The Vestry

Here the preacher comes before the service to collect their papers and their thoughts, to drink water, and pray. It is hard not to be rushed but it good.

Next Minister

This morning after the service there was a meeting to decide whether to apply for a methodist or a URC minister when Revd Ruth leaves. It was felt unanimously, that since Ruth had been with us for only about two and a half years, we should go for another URC minister. The vacancy committee was chosen. But the vacancy cannot be formally advertised until Ruth leaves in September.

Ruth Leaving

Revd Ruth will be moving in September to Cambridgeshire where she will look after a group of churches - various denominations working together. It is a shock she will be leaving only part way through her term. But a new opening came and one thing just led to another and it felt right to her.

Partly she is leaving to be near a friend and she spoke about friendship at one point. Partly it is a new challenge she thinks God is calling her.

Before People Get There

Sunlight from the window hits just a few seats at the back.

God and Responsibility

Revd Ruth said that in the situations people had told her about last week, there were no obvious easy answers, and so we learn bit by bit to trust God in them:

• The person facing illness and perhaps little chance of getting better.
• The person who could not see any more purpose for themselves.
• Most of us who recognise we are well off and see poverty elsewhere.

Ruth said how we could trust God in these situations... By acting on the responsibility we feel.

Living Water

At the evening service, the theme was living water. Jesus went to the well where he met a samaritan woman and asked her for water. They got talking and then by and by Jesus offered her living water.

Revd Ruth said this was like something springing up in your own heart from God. You could go back endlessly to try and learn the lessons of Christianity, or get it from the source, direct.

Inclusive Church

Last week at a special church meeting Trinity decided to allow the Blessing of Gay marriagess. This was promoted by Revd Ruth who sees Trinity as a "broadly inclusive church." The majority decision - no unanimity this time - did however result in one or two individuals, including a leading steward, leaving the church.