A call to service
The Times reports the story of Lord Desborough, who read his obituary in the paper. Lord Bessborough had died and the name was confused in the reporting. Lord Desborough rang the editor of the paper. “Ah, my Lord, where are you phoning from?” came the editor’s reply.
Easter Day, as St John would say, gives us a choice between Light and Dark, Love and Hate, Life and Death. Fence sitting is not possible according to the gospel we call St John.
I’ve been to two funerals recently. One was full of marriage, family, holidays and work. A full life. The other was full of marriage, family, holidays, work, train spotting and service. The service was motivated by faith in Christ.
Trust in the risen Christ is a call to service. Public authority usually likes the service, but not the faith and worship which drives it. John Battle, a former Minister for Faith Communities, said that Social Services in Leeds would collapse without the input of the churches.
The church I belong to runs a recovery from addiction group (for us it is from alcohol) and a simple service and meal for all comers. This attracts, among others, street drinkers who have been given the power to turn their life around and been baptised and confirmed. Our parish also runs a project for elders, debt counselling (over 60 people debt free now) and a Good Food shop for food from supermarkets which would go to landfill. We operate on a shoe string.
The fuel for such service is worship of the living God. Getting up on Sunday morning to ring bells to call people to worship is a service. Even better to accept the call of the risen Christ and his grace to serve.
Dale Barton
Bingley Easter 2025