Yesterday I spoke of the first gathering in the crypt which was how my Sunday ended. Like a number of my Sunday’s however, last Sunday was a day when I experienced the two worlds I live in – of established church and fresh expression of church. Sometimes I wonder if I am developing two personalities – particularly on those days when I am in inherited/established church for part of the day and then creating something new in the other part of the day. It just feels weird.

On Sunday morning it was a privilege to be interviewed and speak at St Peter and St Paul in Aylesford.
I have known Chris and Kathy for many years from working with them in Gillingham and so when they invited me to speak I jumped at the chance. Chris interviewed me and I spoke about what I do throughout the day and why I do it.

Afterwards I did a little preach and used Genesis 26:12-19 and Mark 4:30-34 as my texts. It was the Genesis text that I thought would take people by surprise. In fact it took me by surprise and I am amazed at how God seems to work.

In my preparation I felt God saying/it right to (delete whichever so it enables you to feel comfortable) to use the example of Issac re-digging the wells of his father when he has to move into ‘new’ territory as an illustration for fresh expressions of church. I used this as an illustration for the ethos I use in my role as creating a new way of being church. I find it interesting that Issac can choose to go anywhere and yet decided to return to the wells of his father.

As I seek to develop a new way of being church I essentially have the freedom, like Issac, to go anywhere but, like him, feel it is right to re-dig the old wells … but instead of searching for water I am searching for the fresh traditions and ideas of our faith that can be related with integrity today. I guess I am saying, as well, that I am looking to dig up the ‘stuff’ that has been placed on top of the wells of our faith – stuff like prejudice, outdated cultural practices, certain biases and so on. I think rather than being wacky or new we need to rediscover some stuff and then be creative with how we can use that stuff in a meaningful way. (Stuff is my new theological term!)

So … why was I surprised?
After the service 3 ladies came up to me all excited. These 3 ladies pray together each week and for the last couple of weeks they have been praying about ‘wells’ without knowing too much about what it meant but feeling it was important for them to keep praying about. Then … 2 weeks later I come along and speak about wells in their church.

Coincidence … or God-incidence?
It was pretty exciting to share in their excitement and joy.
God may well be moving in mysterious ways!