Spiritual Life column

Here is the 'Spiritual Life' column that I have written for the current edition of the Ilford Recorder:

St Johns Seven Kings has just produced a new biannual newsletter about the community activities and events happening in the St John's Centre. More than 300 local people each week attend activities organised by a wide range of community groups including, among others, AA, Brownies, Contact Centre, Downshall Pre-School Playgroup, Kumon Maths, Shine Dance School and Slimming World. We have just organised a well-attended Table-Top Sale, are about to host a Coffee Morning with Redbridge Library Services and, over our Patronal Festival weekend at the beginning of October, will be organising a concert, film showing/takeaway event, and a barn dance. Our members are also actively involved in community groups such as the Redbridge Night Shelter, Redbridge Voluntary Care, Seven Kings & Newbury Park Resident's Association and TASK.

St Johns is by no means unique among churches in the range and significance of our community involvements. Earlier this year a report by Tearfund called ‘In the Thick of It’ described the role that local churches are taking around the world in meeting local community needs. Their report pulled together a substantial body of evidence highlighting the value of faith-based organisations in addressing development needs by presenting anecdotal as well as empirical evidence of the contribution that local churches make to the lives of communities. The report states that, as just one example, the Church of England contributes more than 23 million hours of voluntary service per annum.

Churches do this because we are seeking to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who laid down his life for those who were both his friends and his enemies. On the night before he died he explicitly took on the role of a servant and washed his disciples feet before telling them to do the same for others. Churches have always provided many kinds of community service as a direct result of wanting to follow the example set by Jesus.

These practical contributions to community life often go unremarked by others but if churches were not involved in their local communities then much that is provided through the voluntary sector would not happen. Politicians and secularists sometimes question why faith groups should receive public money for community activities and facilities. The answer is right under their noses, if they were only to look for it. Without the community work of the churches and of other faith groups, the voluntary sector and all it provides would be seriously diminished.



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Moby - In This World.