I had a pile of washing to do this morning, and although rain threatened, it remained warm and dry, so I was able to leave clothes drying on the narrow upstairs terrace between church and house, just in the shelter of the house eaves, where they'd escape all but torrential rain. Very convenient.
After lunch I was again collected and taken to Monica's house for afternoon coffee and home made cake and a free ranging discussion about church, spirituality and bible. It was meant to be focused on St John's first epistle, which I'd commended the congregation to read and re-read in my sermon on Sunday, but we did no more than touch upon it from time to time.
Similar questions are being asked here as in so many places in Britain as well as the diocese in Europe, about how a small and vulnerable minority of worshippers can maintain their faith and witness when support for historic patterns of church life seems to be in terminal decline? What works to generate success in some places doesn't work in every place, and so many people want to be carried by the familiar routines of church life rather than making the effort to respond positively, faithfully. Sometimes it's hard for an older generation to consider what their spiritual legacy should be, let alone prepare to hand it on to rising generations.
It was already dark when I went out for my daily paseo. This time, I walked as far as the Montreux ship landing station, which is well lit all the way. Being a mild evening, many people, mainly youngsters out walking and a few were sitting on seats at the low platforms used by swimmers the water's edge, chatting quietly. This is such a safe and civilised environment. It's extremely rare to witness unruly, rowdy or bizarre behaviour in public, and not that often, except at big events, that you see police patrolling. I wonder what it must be like in peak holiday seasons?
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