Dear friendsOne of the things I've noticed most about being "back" is the difference in having 3 months of a lot of alone time (although I have done lots of lovely things with different people!) and of being back within a community.I've done lots of reflection on what it is to be the body of Christ - including a reflection after going to the Body museum in Amsterdam ... another story for another time. I've experienced being back with the body over the last week in various expressions, from one to ones, acts of worship, Deanery meetings and Friday morning prayer. In each of these, it is true to say that conversations, prayers, learning, understanding and opening scripture are fuller and richer in sharing with others.Today's Morning Prayer is a prime example, where the first look at the Bible passages might suggest they were going to be a bit tricky! However, in reading them aloud with each other, and then talking about what we understand them to mean, they became beautiful expressions of what it is to live and act as a community - a community bound by God's love.That is one of the things that is unique about being church, I believe. We are not just a social club of like minded people, or a private membership, we are a community bound by God's love, learning how to live and act in the light of that love. We then hope that this becomes attractive, even contagious, to others so that more people will come to an understanding of God's love, and would desire to turn their lives towards Jesus - this is life changing and world changing stuff!Our readings this week, and the theme at Cafe church, follow on from last week's message where we explored what it is to live the life you've been given. We're almost taken "back to basics" this week, to explore some of the building blocks of our faith, and getting us ready for the arrival of the Holy Spirit.It would be lovely to see you - at 8.30am for traditional Holy Communion, or at 10.30am for Cafe church -informal worship with conversation and breakfast (and a fab activity for young people!). You are invited to be part of this community as we continue to worship, pray, learn, open scripture, and grow in our understanding, together.You're invited to also come together with the wider Deanery community on Ascension Day (Thursday 18th May) for a joint service at St Mary Redcliffe at 7.30pm. I'm delighted to be preaching at this service, and look forward to seeing you there.With every blessingBecky