On a cold winter morning we srrived late for the 10.00 a.m. service. The service was under way but the worshippers gathered in the youth hall welcomed us warmly.
It was there I learned that we were part of the VIAGRA set - Vitally Indepedent Aged Going Round Australia.
While the congregation was small (not unexpected in a country town of less than 2000) it represented most of the generations and the leader (a lay preacher) did well to cater for the range of people present.Musical accompaniment (keyboard and violin) added to our singing, and coffee following the service offered the chance to meet and to greet each other.
The challenges of 'doing' church in a small community are enormous - 'being' church is not as hard and certainly more important. The challenge will always be the perceptions of the world around us, where profesional presentaton and numbers seem to be more important than relationships, reality, and integrity. .Regardless of attendance statistics we are the church - we must live in our communities in ways that reflect the God who loves us all.
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