Take what you need.....

Take what you need....

We live in a world of rush, of instant, of right now. We get impatient with the kettle when it doesn't boil fast enough, our computer annoys us because it takes 15 seconds to start. We have TV on demand, cars that unlock without us even having to look for our keys and twitter to keep up with all the latest news/gossip in case we missed something. We're so right now we've forgotten the idea of slowing down, and the Psalm that says, "Be still and know that I am God" has virtually no meaning for most people, being still is now not in our nature.

But it is within my lifetime that we didn't have mobile phones, blue tooth was something you got from eating too many sweets. Twitter hadn't even been thought of and video calls were the realm of Doctor Who and other fantasy shows. The pace of life has certainly picked up over the past few years.

But in-spite of (maybe because of) all our advances we are still a generation of needy people and even though the expressions of those needs have changed the underlying causes are still the same.

We need more twitter followers and Facebook friends, when I was in school we needed more schoolyard friends - underneath, whether they are physical or virtual friends, we still need acceptance.

"So I have a tatt and 27 facial piercings, get over it," is not so different from, "I have pink spiky hair and listen to the Sex Pistols." We grew out of it and our tolerance for those superficial differences has, hopefully, developed.

"Sorry mum, I've put the Wii controller through the tele screen" is only the modern (more expensive) incarnation of "Sorry dad I kicked the ball through the window." The need for forgiveness hasn't changed even if the bill for damages has.

We are, essentially, the same people with the same problems, needs and worries as the people to whom Jesus spoke. The causes of those fears and problems may be different but the feelings we have inside are, essentially, the same. We, like the people of long ago, still worry about our family, our taxes, our homes and friends and while it is true we don't have a Roman invasion to worry about there an an awful lot more cyclists around now don't you think, or is that just my fear?

2000 years ago Jesus spoke to those needs, fears, worries and concerns. He addressed the issues of tolerance and acceptance, of forgiveness and faith, he demonstrated what real love looks like, so why, oh why, oh why do most people (justifiably so in most cases) see the Church as the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. Instead of tolerance and acceptance most people see the Church as intolerant, a place of rejection; instead of forgiving and faithful most people see the Church as condemning and dysfunctional; they see no love for humanity and only hatred of any group that doesn't fit into narrow, pre-prescribed 'Church' boundaries. It seems the Churches are actively trying to find reasons to exclude people - but when I read the Bible all I see is Jesus welcoming anyone and everyone with no exceptions!

So where is the care? Where is the concern? Where is that love for humanity that Jesus showed and the Church talks about so much?

Well, we at the Melbourne Welsh Church want to change those perceptions -

Love your neighbour as yourself, go the extra mile, do not judge - and the list goes on. These are not just great quotes but, we believe, ideals to live by.

So we've put up our sign - "Take what you need..." and we all need something.

Maybe it's love - that love that takes us as we are, with all that means.

Perhaps its care - not just of our bodies but our minds and spirits as well.

Is it healing we're after? - wholeness, the fulfilment of all we can be.

Faith and/or grace - those churchy words that can mean so many things or nothing at all depending on who you are.

Are we seeking Forgiveness, if so who off? Ourselves, a lover, friends, enemies even?

Acceptance and tolerance - not mattering who we are, how old we are, where we are from, the colour of our skin, who we love and care for, the size of our bank account and any of a million other little differences.

Hopefully the Melbourne Welsh Church can offer all these things, our aim is to be radically inclusive, welcoming, accepting and serving all we can.

Don't expect perfection - we're far from perfect but our aim is to welcome anyone and everyone for that is what Jesus did.

If you've taken one of the slips of paper from outside the church and landed on this blog we hope you find what you need - who knows you may even find it with us.

Leave us a comment, send us a tweet or leave us a Facebook message - we'd love to hear from you and hear how we can help you find what you need.

www.melbournewelshchurch.org