John and I have had such a wonderful weekend! We have been celebrating our 50th+1 wedding anniversary with local friends and our family who were unable to join us last year and at the same time celebrating 80 years of combined ordained ministry between us. Seeing so many friends and family over a glass of wine in our garden on a sunny Saturday afternoon, (not to mention watching the antics of our 10-week old grand-puppy), celebrating the Eucharist together on Sunday morning with Kathryn and having a chance to chat over another glass of wine and then finally having a family lunch at the George and Dragon at Houghton has all been so wonderful. Even the weather was kind to us: it was just perfect on Saturday! What a happy, 'together' time it has been!
Jesus knew the value of 'togetherness' and worked hard over the three years of his ministry to build the very diverse band of people he had called into a team that would be able to continue his work.  People, including the disciples who were just as much real, normal people as we are, are all so different that at times, trying to form a team must have been like trying to organise a flock of butterflies!
Nothing changes! Church congregations are still like that, too. We are all in church for different reasons, we all see different priorities, we all want the church to do the things we see as important; but it seems to me that the REALLY important thing is to pray that God will help us to be a united group of friends and colleagues, seeking together the way forward that HE is trying to show us.

We have our clergy and the PCC who's task it is to discern God's future plan for us: our task as individuals is to listen to God's call to each of us and to do whatever he asks "me" to do to action that plan as our leaders discern it. Don't worry - he has promised not to ask us to do what we are unable to do, even if he hasn't promised not to ask us to push our boundaries back a bit.....
"We are the body of Christ; in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life."  As Christians we are committed to a common life, to be a united and loving family, so let us in truth, honesty and love endeavour to "pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life." And to work together as a united family for the future of God's worship and the spread of his message of love in this place.
May the peace, and love, of the Lord be always with you.