Last year I posted the very sad news that our delightful mid-week lunch club was closing due to the rather unpleasant and anti-Christian sentiment displayed by the new Warden at the sheltered accomodation where it was held. Unfortunately he saw fit to ask us to leave, even though the provision catered to several of the residents and was housed in a room that was otherwise unused at that time of day. It was all rather silly, but rather than fight or argue we politely thanked him for his decision and quietly withdrew. But that is not to say that we were ever going to allow the work of the Gospel to be thwarted!
And that is why it is wonderful news, in this Easter season, to report that the lunch club has sprung back to new life. Alternative accomodation having been found at the nearby ‘Church of Christ’, an independent Evangelical Church nestled within the parish. In so many ways it is a much better provision than before- not least because we do not exist at the whim of an ever changing management! Now the lunch club is a venture that can help bring two worshipping communities closer together, strengthening relationships and outreach opportunity. It is my hope and prayer that this might grow to be a joint project in every sense.
So my sincere thanks go out to the congregation of the Church of Christ, and especially to their charming and ever friendly Pastor, Cliff Allen. Below is a photograph taken of us both at the Camden Road Lantern Parade earlier this year. As you can see – he has a bigger one than me!! Praise God for the revival of our lunch club- and for the generosity that has been shown to us by our fellow Christians within the parish.
Would the Holy Father approve???
OK, cheap provocation, forget it.
Personally, I find it wonderful that Christians of such different denominations (I know they’re not so different in different ways …) can so beautifully cooperate for good purposes.
Well done.