God looked at all that God had made, and saw that it was very good. Then the fun really began.
God saw the Church, and God said:
“Let us make in-person meetings.
“Let us gather people from many places and have them travel to sit together around tables in places less familiar. Let them stay overnight, sometimes, and discover that they have forgotten to bring their toothpaste or that they have left their phone charger behind. Let their meetings sometimes be the most glorious and happy reunions of old friends with laughter that rings out fabulously, and much telling of stories. Let meetings sometimes bring together people who have never met so that the name tag on each lanyard becomes the most vital gateway to discovery, and the newness lets them enter a bigger world and a more wonderful community.
“Let us ensure there is coffee, tea, and all sorts of other things with which to slake not just the thirst of bodies but to subvert loneliness by placing strangers in queues so that serendipity and alchemy might delight them with the friends they have not yet met.
“Let us shape rooms where it can be tricky to get the Zoom to work and some of the sight lines to the screen and speaker demand a gentle form of gymnastics. Let us give them every kind of weather and equally unexpected cuisine. Let us create opportunities for worship that unfold the wonders of scripture, song, prayer, sacrament, belonging and longing. Let us create for them the spaces within which the agenda can be plotted and navigated with both skill and terror.
“Let us invite them to talk and, even more, to listen. Let our Spirit hover within their hearts such that their speaking and listening go as deep as the greatest waters and soar as on the wings of eagles. Let there be tears alongside laughter, silence alongside busyness, unanswered questions aplenty and humility to guard against the spirits of meanness. Let them forgive one another as much as agree together.
“Let us make meetings.
“And, in the making, let the Body of Christ discover itself anew.”
With thanks to friends with whom I’ve shared in three key residential URC meetings: Faith in Action Committee; Business Committee; Youth Executive Youth Assembly Planning (to whom special thanks for inducting me, for the first time in my life, as the officially oldest person at a URC gathering!). And, after being made so old, my thanks to all who then welcomed me to share worship with you at Saffron Lane URC, Leicester.