Friends (2)

When we are away I often feel that I don't want to relate to people. I just want to take a break and be a bit anonymous.So  we arrived at church and soon after meeting Val she suggested we call in for a cuppa if we weren't doing anything in the afternoon. I murmured indistinct things and on we went and found a seat.
It's good to know that there are people of the wide church family to meet with but sometimes it can be a bit awkward.
Different places have different culture and even knowing which door to enter can be a problem, Of course all the locals know but I remember turning up to a church which later became our home church, but on the first occasion we went at night to the Youth Service and parked on the tennis court at the back as everyone else did. So which of the 5 doors was the one. Someone saw us and ushered us in - via the kitchen door!!
Some churches are so welcoming that as we've lingered after church and had no one approach us I've hastily suggested we head off to Maccas for coffee. As our minister says 'Church morning tea can be the loneliest place on the planet.'
But this lot were good. Bad luck we didn't know morning tea was before the 10.30 service but we were immediately greeted - not by anyone who looked like they were official greeters but by one person who then introduced us to the others. The congregation was smaller than usual and since the organist was sick we had songs with canned music and visuals which were a bit challenging but we sang heartily.
As we left, Val repeated her invitation and wrote her mobile number down for us should we decide to visit. Gentle and welcoming but not insistent. And so after lunch we rang and agreed to go for afternoon tea. We sat in her beautiful apartment overlooking the water, along with her friend Maureen who had also been invited, and shared our stories. How pleasant it was. Friends - new friends...