The minister of the suburban church has been suffering problems with her neck for most of a year and there's a possibility that it can't be treated sufficiently for her to resume her career.

Our former minister, who achieved her doctorate prior to her retirement from this congregation a few years ago, recently made a pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago in France and Spain and has referred to it on recent Sundays as she led worship.

Recently her sermon titles have been "Joy happens when ..." and today's title was "Joy blooms wild and bright" and she challenged us to build on new and worthwhile, interesting ways of living, and to build in joy while doing so.

Guess who was paying close attention.

We collected a number of gifts for residents of a local housing complex for disadvantaged people, where their chaplain told us that many of the residents come to stay for a while while they are putting their lives back together, then leave to make room for others trying to achieve stability.

Good wishes for embracing some rediscovered joy as you journey through this week.

ole joyfuelled