Our district synod met this week and over the course of three days together, we heard many accounts of struggle and brokenness from our people as we acknowledged the challenges presently facing the Methodist Church. At many levels we are in a difficult place - showing signs of decline in numbers, finances and impact across our District.

Members from churches all around Westville gathered together at Home Ground Church this week to pray for our community. There is something so healthy about Christians being together in prayer, notwithstanding our differences in tradition, practice and belief. As the psalmist says, "How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing!" (Ps 133:1,3 MSG)

At our leaders meeting this week we reflected on the picture of the early church in Acts 2:42ff - a community who built relationships by eating together and meeting regularly for worship and prayer. There is something deeply attractive about that picture and it is no surprise to read at the end of that passage that "every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved."