Can a church service ever be perfect?

I doubt that one can go to church and not find a small issue with a service: perhaps just occasionally.

This morning was very close to perfect. I arrived in good time and found all the hymns (I had also looked in advance). The church was warm. I was able to set up some pistons and generals then I started to play 10 minutes before the service.

At 10am the church clock chimed: I had already stopped and we went into the first hymn. From that point onwards we followed the service book. There was no 'Show and Tell' and the sermon was very good (if a shade too long, perhaps).

I was struck by the confidence with which the choir and congregation joined in with the spoken parts of the service. At the end I played short voluntary and stayed for a coffee and a chat. These were nice people. There was no treading on egg-shells.

So often people go to church to act out a role. Some are persistently happy and expect others to be happy and jovial too.

It helped that it was a lovely day and that the church was light and spacious.

It mattered not that the organ was digital. In fact it did everything I wanted it to and I was not having to bother to avoid problem notes.

As much as I ever can I enjoyed church today.

It can be done

A recent post on Facebook concerning St Lawrence, York.

This is what can be done if you simply ignore all those older people whose response to everything is to say that it can't be done, it won't work, no one will come. This church was scheduled for closure. It was to become some form of multi-faith community centre. The old guard pronounced that there was no alternative. A group of young people came along and said, "No". They said that they were going to turn it back into a thriving parish church with top rate music and a new organ. The old guard responded with their usual defeatest negativity. "It can't be done". Well they were shown to be wrong. It was done. The money needed to restore the church and get a new organ was found. The church has a growing young congregation; first rate music, no "worship songs and choruses". Only the very old members liked them anyway. Look at what was done here. This is the answer to all those who insist "It can't be done". It can be done. They did it, you can do it too.