Old and new . . .

Alvechurch Church Centre consists of a medieval church building and a modern church hall named The Ark, which is "docked" alongside the church itself. It is an extremely well-thought out design, and is well-used. A very clever marrying of old and new.

I moored by the boatyard yesterday afternoon with the intention of staying until Monday morning so that I could worship here and perhaps get a ring on the 12cwt eight. As it turned out I was able to do both - twice!

For those who might be interested, five of the eight bells are original, dating from 1711, but they are in need of some tender loving care. For a start, they have never been quarter-turned, so the sound bows are really badly worn, especially on the tenor. There is a plan and appeal afoot to make repairs, and they have already raised some £45,000 of the £60,000 needed. The old and the new have not quite come together yet, but hopes are high for next year.

Whilst I was having lunch on Chyandour, another boat went by looking for a mooring, and it had a bell, wheel and stay motif on the side, so I made a suitable comment with the result that the couple moored adjacent to me and we all went to ring at Evensong. The locals were very appreciative, as they rarely get the eight ringing in the evening.

One of the books I have been reading on this journey is "The Wounded Healer" by Henri Nouwen. In this book, the writer offers a radical fresh interpretation of modern ministry that encompasses all who follow Christ, not just those who are 'professionals'. One of the insights he offers is that those who minister are called to identify the suffering in their own hearts and make that recognition the starting point for their service. They must become more open as fellow human beings, with the same wounds and suffering as those they seek to serve.

He writes, "forgiveness is only real for him who has discovered the weakness of his friends and the sins of his enemy in his own heart and is willing to call every human being his brother."

It seems to me that this requires the divine grace of humility in great abundance, something of which I need to know more, so that the old may become new in me.