Crossroads Small Groups

I went to the Crossroads church “Connect” meeting last night, at the church office in Lyneham. It’s just in the same shops area as Tilley’s and I could have just walked there from work. It had rained in the morning however so I had driven in to work, so I decided to drive home – I fixed brekky for the next day, got some dinner, before heading to that meeting. Canberra’s great that way – so effortless to get from A to B.

That meeting brought back memories of my experience in University Church in UNSW all those years ago. The flavour of teaching, the phrases used – they were like old furniture. I could get comfortable. In fact the phrase “Copernican Revolution” – a phrase I first heard nearly 30 years ago at a Campus Bible Study conducted by Phillip Jensen, really brought home a lot of things for me. It made me stop thinking about myself. This was reinforced last night and thinking back now, I think it’s a terrific thread to throw into a small/home group introductory meeting. Sure, it’s the DNA of Crossroads in any event but to use that as a handle for home group aspirants, should really remove any doubt about what to expect if one joins one of these groups.

The meeting ended in good time (just a bit after 9pm), and I was home around 9.20. Terrific. Back home, I was again so very appreciative of a very clean apartment. I had said to Tress when fixing my brekky earlier, that it felt terrific and I’m so grateful Kiddo did such a great job cleaning the place. The little yellow stick-it note I had put up before I left for the meeting was still there – they must have been out on a long night. Another of Crossroad’s small group, perhaps…which makes me feel great.

How cold?

Not for the first time, I was very glad I bought the ski gloves a few weeks ago. Even with them on, I could feel my fingers freezing up as I rode in to work this morning. When I showed Tress the pic, she said this is probably the coldest it’s been. At least since I moved here. I wonder if Kiddo has felt anything colder in her earlier years here.

Engaging friends and family – either side of the Hume

I rode the push bike in this morning. It was the first time in a week and a half, since I hurt my back the week before. It’s good to be able to get in to work without relying on the car again.

I made the long drive back to Melbourne again on Friday night, listening to Hawthorn being punished by a very good Richmond side on the radio. It was good to be back with Tress again as always, and the little fury black ball was, also as always, a bonus. It’s a usual weekend except we caught up with a young couple friend (Gerry and Jesslyn) with their lovely 2 girls. They invited us to their home for their very good Sarawak laksa dinner on Saturday and to have 3 very good meals in a day was such a treat. Tress had made the usual brekky of avocado and poached egg on toast and I had made coffee on the espresso machine, which I hadn’t used for a while. Then we had lunch at Madam Kwong’s before finishing off with dinner at the Hii’s.

Life chugs along for the Hii’s. The girls are growing up, Sheanne the older one will be in prep next year. Sheryl the younger one, was bubbling along, laughing often and engaging in everything we did with her. We had been to the hospital soon after they were born and to see them now growing into happy and engaging kids and are well, is such a thrill. They talked about their plans – for renovating their home, their holidays in December, their families (mainly Jesslyn’s) in Singapore – they are living their lives well. They also talked about Crossway, the church they’ve been going for the past 2-3 years now. Their pastor was apparently speaking about gay marriage, and I also said to them the church I go to in Canberra had also very recently talked about the same thing. So it was good to know the topic is being discussed in churches now, and in very sound, biblical and wise ways too.

Church in St Alf’s on Sunday was a bit quieter than usual – there was a ladies’ weekend and many were away. As usual, the trip home after lunch at Madam K’s is a difficult experience. It was especially difficult on the last leg of the long drive, as I meander my way through the undulating slopes of the Yass Valley. It was pitched dark, the slopes went on forever, and there were road trains every few hundred meters. I was tired, bored and couldn’t wait to get home.

It’s always a drained sensation when I reach Watson Street and as I begin to unpack my stuff and get ready for the week, I wonder again what this phase means, what it’s supposed to do in my journey. Kiddo and I then talked. It was about nothing – just some social phenomenon, equal opportunities etc. But we talked and that was enough, and it was good. Again I was reminded maybe that’s what this phase is for. Just to be able to sit at home and talk to Kiddo again. To engage with family and friends, with Tress always there. I couldn’t ask for anything more – even if the price is a 14-15 hour trek on the Hume every other weekend.