I went to communion with hope and I was not disappointed.

 In moving to Banbury I discovered that my probationer tutor from 39 years ago had also retired to the local circuit a few years earlier. In meeting him at a Christmas gathering I reminded Robert that he had introduced me to the wonderful book "The velveteen rabbit" 'I still use it he said'. Well it has served me well also through my ministry. In sorting out stuff from the move I also found some poems I had written as part of a reflection on becoming a  minister which Robert had marked as part of my studies. Oh what a small world it is and how time flies.

Well today we had opportunity to attend the weekly Thursday communion service in the circuit. Robert was leading the service. 

We entered the room to see the communion table in the centre which immediately and creatively changed the setting for the service as we all gathered around Christ's table. Sometimes it's the smallest of details that have the greater impact, and oh he didn't feel the need to wear a dog collar. 

Robert shared his reflection/sermon in a sensitive and thoughtful manner with good humour. It was thoroughly scriptural, trinitarian and relevant to the context of those present and the world in which we are living. 

 In speaking of God through the prism of work he touched on God the creator bringing order out of chaos, Jesus whose manual labour we could associate with and the Holy Spirit who comes alongside us. He spoke of our need to do our best in the concrete world not one of false dreams that idealise things. He made being a disciple something you can aspire to be, and don't need to beat yourself up about when it doesn't all go right. He even touched on the 'protestant work ethic' highlighting the human need for purpose and dignity which work can bring, but carefully balancing it out against how it can be abused to wear people out and devalue them. Of course without saying it Robert was being prophetic in the light of our current situation as a nation. 

This was a well crafted service and sermon that gave food for thought and so much of it all came together as we sang the final hymn 'Let love be real' 615 in Singing the faith. I've chosen it myself many times. A hymn so purposefully written by Michael Forster which Robert shared today had been written for Michael's father's funeral. The whole hymn is challenge throughout. The refrain 'As God loves us, so let us love each other: with no demands, just open hands and space to grow.'  Well it sends chills down the spine as you think you are so far off from loving like Christ. Yet the hymn is one of hope and it encourages you as you sing the words that you can walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Robert also made reference to 'Candide' sharing these final words 


Let dreamers dream
What worlds they please
Those Edens can't be found.
The sweetest flowers,
The fairest trees
Are grown in solid ground.

We're neither pure, nor wise, nor good
We'll do the best we know.
We'll build our house and chop our wood
And make our garden grow.
And make our garden grow!

Well I went to communion with hope and I was not disappointed.


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