Sometimes, someone of note sitting in the congregation when you are preaching can be a bit daunting,but not so with Simon Barrow. Simon is co-director of Ekklesia, and a subversive theologian of note, who is on first name terms with the likes of Desmond Tutu amongst others! Tutu even wrote the preface of his most recent book. So we were in good company!
He was in Scotland to interview Alex Salmond our First Minister, and he managed to squeeze in a Dumbarton F.C. game yesterday. (Although living in Exeter and following Exeter City, he's really a Son of the Rock) I don't need the sermon to be subversive, the Gospel of the Day is subversive enough! God might even let Theologians into heaven!
Great joy though that GM, one of our golden oldies was back in church after such a long illness. Singing lustily than ever, it was enough to warm the cockles of the coldest heart!
Which reminds me.... the boilers failed AGAIN this morning!
I was too busy enjoying the singing from GM that I didn't notice the failing boiler, myself. Besides we're always "hot, so hot we're on fire" in our little corner of the church :-)