Upstairs downstairs….
Sunday 15th February 09
A few weeks ago, I moved my study upstairs. For those of you who know the Manse, you will be familiar with the layout – small study downstairs, and four bedrooms upstairs. This was fine for me from the time we moved in two years ago – but recently, it has seemed to be a very poor use of space. For one thing, my small study was overflowing with books, files, papers and technology (computer, printer etc). In fact, I often used to go into the conservatory to work – which annoyed my wife, who feels our dining table should be for dining – not writing sermons. For another thing, the third bedroom (which is a fair size) was not being used at all. In fact, it had only been slept in twice since we moved in. The solution to our dilemma was for me to move my study upstairs – which I duly did. This has had several beneficial results. 1. I now have a very nice view over the garden, instead of looking at a fence.2. I have much more room to store my books and files etc, without annoying my wife. 3. We now have a small extra bedroom downstairs (which could be useful in the future) – waiting to be redecorated. And not forgetting 4. I am now nearer to heaven than I was!
I am telling you all this so that you know life at the Manse is pretty much like life anywhere else. People sometimes think ministers are different from other people – superspiritual maybe, or perhaps just plain “weird”. A friend of mine who is also a minister once told me that someone from his Church was amazed to see him in a supermarket. “Oh – I didnt realize you went shopping!” she said. He said he felt like saying “No – my food usually comes down from heaven” – but he didnt. Yes – we may live in a Manse (and a very nice one it is too!) – but we still get bored, and have new ideas, and try out new ways of doing things, and have ups and downs like everyone else. At least now I am “up” more than I am “down” – and my sermons are coming to you from much closer to God!
I am now posting our Sunday Morning Notes here on my Blog – so if you missed them in Church, you can still catch them here. They may help you to remember what we have been studying, and to go over it again in the week.
On Wednesday (18th February 09) – we will be holding one of our “Open Forum” meetings at 7.30pm. Do come along, as we will be looking back at the year just ended here at MBC – a year of serving and celebrating.
Next Sunday (22nd February) we meet for Morning Worship at 11am, and then at 6.30pm we will have another of our Cafe Church Services. These are always entertaining and different – a chance to meet, greet, eat and be upbeat, whilst worshipping our wonderful God in ways that are a little different. COME AND BE A PART OF IT!
Thank you for you prayers for Nicky and her family at this difficult time. Have a good week – Stephen.
“If you ate pasta and anti-pasta, would you still be hungry?”
