Many years ago my minister at the time used to say, 'Where there is blessing, then comes trial.' He's not wrong. As we approach our first anniversary in the shop I can't help reflecting on the exhausting first three weeks in November between getting the lease and our opening day, when some of us seemed to live in the shop; painting, clearing, scrubbing, and building endless bookshelves. Occasionally we were let out for good behaviour and got a trip to Ikea to pick up more fittings, furnishings or accessories.
One year on, as things seemed to be going really well, we have been flooded out, and a large portion of the ceiling has come down. Six days later the leak hasn't been traced yet and hasn't stopped, so there's probably more damage to come. The shop is a mess, and again, we approach this time of year with a lot of work to do. The difference is that having worked hard for the last year, I suspect some of us are feeling tired and stretched too thinly already. In the meantime the shop remains closed until we can get the rubble cleared and the electrics checked - until then there is a real health and safety risk from using the premises. It does however leave us with the challenge of exercising our creativity in finding ways to worship together while the shop is closed. If we are constrained by our lack of our normal venue, we've lost the point of what we are trying to do here to some extent.
I have to say that this is where Alan comes into his own. His ability to 'project manage' went a long way to getting the shop open in the first place, and already he is rising to the occasion again as he sorts out issues between several sets of insurers, our landlord, the upstairs owner, tenant, sub-tenant, the factor, environmental health, and various assorted others. Personally it's the sort of scenario that has me paralysed with indecision, but Alan just deals with it.
One positive things about this is that it reinforces that there is a wide variety of gifts amongst our wee group for a reason. We have some great teachers, encouragers, administrators, people with musical ability, and - I am forever grateful - some really caring, pastoral individuals - and also someone who thrives in a crisis and get us back on track again. This is not the only trial we face though. Finance is a perennial issue, and ready cash is thin on the ground. We may have to make some hard decisions in the near future, but in the meantime it is an exercise in trust.
Another issue which has reared its head is that we are not as well equipped as we thought we were to help and accompany those who come to us with no prior knowledge of Christianity - precisely the reason we started this project in the first place - to reach the unchurched. It has required a real shift in our normal way of doing things, and we are working with various options at the moment.
Anyway, much prayer is required at this stage, not least for the stamina to cope with the workload in the next few weeks.
