The other week at choir practice I happened to say that some words of a hymn we were singing had jumped out and hit me, saying "this is right for us now - I'm glad we're doing this."

The words in question belong to hymn 353; "Ye that know the Lord is gracious" - old-fashioned language I grant you, but for 'Ye' read we. i.e. us lot in this church, in this place, in our particular situation. As Alan said, we have changed, and are changing, we have seen the Lord working in our own lives and in our life together - and He definitely has been gracious!

Another line in this hymn reminds us that we are the churches living stones' - each in exactly the right place where God wants us to be at this moment in time, so that we are ready to receive and share the talents and opportunities he is giving us.

The hymn says lots more things of course (read it again yourselves if you wish) -there's also something about carrying on caring and sharing and showing God's love to an 'old and weary Slade Green' (it actually says 'earth', but that's a big project - we can keep praying about that one).

To go back to choir practice -a certain member said something like "words jump out and in", not just back into the book when we've finished singing, but into our hearts and minds, to illustrate and explain things, to give us a direction for prayer and maybe to spur us into action.

That of course is the real work of the Holy Spirit, whose coming we celebrate this month with all our usual style and flair, enjoyment and expectation. Let him (or her if you prefer) jump into our hearts and carry us along on the right pathways.

As my favourite prophet Jeremiah once said (with his usual deep insight and intimate knowledge of the people he was sent to serve):

"For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you .................... so do not be afraid".

So 'Lets welcome the Holy Spirit, and let him have his way among us' (as another song puts it).

Keep listening singing!

Margaret C

[More anon - if I'm allowed]
1st June 2003