Isn’t the renewed hall and complex looking good? It has such a different, welcoming feel to it … and that even before the Door Stewards and others have greeted us with their friendly smiles and warm hospitality. Surely this is at least part of what we were aiming for – people who come to St John’s would know that this place mirrors God’s offer of abounding grace and love to all?
Now it is up to us, as the people of St John’s, to use our renewed building to maximise this invitation, and to help us in our mission and ministry in Jesus’ Name.
One of the exciting ways in which we are trying to do so, is through the hospitality offered by the Coffee Shop. You cannot help but notice the expanded “menu” available over tea, before and after all the services – goodies to eat and specialised coffees for sale, in addition to the usual “free” teas and coffees. Our dream is that, in time, this ministry will grow to the point where it will be available for longer periods, through the week – a place to which you might want to bring your friends for a snack and drink; a place where the residents and those passing through Central can come for a moment’s peace; perhaps even to get some homework done in relative quiet.
Our Caretaker, Peter Flugel, is so gripped by this vision that he has offered to give three months of his own time – over and above his usual work – to get the Coffee Shop on a firm footing before we try to expand it more widely. What a gift of love and vision to offer us! (Consequently, as he does so, please, please, please, don’t ask him to do “caretaker” things whilst he is enthusiastically running the Coffee Shop on Sundays!)
The current preaching series invites us to think about God’s call on each of to participate more deliberately and fully in community and mission. Peter’s gracious example might act as something of a practical illustration of that which we are reading in Scripture, and expounding in sermons.
How are you and I going to respond to all God has given us, and is doing amongst us, at St John’s?
Rod
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