LIFE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

​LIFE IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

How is it going in your neighbourhood? In the last couple of Pastor’s Corners I’ve written about the important work we are doing together in our church’s neighbourhood. Today I am wondering about your neighbourhood. What is God doing in your “hood”? God has uniquely placed each of us where we live so that we can shine the light of Jesus there.

​I have been praying for my own neighbourhood for years. Each Thursday morning I kneel at a desk that overlooks our cul-de-sac. I bring before the Lord each individual and family using the B.L.E.S.S. prayer, which reminds me to pray for the Body, Labour, Emotions, Social relationships, and Spiritual needs of my neighbours.

Over the years I have seen meaningful changes taking place. It is now common for Janet and me, when we are out walking, to stop to chat with people we have come to know. Other neighbours are getting to know one another better, as well.

Some of our neighbours have become good friends of ours, and some of those friendships have resulted in spiritual conversations. We cherish these opportunities to talk about Jesus. One neighbour couple asked if they could visit our church this summer. They don’t normally attend church, but they know we do. They want to learn more about the faith that is so meaningful to us.

Our second annual block party is scheduled for late June. We hope it will be bigger and better than last year. It has been easier to plan this year’s event because friends I met at last year’s block party are helping me to plan it.

​ In the Lord’s Prayer we ask: “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” That prayer is our mandate for our neighbourhoods. We want “down here” (on our block or in our apartment building or condominium) to be a little more like “up there”. --Pastor Tom

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