And so we gathered to watch ListenUpTV on Sunday. Well, actually, I was getting ready for Sunday Service, and talking a few minutes to watch on line... my parents were watching at home, a couple of friends were PVRing... and Emerging Spirit, I imagine, was looking forward to getting some of our point of view included in public discussion.

Not quite the conflagration we'd come to expect!

So, last Sunday (or a couple of weeks ago, depending on when this is published), we had seven new folks to church. I'm not bragging, I'm reporting.... (Okay, I'm bragging a little bit).

Last Sunday a young man came to me carrying a very rambunctious two year old. He asked to speak with me sharing that it was his first time in the congregation. He held up his son and apologized for the "disruptions" the little one apparently had caused in worship - disruptions unnoticed by me. Then in a more timid voice he asked if his son could be baptized. He said, "It is really important to me. His mom and I are not doing that well."

To my shame these three things passed through my head:

1. I can't baptize. I am not ordained. Why can't I baptize?!

2. I am going away in a day for almost two weeks. How can I put you off?

3. Who could have stolen our LCD projector? (One added layer of confusion to the morning and probably why the "disruptive" child and new adult were off the radar screen.)

I put him off. He reached out obviously asking for more than a simple explanation of the congregational baptismal policy. I wasn't present - either to him or his son. As far as I know no member of the congregation approached him and he spoke to no one else.

I've been involved in the work of the wider church for quite some time. Just thinking of the amount of time makes me tired. It's been a while.

We're currently doing a review of our church space with a view to making sure that the message we present by what people see and experience when they walk into the building supports our ethos of family friendly hospitality and worship.  We want to hold up sacred space as a place of spiritual formation.  We hope people feel comfortable and safe within our church building, and amongst our fellowship.