Last week I wrote about my recent cycle trip. This is another thought from that trip. On day 2 we arrived at our final destination, the Lindisfarne Inn, nestled besides a petrol station on the verge of the A1! However, we all chose a detour to cycle along the causeway to Holy Island. (Yes, the tides were in our favour). It was another hot day, and the breeze blowing across the sands was welcome, despite the fact that it slowed us down somewhat.
We arrived on the island after 2 days of cycling in clear blue skies, rather, hot thirsty and sweaty. There were many visitors and the island felt rather crowded after the empty roads.
However, someone spotted this sign and it made us all smile.
No doubt, in the present (at the time of writing) heatwave, an enterprising church member had come up with this “cool” strap line!
(It was interesting/sad to read the little “footnote” attached to the top of the board.)
Are our churches cool? In what sense you might ask?
Are they a place of quiet, stillness, away from the heat of the day, the bustle of everyday life?
Are they places we want to be, where we want to be seen, where it is good to be? Are the activities attractive to all comers, young and old, mature and young Christians, those with faith and those without?
Prayer: Thank you, God, that we can come into your house to be refreshed, to find stillness and the opportunity to reflect. Help us to make your place of worship attractive and inviting to all, that people will want to come in and that they will truly be welcomed. Help us to be witnesses to others that “being church” is cool! Amen.