We had our Ladies' Meeting yesterday, as usual, although some rather unusual things occurred! As we were preparing to begin in worship I saw, through the window, a tall, athletic man walking along the path towards the church with a young lad in tow. As the day was so glorious we had all the windows and door open wide. As the man and I made eye contact we immediately recognised each other, I had taught with him at Sowerby Bridge High! He was with a group of staff and Year 7 pupils on a walk around the valley and one of the pupils had a desperate need for a toilet! The teacher was exploring the Business Park and seeing our door open thought we may be able to provide the necessary toilet. He had no idea what the church was, that it was even there and even less idea that I was involved with it and so it was a good time of catch up while he waited for his pupil. Supplying the needs of the community takes many guises!
We then had our meeting and Duncan joined us at the end as he usually does after his day in college. We were having a cup of tea and chatting when we saw two uniformed policemen walking up the path towards the church. "Quick, hide all the stolen stuff!" was out of my mouth before I had chance to stop myself!!! The policemen came in and joined us for a cuppa and we had a good chat and were able to tell them a little about the church and hear what they had been busy with in the town centre that day. As they left Duncan assured the that we would pray for them and Mohammed, one of the policeman, said he would pray for us. So we were able to meet the needs of more members of the community, albeit only with liquid refreshments at this time. But we are now known by two more groups of people in our community.
"Your Word will run up and down the valley" was a word we had at the worship conference in June; a word that is now a song in the church thanks to Margaret who penned the lines. It's running!
