Weather here! Wish you were lovely!

Actually, the weather has been very 'Scottish' - a mix of lovely sun and heavy rain, often within 10 minutes of each other. If you ever come across to Brussels, make sure you bring your brolly.

But, weather aside, I'm now settling in to the routine of a new placement and getting to know my way around the city. Brussels is not a big city, but it still takes a while to get anywhere, especially as most people live in the outer districts because it's a bit more affordable. My main task while I am here is to 'read the congregation'. A bigger mix of people would be hard to imagine and looking out across the pews on a Sunday morning is like being at a United Nations meeting. The interesting thing is that all those who attend have chosen to come to St. Andrew's, Brussels. There are many English-speaking churches in the city and they cover virtually every denomination and, of course, there are no 'parish' ties. So those who worship on a Sunday morning have made the conscious decision to attend this particular church. Many of the African community feel an attraction to the Church of Scotland because, very often, they will have been educated in schools which have grown out of missionary schools founded by Scots. For others it's a liking for the music or the style or the preaching. But one thing is universally agreed on - they get a warm welcome. Hospitality and welcome are very important, particularly as many people coming here are moving away from home, family, culture and language. Just a simple invitation to come for a coffee can mean so much to someone trying to settle here.

As for being a tourist, I haven't had too much time to get around any sights but I am about to move to an apartment which is right in the city centre and so it should be a little easier to nip out and see things.

So, greetings from Brussels and blessings to everyone.

John

ps - the photo is one I used during the last children's address - but this time, I took it myself!