John 14 : 1 -4 Jesus Comforts His Disciples
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
At every funeral service that I have taken over the last 6 weeks I have read these words from John. I chose them because of the promise that Christ has prepared a place and a welcome for the one that those gathered have lost. I pray these words will bring them comfort as they grieve in these strange and difficult times.
When we arrived in Uganda Janine and Craig had prepared food and drink for us after our long journey from Entebbe, they had thoughtfully chosen rooms for us to sleep in. In each of our rooms were towels, soaps, lanterns and fairy lights, a fan and a lovely letter of welcome decorated with flowers and written with love.
They welcomed three strangers into their home and showed us abundant hospitality. They put time and effort into making their home as welcoming as possible, they put love and prayer into making our time in Uganda a blessing. This was a picture of hospitality.
Over and over again the Lord has given me this word Hospitality for my focus at Trinity. For us to be known as a hospitable and generous community who welcome and share all we have with the stranger and friend. A community who take the model of Jesus seriously.
The nature of true hospitality has become central to my prayers and time with God in lock down and God has shown me pictures of what this could look like. I feel excited at the possibilities of us living out our vision statement as we become a people of welcome, generosity and love. As our buildings become a safe place where people can be nurtured, loved and built up in order to follow their dreams and calling from God.
Jesus describes heaven as home. A home which is a place of love and happiness, a place of cheer and fellowship-of sharing good times with old friends and having a good time making new ones. Home is a place of love and forgiveness, where people wait for you with open arms. Home is a place where wounds are healed and hearts are mended. Home is a place of embraces and kisses and smiles and joy. This is my vision for Trinity – a place that people can call home.
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