For our anniversary service in April our speaker was Steve Bagnall from Birmingham City Mission. Steve spoke with gentle power both about his experience of homelessness and his work with homeless people. These themes were entwined with his story of becoming a Christian.
And there it is: there is no separation of faith and action as we pursue the path that Jesus has laid before us. Worshipping together is good and is vital but it is “a clanging cymbal” if we do not have love in it and we do not act to serve others, especially those who our society and our whole planet put at the bottom of our pecking order.
So for my part, it feels absolutely right that this month we support the work of Christian Aid through the Big Brekkie (Saturday 11th May), Circle the City (Saturday 18th May) and our usual door to door collection. It feels absolutely right that the Midland Opera concert on the 25th May is raising money for our Fellowship Fund. It feels right that we begin a 2 week series of Bible Studies on Wednesday 1st May on the theme of homelessness.
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Jesus of Nazareth speaks as recorded in Matthew 25:35-36.
God bless.
Gerard.