Thought for the Week

‘WHERE are you going and can I come with you?’ are the opening words of a song written by John Bell. Where are we going in life, I wonder. I also wonder about where the church is going in this modern day and age. What is our destination and who will come with us?

These are big questions for our church today. Who will come with us, when the pews are empty and people have left the church in their droves?

Who will come with us to find out where we are going?

On Saturday, we were at a gathering of people from across the Presbytery of Argyll.

We attended a roadshow, organised by the Ministries Council of the national Church of Scotland. We were looking at some hard facts. These facts that tell us that we have too many vacancies in Argyll – in fact, we have too many vacancies throughout Scotland.

We are a church at the crossroads. We are a church which many see as irrelevant today. We are a church with empty pews. Well, that may be true … yet, come to the church at a funeral and you may find that you cannot get a seat anywhere. The church is packed. The church is there and people come in times of crisis or pain or loss. The church is there when people need it. ‘Where are we going?’ We are on the road. ‘Where does that road lead to?’ It leads to life in all its fullness.

‘Can I come with you?’ Yes, you can, for all are welcome on this road.

The church is more than the pews and it is more than the numbers game. It is the body of Christ.

‘Where are you going, and can I come with you?’ Yes, come.