Today I attended church in Bury St Edmunds at The West Suffolk Vineyard Church. I went by myself after rising early at 6.00 to feed and great “the dogs”. I didn’t breakfast as I was busy uploading pictures from a Baptism service yesterday afternoon. I had taken 181 pictures and you can see them on here below.
Going to church has become a comfort and a friend. The community has become mine with many people there giving me a feeling of belonging. Its good to see people who always smile and are pleased to see me and talk. I thoroughly enjoy it and gain strength from it.
On arrival I had barely got through the door when one of our chief pastors came and “grabbed” me to ask me if I would accept the job of photographing an event next Friday. The church is having a social evening of “Calypso” music and food and around one hundred people have bought tickets. I was grateful to accept the commission from Louise as I will enjoy the task.
Several others took the time to ask how I was and genuinely showed concern for me. I find that lovely.
The service followed its usual format with singing, announcements and teaching. The teaching was delivered by the previous chief pastor and it was well considered and well delivered, very thought provoking. It was about taking the word of Jesus into the community and bringing people into the light of God. I always seem to find myself doubting I have the calling although I have no trouble talking to new people wherever I meet them.
After the service I left in the rain and drove home by myself to let the dogs out, eat lunch and watch the British Grand Prix. It was a good race with Lewis Hamilton being triumphant.
I then took the dogs out for an hours walk as the rain had stopped and everything was drying out.
All this time I thought about my cousin Margaret in Cleethorpes who has just lost her husband Carroll. Carroll is being buried on Friday afternoon at 3pm. I asked Margaret if she had spoken to my father about it and she told me she had but she did not expect him to come as at 96 it would be too much of a journey for him to undertake. I told her I would have been quite happy to bring him but that as he wasn’t having any communication with me and not responding to any of my letters.
I was going to go to the evening service in Bury but I’m feeling lonely and it seems wrong just to go because I need company. Loneliness is a terrible thing. Is it wrong to want to be in the company of people who want to have your company?
Peter Ball is ....... 