41 ‘somethings’, 70mm, low
The Priory Worship Band leading music ‘on tour’ at Malvern College Chapel, a blue Alpine Squill illuminated by the sunshine on the bank by the College car park
‘how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ’ Ephesians 3 18-19 is the text Rod chose to explore today, as Valentine’s Day is just three sleeps away.
The Priory 10.30am congregation, meeting in their temporary home-from-home in Malvern College Chapel, with the Worship Band on fine form, were challenged by Rod in three short talks.
First, we were asked to write our name and then those whom we love onto a sticky note and stick it close to our heart. This was a useful addition over coffee, too, as learning names doesn’t come easily to us all… and is very handy for the newer members of the growing Priory congregation.
Next, Rod found a willing ‘volunteer’ from the congregation. David, one of our Readers, was measured according to spurious questions that Rod had concocted to measure Readers’ suitability for ministry.
Duly measurements were taken. David’s temperature (‘low’ - was the digital thermometer battery going flat maybe?), his stride (41’somethings’ - feet according to David, but probably inches), and his nose (70mm ‘is that an average size?’ asked Rod, of David, the former GP. ‘It’s perfect’, he responded to laughter from the congregation.)
Finally, the congregation learned how Cosmonaut and ‘hero’, Yuri Gagarin, had told a press conference that he’d been to the heavens, but found no sign of God. To which C S Lewis (who was once a pupil at Malvern College) responded, that looking for God in space would be like Hamlet spending the whole play looking for Shakespeare!
’God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life’ (John 3 16) a fitting ending to an engaging and enlightening series of talks.
As the congregation left the Chapel for coffee in the Main Building, the sun burst out and some of the first flowers of spring moved gently in the breeze on the bank by the car park. Look closely at the photo of the Alpine Squill - can you, too, see the cross of grass to the right of the bloom? God is Love, indeed.
