Mist over the City of Melbourne: photo taken from Brighton Beach

 Today has been our last day in Australia and tomorrow we begin our long journey home. But, before that, we will have the 'fun' of packing and no doubt re-packing our suitcases to ensure that they each weigh no more than 20k.  It should help that I have already posted a package home containing various gifts we have been given (books and CDs etc).

We have wandered much in the last few days thanks to our generous hosts Alan and Lyn.  I have learnt much in the last 6 weeks including never to believe an Australian who tells me that wherever we are going is  ' just down the road' or that the weather is 'brightening up'- we have driven many many miles in much rain - but we have seen some great sights. After seeing so many fallen trees I can however see the merit of the advice 'never pitch your tent under a Gum Tree'.

We had our final experience of the Australian church this morning when we attended Lyn and Alan's Uniting Church - a partnership of  Methodist, Congregational and Presbyterian congregations. We received a very warm and public welcome and were able to watch their children's ministry in action, which was useful as the focus of  my sabbatical study is attitudes and approaches to all age worship.

This afternoon we were taken to Ramsey Street (that should make my daughter happy!) and to a local diary for one final afternoon tea with Alan & Lyn.

This trip has been an amazing experience both from a personal and professional point of view. From the moment we landed we have been welcomed, loved and cared for and the hospitality we have received from individuals and congregations has been second to none.  We both now have so much to think about and it's bound to take us some time to sift through everything we have experienced but here are some immediate thoughts.....

There is nothing like being away from your own parishes and their church families to make you realise why it is they are so very important to you!
 
There is nothing like walking into unfamiliar churches for the first time to make you wonder about how your own churches might feel to first time visitors...

There is nothing like leading worship in an unfamiliar church to make you think about the liturgy (words, music, silence, movement, style etc) in your home churches


There is nothing like experiencing unfamiliar musical styles, hymns, cantors, chants etc to make you appreciate the important part that music and musicians play in your home churches 

There is nothing like going to a PCC meeting at a church on the other side of the world to make you realise that  parish life is parish life wherever you are!

The other day at a service we sang the familiar hymn

'In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north' 

Yep, I can agree with that!

It has been a joy and a privilege to minister here just for a short while. When we get back to UK I'll continue to blog while we are on holiday and throughout the rest of my wanderings whilst on sabbatical leave.