Visionary

It was the Annual Parochial Church Meeting today. This is when the church assembles to elect its lay representatives, the churchwardens, receive their report, and note the accounts and other important matters. It's also a chance both for incumbents to say what they think about the church, and vice versa. Because Swanvale Halt church is full of lovely people they tend to say good and encouraging things. Almost as the parting shot of the meeting, after I'd looked back at the past year and forward to the next, Amanda put her hand up and got the microphone passed to her.

'I was thinking about our church the other day and I saw it as a mountain, and climbing up the mountain was a tiny figure, which was you! After listening at this meeting to everything that happens in this church and all the people who are involved in it I think that mountain is more like Everest. You must have the Holy Spirit bearing you up on the wings of an eagle in order to get any grip on it at all. And it's not just you, but everyone who plays any part in God's work here. We pray that the Holy Spirit lifts you and everyone else up too.'

It was on a different level from the standard questions about drains and roof tiles!