I have just come out of four days (and counting travel 56 hours) of attending the NSW Synod meeting. This is a gathering held every 18 months designed to receive numerous reports from different boards or agencies (and we have lots!) and at the same time being open to hear what God might be saying to us as followers of Jesus today. It all sounds a little boring and for me – who does not do meetings well – it was; but I want to say that it was other aspects of these past four days that make me say that it was a good Synod.

I am growing more and more to realise the value of real Christian friendship. Over these past few days I have had so many conversations with people who have blessed me in various ways over my almost 20 years of ministry in NSW. At each Synod meeting there is a special ‘Celebration of Ministry’ service on the second last day, to recognise ministers who have been ordained since the last Synod meeting, those who have retired and those celebrating significant milestones in the anniversary of their ordination. Being one of those honoured, I sat at a table with a man who was celebrating 60 years since his being ordained (a figure that I am unlikely to reach!) Across the room I saw a dear friend that I hadn’t seen since our move to Sydney, who was celebrating 50 years of ordained ministry. When the eating had stopped I quickly hurried over to spend time with this very special saint.

After lunch some 100 of us were presented to the whole Synod meeting where our particular milestone was individually acknowledged and over 400 Synod members surrounded us and prayed a blessing over us. Blessings are becoming more and more important to me. There are lots of things that happen when we attend a time of worship but the one thing that always happens is that at the end of our gathering a blessing is given. Increasingly I am becoming aware that the best thing I can do at an act of worship is make sure people leave the time together with a feeling of being blessed well! There is no knowing what the week might hold and we need to know that whatever hits we are blessed. This past Synod – in the midst of some turmoil – turned out to be a blessing for me.

At almost every break in proceedings I found myself in conversations with a large variety of people who have touched me and / or I have been privileged to touch. There were many smiles and much laughter as we checked on each of our different journeys. Each night at the longer dinner break a number of us invaded the local fish and chip shop, where I am sure the owner was glad of the business, but unsure about the good natured carry on from this strangely happy (blessed maybe?) people.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ John 15:12, 13

One of my many failings is that I eat too quickly. I think that it is a western thing where eating is simply a pit stop in the great race of life where we re-fuel as quickly as possible and get back in the race. I am gradually learning to enjoy the meal and the company which of course is most often my lovely wife. In Psalm 34:8 we read: ‘O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.’

People of the Old and New Testaments didn’t have McDonalds! A meal for them was long and slow and full of voices sharing a journey together. I sometimes think we should open a Drive By window at Annangrove Road where people can get a blessing and never leave their car?! You see that’s why I struggle with church on the Net or ‘I can be a Christian at home’.

People created in the image of God are always looking to share with other image bearers in the flesh. It’s part of our DNA.

Cheers - John