Mission Accomplished

Well, how lucky were we with the weather on Sunday? Maybe it was more than luck? Either way, we managed to finish the edging on the Solway Primary School playground, as well as painting the lines on their netball/tennis court. It was great to see so many involved and we really had a great day - the kids didn't seem to mind playing on the playground while we worked, and they even spent a bit of time helping out.

It was great to see so many turn out (to be honest, I was worried we wouldn't get as many as we did!). The playground looks significantly better since we have been there, and it is great to know that people will begin associating the name of Jesus with making things the way they are supposed to be. I think it was Eugene Peterson who once said: "Work externalises the Soul." We do these outward Sundays as a sign that we have been made new. God poured out his love for us, we pour it out for the world. And we are part of fulfilling Jesus' mission to make all things news.

It's important to note that the major focus of outward Sundays is not the actual jobs themselves, but the fact that we are modelling or symbolising as a group the kind of relationship we are meant to have with the world around us - not one of withdrawing from the world, but of transforming it; making it new like we have been made new. My hope is that this will become a way of life - not just something we do on a Sunday every now and then.

It has been interesting to see how the Outward Sundays have made some of you come alive! Obviously this is the kind of thing many are passionate about. Doing it every seven weeks may be too infrequent for some people, so we will have the odd activity that we can engage in together as it arises. For example, we are aware of a few families who need some firewood at the moment, so I thought we could cut and deliver some on Sunday after church. This will only take an hour or so and is just another way we can keep making the world the way it is supposed to be.

Thanks again to all who worked so hard on Sunday - it made me proud to be part of the church.

Have a great week and see you all on Sunday. Remember - we are a family, not just a meeting, and it matters when you aren't there. The body isn't all it's meant to be when some of its parts aren't there on a Sunday!

Have a great week.

Ben