Feeling the Presence

There are days in my job that are filled with conversations, and there are other days that are very solitary. Sometimes, there are many functions and gatherings to be part of, and other days you are holed up in your study reading, praying and studying as you prepare a talk or do some writing.

Over the weekend, I did quite a bit of talking as we celebrated our community fun day on Saturday. This is as good a platform as any to say ‘thankyou’ to all our volunteers who worked so hard in preparation for this day. Over 1000 invitations went into the local streets. Some people baked and prepared refreshments. Other people visited local businesses looking for donations and sponsorship. Some people put up bunting, others lifted chairs and tables into position. There were people manning the gates, supervising children on the bouncy castles and serving teas and coffees. Others were offering a welcome, and crafts showing the sorts of things we do in messy church and Sunday school for visitors.

The Boys’ Brigade oversaw some games, the musicians and ukelele band lent the whole afternoon a load of atmosphere. Others were busy barbecuing sausages and burgers. Some people had prepared a quiz inviting visitors to pop into the church and take a look around at the architecture and the windows and sample the atmosphere. A lot of preparation had gone into cutting the grass, tending the grounds and many wandered around saying hello and welcome to our visitors.

The weather was kind after some initial showers. The sun came out and people were able to enjoy being outside visiting the pet zoo and, perhaps, catching a pony ride. I really enjoyed the opportunity to meet many of our neighbours from the surrounding streets. For some, it was their first time across the gates and they had overwhelmingly positive things to say. They appreciated the welcome and the variety of things on offer for all ages. For those with small children, they appreciated a safe environment to play games, expend some energy, enjoy nice food and snacks and even get some tattoos and their faces painted. Other older visitors enjoyed a cup of tea, some tray bakes and the chance to have a catch up or a chat with people they hadn’t met before.

All of this was brilliant, and it was part of the vision for the day, as we have been thinking about loving our neighbours throughout this year and what it might look like for us as a church to do this.

The one conversation that stuck in my head from the day was in two parts. I met an elderly lady who was there with her daughter, and it was her first time visiting the church and its grounds. She told me she came from another denomination but her daughter had brought her along. Her daughter had taken part in some previous activities like toddlers and pilates. We had a brief conversation in which she spoke of how much she was enjoying the afternoon and was hoping she might get the chance to go inside the church.

I told her about the church quiz and how it was open all day for people to take a look around and I hoped she would enjoy a visit there. Later in the afternoon as I was walking around and chatting to visitors, she stopped me and her face was glowing.

“I loved the church,” she told me. “I had no idea it would be so special and so beautiful to go inside. As soon as I walked in, I immediately sensed the presence of God. It touches you as soon as you walk through the door.”

I thought it was a most encouraging thing that someone could feel and sense the presence of God by entering a building and I wondered what prompted this response?

The most obvious conclusion I could come to is that it’s a building that has been soaked in prayer and worship since it opened in 1932. Each week, people have gathered there to open their hearts to the Lord. They have sung his praises, they have heard his word read and expounded, they have prayed for the world and the church and their personal needs there over many generations.

People have marked some of their most profound life experiences in that building, from the birth of their children and welcoming them into the family of the church through Holy Baptism. Others have married their life partner in that building, others have said farewell to someone they loved dearly in funeral services. Some have encountered Jesus in a personal way for the first time in that building, others have deepened or nurtured their faith through being part of a worshipping community over many years.

We are all a part of something much bigger than ourselves and, yet, isn’t it beautiful when people go into that place and experience the presence of God and are changed by that?

Thankyou to everyone who worked so hard and prayed, and make that opportunity available to all each week.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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