At home, at church

            Nearly 2 weeks ago, a devastating fire in Halifax took the lives of 7 children. A neighbour invited friends on social media to show compassion and support for their parents and extended family by putting a stuffed teddy bear on their home porches. #Bears4BarhoChildren  began trending on social media around the globe.

            Last Sunday morning, some of our younger parishioners brought teddy bears to worship with them. The bears were lovingly placed outside the church doors, where they have borne witness to our solidarity in sorrow.

            One of the ways this touched my heart was to recognise that the gentle souls who brought the bears in consider church to be a part of their 'home'. They are comfortable there, it is a safe place where they can express their emotions. It is a place where family and friends gather, where we learn about Jesus together, where we collectively pray and laugh and grieve. It is a place for these beautiful young heart to be vulnerable and humble, to be protected and cherished.

            Church is home.

            This is a gift; a gift of the community to be this place of home to all who enter the doors; and a gift to the community as we are open to being challenged by our members to love as much as possible.

            Church is home; and church is family: with all that entails - sometimes it's messy, sometimes we disagree, sometimes we overlook someone's gifts.

            But always - ALWAYS - we love.

            And sometimes, a bear at the door encourages us to love even better than we have before.

            Because love is what will show the world that they are home when they are with the church.