There was a good crowd at Cafe Church in Feltwell this morning, after enjoying our coffee and spending time chatting to one another we began our worship with a focus on the grace of God. Singing And Can it Be, followed by two worship songs....
Our Scripture was John 1: 2-42- followed as always by a discussion- two elements claimed our focus. First there was Jesus invitation to Come and see, where we discussed why we came together on a Sunday morning and asked about the challenge we had to also be open and welcoming. Our second focus challenged all of us as we considered just who it is that issues the invitation, and how he asks us to respond, our focus shifted to John the Baptist's words-"He will baptise with the Holy Spirit!". The questions came, "is this what we want?" "Do we expect God to speak to and through us?".....and if so "How do we respond?" We finished in prayer, and went home with lots to think about!
I am encouraged because this congregation took a brave decision almost two years ago to embrace change. The first cafe church service took place on Mothering Sunday 2006, since that time two of the more elderly members of the congregation have died, but numbers have not fallen, in fact they have gone up. This morning one third of the congregation was made up of new folk, these are not transfer-in Christians looking for something different, they are people from the community who have felt welcomed and included, and more than that they have found a voice, our discussion time is open to all, and all take part!
This journey has not been without difficulty, and I am sure the road ahead is not entirely smooth, it is a journey we noted this morning that we make together, we are both the givers and receivers of the invitation. When we invite others we have to take them as they are, when we accept God's invitation we go to meet him as we are...and in the giving and receiving, in the journeying together we find ourselves changed.
