1st May The day John became a Baptist

Yesterday morning I had a bit of an ecumenical adventure and finally lived up to my namesake by becoming a Baptist. No don't fear, (and would it be the Methodists fearful of leaving me or the Baptist dreadign I was coming?) I haven't made a denominational leap simply a guest appearance at one of the Baptist churches here in my local area. 

Due to the process the Baptist church has to undertake to replace a minister (Methodists you don't know how lucky you are!)  who had been there as long as Adam, they have been struggling to find people to lead worship each week. And as I was able to wiggle a gap on the Methodist preaching plan I offered to go and help out.

It's interesting going into a church you have only heard about, usually during our monthly get together of ministers,  but never actually visited. There's the usual mix of tension and excitement; how will they respond, will they know the hymns / songs, how long does their normal service last and of course will technology work! 

As it turned out despite being different people, in a different, in a different denomination, it offered the same joys and struggles as my own churches. But together we rocked the book of Ruth, as part of their Old Testament heroes of faith series. You could almost say it was a marriage made in heaven.

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