Nancy and I are now in Carlow, Ireland, and will be for the next two months. We are living in the manse, the pastor’s home which nearly every church in the country has. It is a very comfortable house in a quiet residential cul-de-sac, situated between a hurling field and a Gaelic Athletic Association sports field. On weekends, as we work our way past the traffic and cars parked all along the road, we can hear the crowds cheer for their teams and just catch a glimpse of the players. One of these days we will take in one of the games and find out exactly what hurling or Gaelic football is all about.
I have now preached at the Carlow Presbyterian Church (the historic Scots Church) for two Sundays. The service is quite informal and the people are very appreciative and responsive. The first time I preached I also gave the children’s message but when I asked the children to, in unison, shout out their name, the silence was deafening. The second time I tried it the reaction was the same, and the third time as well. Last week Nancy give the children’s message and the response was better…Oh, well.


Our routine here is fairly simple. On Sundays I preach at 11 a.m. and on Wednesdays lead a Bible Study at the church at 8 p.m. In between Nancy and I are free to visit with people, explore the area or whatever. There is also a home Bible Study on Friday nights that we have attended but not led, and I am beginning a men’s morning study on Tuesday mornings. Nancy had the ladies of the church in for tea this past Tuesday and will keep that going every other week as long as we are here.
The weather has been off and on—some wonderful sunny days and a bit of rain, with most days having a bit of both. Last summer when we were in Dublin it rained every single day, over 60 days in a row, but this summer has already been different. The rain in Dublin was not constant, and it was no bother, but the longer sunny spells here have been a delight. Nancy has enjoyed walking into town several times and I have taken advantage of the sunshine to make it onto the roads on my bicycle. At first I was concerned about traffic, but subsequently have discovered innumerable delightful small roads and lanes that take off from near the manse. There are small hills all around and the view from them and of them is spectacular—fields and valleys and hills alike.



We have found the people very warm and welcoming. The church is quite small (I will talk more about the church in time), but there is a core of concerned and committed people, and they are most gracious. We have been in several homes for tea and a meal, and have spent hours chatting after the various services. One of the impressions I immediately received on arriving in Ireland was that to the Irish time is not a huge concern. I have never been told before, in response to my query How long should I plan the Bible Study to last? that it really did not matter. The study on Wednesday that I lead begins at 8 and I was told that it would be fine to end by 10, but not necessary. The Friday study began at 8 and finished at 10:30, after which there was an hour or so of tea, biscuits (cookies) and chat. People are open about many things, interesting to converse with, and in no hurry. After church chat goes on for an hour or more, and an after church lunch invitation will last until 7 pm or later, while tea that starts at 8 will go on until near midnight. People enjoy chatting and I do too—it is always interesting, topics vary and people are involved. In short Nancy and I are off to a very wonderful beginning and looking forward to many more days and evenings of sharing, laughing, chatting and studying. This is a great place to be--a place where the body of Christ is alive but struggling to become more of what it is meant to be. Isn't that what every fellowship ought to do?
As Peter wrote, 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.