Second Sunday in Advent

We had a really good day.

Last week, Jamie was working the late shift so we didn't see too much of him. We knew that for the next two weeks most available spare time will be spent rehearsing for and playing in various church services. So, we took the morning off church to re-connect at home and laze around.

I wish I could think of a good solution to the 'working on Sunday' problem. When we are involved at church in the music ministry or creche (which is most weeks), we all get there at 8.30 and are rarely home before 1.00. Grace has her small group in the afternoon, so we are out driving her there and back and then straight off to the Oxford church in the evening because we need it. But, there is nowhere in all this activity to REST!

It can't be Saturday that's our day of rest because that's even more frantic, doing work that can't be done during the working/school week. It just seems we don't get a day of rest EVER, unless we just don't turn up at morning church, which always makes me feel uneasy.

Add to that, the feeling I have sometimes, that what we do in our morning church isn't even as meaningful as what we do at our home Shabbat meal, and I end up wondering what the point of it all is. But, God has not called us OUT of that fellowship. He has called us to serve it, hard though that is at times, as difficult as it is to fellowship with many of the people for one reason or another, and no matter how chaotic and idiocentric the leadership, that is where God wants us at the moment or He would have made it clear. That we know.

However, yesterday morning we stayed home and talked and relaxed and listened to K-Love (Positive, Encouraging K-Love!{g}) via the internet. The kids got some Daddy time each. And I got a meal ready for a welcome visit from our friend S who is leaving the UK on Friday to re-join his family in Washington DC.

We had a lovely time. Unlike a lot of husbands of friends I have, S is very chatty, articulate and sociable. Much like Jamie actually, so we appreciate that. He told us all some great stories of when he was flying fast jets and about his new job at the Pentagon.

Our friend W arrived and we all took 2 cars off the church in Oxford together. I can't tell how much I enjoy worshipping together with friends. It definitely seems to cement bonds of friendship. The moment we started singing and I knew that we were worshipping the same Saviour together, I felt a thrill of joy and a little glimpse of the peaceable Kingdom in which ALL will bow the knee to Jesus and there will be no more wars or pain or death.

Having prayed for S, we said goodbye, which is never really goodbye among christians, and weaved our way homeward through the city lashed by wind and rain.

Yes, a really good day.