it right and work alone, or should it join with others and work towards a new build? Only I and my Church Council Secretary know the outcome of the vote, as three other churches are voting in the next few weeks asking the same question across our town. All will know soon! But leading them tonight knowing what they have decided (by secret ballot) was challenging. Some will be upset however it has gone but they all need to remember they are on a journey to God and with God.
I love the Road to Emmaus story. It gives me permission to take time to understand what is going on around me and in my head. It gives me permission to ask questions and ponder the divine answer. It reminds me of the need to create time to break bread with others representing Christ and to have bread broken for me by others, taking in Christ. It challenges me to go and tell when I am re-energised. It reassures me there is nowhere on the journey he is not.
Church communities like to have all the answers now.
Church communities like to give up, believing the best days are gone.
Church communities trudge back to the comfort of the familiar and the safe, clinging on to what they know (but maybe won't work today.)
Perhaps this story in Luke's Gospel should encourage me a bit to put times of compassionate walking with others, times of companionship with others, breaking bread, and times of renewed excitement in divine surprise and hope at the heart of my work. This week, as acting Superintendent of my Circuit I convene my first staff meeting, and my first Circuit leadership team. Later in the week, I've been invited to help a neighbouring Circuit with some ideas about team building and another Circuit with ideas for rural ministry and mission. I have put in my notes for all these occasions we need to encourage people, we need to walk, to be patient, to challenge a return to the basics (Jesus does bible study on the road - you can say a lot in seven miles) and breaking bread in community and an equipping to go and tell. We'll see how the sessions go.
William Barclay in his old, but trustworthy commentary on Luke's Gospel reminds us that travellers here walked into the sunset on that Sunday evening, their hopes fading. They like many in the Gospels are turned round and they find the light of new beginnings becoming central. I hope my church (and my other church later in the month) find whatever has been/will be decided, Christ is there, and is greater than any shape of church life. Today, leading four acts of worship has been exhausting but invigorating. I've been motivated again to put what matters central, even if people twitter at me about other stuff!
The travellers went after their Sunday running to Jerusalem - I am off for a glass of red, and a Bank Holiday doing nought tomorrow!
