The events of a weekend and preaching sometimes lead to times of reflection for a minister. It’s good to discover and remember that preaching serves a purpose for the preacher as well as for a congregation. In the weeks when the writing purpose is tough, and what is on the page does not appear to make sense, it can be amusing to find mid-sermon a recognition for yourself what the message us supposed to be for you. Some might call that inspiration…

Each week here the sermon gets two airings and it has been interesting to discover that even between the diverse nature of the services that there is a difference in context and meaning. Sometimes the first allows for appropriate changes to be made before the second.

Mid sermon in recent weeks there was a realisation of how much of my understanding of church is bound into food as a means of establishing community and purpose.

Within the Gospels there are a number of easily recognised meals that tie community and purpose together. The Feeding of the 5000+ establishes the diversity of God’s kingdom; the meal with Zaccheus uses food for forgiveness and reconciliation; the Last Supper has food used for memories and binding together.

In human life, food and relationships are so often tied together. And it is that tying together that sometimes makes particular times of year difficult when relationships are strained. Is this because in encountering the basic need to be fed that we become vulnerable?

Sometimes as a church community we have built our understanding of God’s love and community around one meal, that we forget that the purpose of God’s love can be gifted within other community meals. Coffee mornings, soup lunches, fellowship evenings can offer for those who are there a renewed sense of belonging and a reminder or refresher of Christ’s purpose in life.