Last week I heard a vicar being interviewed on TV following a tragedy nearby. People were shocked and stunned . The vicar responded by opening up the church to care for residents and workers, and serve hot drinks.
Then he said in a warm sort of way, “We are the Church of England… We put the kettle on, that’s what we do.” In the midst of the sadness I thought this was an interesting way to describe a church at the heart of a community.
It reminded me of families manoeuvring their way through difficult situations over a pot of tea, of school Breakfast Clubs where young people swap stories over mugs of hot chocolate, and sociable folk who love to catch up with friends over coffee.
(A Hot Chocolate from Breakfast Club)
Our behaviour may say a great deal more than we think. There is something about the warmth we experience when we make ourselves totally available to others, and why it was so important for the church to open its doors and get the kettle on.
Explore the Gospels and we find examples of Jesus spending time with people in their homes, at the temple or by a well. Christ mingled with men, women and children from all walks of life – including those on the fringes of society. He was a guest at a wedding, dined with tax collectors and fed over 5,000 people on a hillside.
These accounts direct us towards the importance of hospitality and caring for each other and the gift of being able to spend time together. However, Jesus would also head off on his own to pray, another a good example for us to follow.
When we spend time in fellowship we connect with each other. When we make time to pray, we connect with God. He waits for us to turn our hearts to him, even if it has been a very long time since we last called him “Father.”
So, why not spend some time with God today?
Let us pray…
Rev. Lesley Jones (Sunderland Echo, 19th January 2013)
P.S. It was lovely to receive a letter this week enclosing a creative response to the words above:
Welcome
by Marjorie Llewelyn
The doors open wide and there someone stands
with welcoming smile and outstretched hands.
No trumpet fanfare, no Royal decree,
just come inside, have a cup of tea.
Was it not Jesus who showed us the way?
When in so many other words he did say:-
Let your welcome be warm, your charity free.
Remember my friends, you do this for me.
Thank you Marjorie!
creativerev 