Love Your Neighbour
by Jennie Johnson
I’ve recently moved to a new neighbourhood, which has given me many opportunities to meet my new neighbours. I’ve met lots of them, a few of them offered to help carry furniture when I first moved in or offered power tools when I got annoyed with the flat pack furniture. A few told me about the best takeaways – very helpful in those first few weeks. But what surprised me most was the invitation to a birthday party on the week after I moved in.
It was my neighbour’s birthday, and she invited me to join her for coffee and cake – I like both of those things, but of course I declined initially (I’d just met her). But then, over the next few days I kept meeting other neighbours who all asked me “Are you coming to Jo’s birthday?”. It seems that I had moved to a place where people take neighbouring very seriously.
So, I did go to the birthday party, pre-emptively declaring that I could only stay for half an hour, and of course I stayed longer. I met Susie and Derek, who kindly gave me copies of all the instruction manuals for every built in appliance in my house so I could work out how to set the timer for the heating. I met Mike, who helped me to organise bike storage. I met Ann and Simon, who invited me out to eat with them, and Lulu the Labrador who frequently offers cuddles.
It can be hard, being in a new place, meeting new people and trying to work out where you might fit in but it’s much easier when you are welcomed into a community by people who offer care, support and genuine friendship. We get to offer this in our churches, worshipping communities of schools; places of care, support and friendship as we share the goodness of Christ with others.
This year’s theme for Racial Justice Sunday is ‘Love Your Neighbour’. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the story Jesus tells in Luke 10 about a man who was robbed, beaten and left for dead and then supported by an unlikely neighbour. Let’s consider the many ways we could offer that type of loving care and genuine friendship to those around us, especially those who are experiencing hatred because of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or background.
Join us at Liverpool Cathedral this Sunday 8th February at 10:30am to commemorate Racial Justice Sunday with others from across the Diocese and join with us in committing to be communities that work together for racial justice.
And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8
