begins with a single step.
Today has been an inspiration and clear evidence if any were needed that The Church Building project is going to work out.
Arrived on site at 9.30 to set up for the Heritage open Day which we registered for the first time for this year. Spent an hour or so with Flo and a handul of other people putting up notices, litter picking, pruning etc to get the place looking as best we could.
Left just after 11 and returned to clear up at 3.30.
A little disappointing that we had less than 30 visitors, but FG on site all day seemed to think that was good as he was only expecting 100 at Romsey Abbey tomorrow. I think with better publicity and better management we could do better next year.
Good event to be part of tho - shame no-one from SCC felt they could pay us a visit. There were aonly I think six other places open around the city...

Followe dthis evening by our first concert performance in The Building. The very gorgeous and lovely Jay Barron (local music teacher) put on a Flute Forte Concert to showcase the work of her students, 10 - 14 years old.
We offere dher the Building free of charge to see how it worked out, and she donated £75 of the voluntary contributions back to us at the end which was a nice gesture.
The two-hour concert was a great success, and the venue sounded and looked absolutely inspirational.
We could have done with better arrangements for refreshments, signs to the toilets and we will need more flexible, manageable lighting in future but otherwise it was wonderful.

I felt during the morning and all evening that this really is more what I want to do with my life than perhaps anything I felt before.
When I stand for Church Warden next summer (assuming of course that I can sort the Other Thing out well before then...) I know that it will be like fitting a missing piece into the jigsaw and I hope the start of a long relationship.
Already I feel that the building is "mine" somehow, that it wants me there and can give me everything else that I am looking for.
I know we are not a Building-led church, and all that, but this is my point of focus and my inspiration. FG is my mentor in this respect and what he doesn't know about the place isn't worth a squit. Architecture, heritage, maintenance etc etc - all things come from him.
I feel proud of what we have achieved this year, although on paper it may not seem much and there is still of course a Massive Long Way to Go, but things are coming together rather easier so far than I imagined.

And sitting there after the concert tonight (I blagged half an hour from the caretaker before lock up) with just a few candles and Cathedral Oceans playing (for yay - I have been shown and mastered the PA!!!) it was just the most peaceful and inspirational place to be, looking at the marble figures on the altar through the candlelight.

I hear you Lord
I am here
Take my hand Lord
For you fill me with gifts
And I offer them back to you