We live in networks: either virtual communities like MySpace or Facebook, or television communities like Emmerdale and EastEnders. Sometimes they seem more real than the actual communities we inhabit. And along with sport, another way we get our sense of belonging today, they provide the common experiences that we talk about most. But we don’t necessarily know much about each other.
Indeed, the local church is one of the few places left where people of all shapes and sizes, ages and races (Spurs and Arsenal fans meeting in harmony!) gather together regularly. Shepherds and kings were invited to the stables at Bethlehem. Regardless of rank, race, class or caste you are invited today.
Stephen Cottrell
Yesterday evening was our annual Nine Lessons and Carols service at St Michaels, a beautiful service which intertwines the biblical story of man's relationship with God, prophecy alluding to the messiah and retelling the Christmas story with some cracking carols and beautiful choral pieces.
This was the first service I attended 16 years ago, my first taste of that church community. I can remember loving the hymns but being really uncomfortable with the Old Testament readings. My problem was I had no concept of scripture as allegory and poetry, of it being the story of God's relationship with a community rather than a presumed history.
We'll never know the true circumstances of Jesus' birth but to me the details are unimportant, what matters is incarnation, Jesus presence and action within that community; that's what we should be in our communities- present and active.
Today I found joy in our church community, I was thankful for a day off (from nursing- not vicaring!) and felt helpless about the folks who are struggling through the festive season.
Scripture
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2:14-17
No comments:
Post a Comment