The Big Bonfire

I admit that that I was a bit sceptical.  The Big Pick had proved a popular success, so it seemed irresistible to produce a sequel. 

I've spent hours talking down leadership teams from repeating programmes for evangelism campaigns or other events, just become the last one worked well.  If you happen to have hit what the Holy Spirit's turned up and blessed, then find what may similarly be the case for your next event.  The Holy Spirit doesn't work to formula.  However, I was told there was another reason: some folks wanted to see if we could hold a major event that didn't cost £20,000.

Mary and I were due to be in Coventry for the weekend, and Promise household had pitched to be at the Bonfire, so we were happy to go along.  Viv hitched a lift, too.

Even at the advertised start time, 4.30pm, Cornhill was bitingly cold and in total darkness.  Well, a big shout for the folks who had set everything up.  There were two strings of lights, tables of drink and food laid on, and the bonfire site was nicely cordoned off, including a semicircle of benches.  Folks were arriving for well over an hour, milling around chatting and periodically cosying up to the heat to thaw out.

Then the guitars came out and we had a session of worship.  Yes, it was good to be together like this - a few from Brighton, London and Birmingham, most of Leicester and Coventry as well as the Northampton locals.

Mary and I got to Promise in time for some supper, and the guest bedroom was as warm as anyone could wish.

I led the Sunday morning event at the Jesus Centre, and Gav and the team made a good job of my (customarily) challenging choice of songs.

 Lunch was the periodic all-congregation event, this time hosted by Kings.  A few dropped out on the way, but the big lounge and all the ground floor rooms were cheerily full.  I overheard it mourned that come next year, the congregation will likely have no equivalent sizeable property. 

Mary chipped off to see Andrew, Ellen and the crew nearby.  Meanwhile Nick fired up his '0' gauge genuine steam train in the Gate, and soon had a crowd of admirers.  As if appropriate for the weekend, his enthusiasm triggered the smoke detector and set off the fire alarm.  So, copy that.