Sunday 30th June - St Oswald's Millhouses

On my last Sunday before I returned to work, I went down to St Oswald's - a church we have link with through Mothers' Union and one of our nearer neighbours (it also saved on petrol!).

I joined a group of about fifty people, mainly older, but some quite a bit younger than me! About twenty were robed - the choir and others, who mainly had official roles in the service. The words of the service were used fully, though it did not drag in any way. We sang a mixture of traditional hymns and older contemporary song - some I hadn't sung for a while, but remembered from my teens.

It was the partronal festival of St Peter - the church calls itself the community of St Peter and St Oswald, recognising those who have their roots in the now closed church of St Peter, Abbeydale. Over in the hall afterwards there was cake and sherry to mark the occasion of the festival!

Iain Lothian who is the curate was presiding at communion and also preached - all decked out in a splendid red chasuble! He preached from the floor in front of the fan shape of chairs we on which we sat, which felt very immediate and natural. He spoke about keys - the traditional symbol of St Peter - and invited us to bring our car keys forward and place them on the altar. Then we were asked to think how we felt - a bit powerless and bereft, it certainly reminded me of times when I have lost my keys!!

The main challenge of his sermon was for us to think of the power we have over other people - through our work, family and friendships - which could be symbolised by our keys. Then to think how we might be tempted to abuse our power and how we could use our power for good in the coming week. Some profound things to think of there - and well illustrated.

I enjoyed talking to people after the service - I was taken over to the hall for a drink and found the congregation keen and alert to welcome new people in sensitive ways. The building is amazing - huge, but sitting together on comfortable chairs (everyone gets the armchair sort of which we only have a few), I was just impressed by the sense of space. It did not feel crowded or cluttered, just plenty of space which showed off things like the dramatic colours of the rearados (the screen thing behind the main altar).

it was a good last Sunday. I have learned a lot from visiting other church and hope to have conveyed a bit of my enthusiasm through these blogs. Some people from the churches visited have found out about the blog, and I think they have been encouraged by my visitors eye view.