Christian Comment with Charles Minchin, Priest-in-charge of Stonehouse, St. Cyr

WHERE were you on Saturday?

What was going on that you thought important?

You may have gone to the Georgia-Tonga World Cup match in Gloucester.

Maybe you stayed at home and watched a “more important” match on the television.

Perhaps you supported Stroud Rugby Club against Keynsham or, with a different sport, travelled to Macclesfield with FGR.

You may have gone shopping, locally or in Gloucester, Cheltenham or Cribbs Causeway.

The importance you give to each of those makes it to all intents and purposes a “religious” occasion!

If it is so important which team you support, where you shop, or who you follow (on Twitter or in real life) this is “worship.”

I took a wedding, which prevented me from getting to another “religious” occasion in Gloucester, the inauguration of the ministry of the new Bishop for the Church of England diocese.

A few of you will have been among the thousand or so people attending that event, not as many as at Kingsholm admittedly, nor as many as the crowds shopping at Cribbs, but representing many Christian worshippers throughout the county.

In a sense then Bishop Rachel is competing against sport and shopping for the attention of people of Stroud and of the county.

Measured in human terms, it may feel as though she is backing a loser.

But look again at the long-term effects of membership of the Church compared to supporting a sports team.

Within the Christian Church, just as within sport, there are all kinds of disputes about where we ought to meet, exactly how we ought to play.

But what matters to the Christian is not the big occasion, nor loyalty to a particular denomination, but the person of Jesus Christ.

Relating to Him, going his way, is not reserved for special occasions but, I hope and trust, at the very basis of my life.

Be encouraged to support “your team” to the best of your ability.

But for the foundation of your very life you need a firmer rock.

For me, I am not ashamed to say, that rock is Jesus.