From the Minister

Dear Friends,

As I write we are in the midst of our Easter celebrations. We have enjoyed what we called an Exodus meal together. This was a time around the table and over a meal, remembering God's saving acts, both in the Exodus story as remembered in the Passover and in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Eating, remembering many of the symbols of bread and bitter herbs, and of course the wine, can all act as reminders and points for discussion.

I wonder whether we have lost that art of celebrating the past while at the same time looking forward to the future and doing this in simple acts like sitting around the table. It is on such occasions where we can so easily get to know people in such different ways. It is also a great way to have some fun together. In our Protestant tradition one sometimes wonders whether fun has been forgotten, ruled out, and yet it is such an important part of our humanity.

Occasions such as we had on Maundy Thursday combine acts of worship and fellowship, these are two vital aspects of our Christian tradition which date right back to the early church. New Testament writers encourage acts of hospitality as well as promoting lives that honour God. It is not a matter of separating one from the other, but working both together so that in all that we do we honour God.

Enjoying the company of one another is part of what it is to be the church, the people of God, and it can also form a vital part of our outreach into the communities in which we live. For as we offer hospitality we open our homes and ourselves for others to see us as ordinary and real human beings, perhaps taking away some of the preconceived notions of what Christians are like that the world so often impose on us. It allows such people to get to know us and maybe even to question, if not aloud, certainly in their minds, how they view Christian people.

Our humanity is a gift from God, and part of that gift is the unique nature of every human being. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses, and we should not be afraid for others to see us as we are. Often perceived weaknesses are imposed by others who think we should be something other than what we are. God values us as the people we are, and God's love is held out to us with both our strengths and weaknesses.

May we learn to value who we are, just as we are, and to value those around us who may be different, and yet equally loved by God. Getting to know people is the best way of learning to appreciate the variegated beauty of humanity as God has made us.

May God's grace continue to be with us as a church community here in the city.

Regards

Richard
Minister