There’s been some coming and going at St Mark’s– new people joining our church (fantastic!), and some moving away, in particular, some evening church faithfuls moving to the country for a little while (sob and tear). In all this, I’ve been reminded how important we are to each other. It’s human weakness that we don’t often appreciate this, and it takes an absence (sadly, even a death) to jolt us into reality.
We had a very big family reunion last weekend, and again, I realised how much I miss absent family members. My brother and his family have been overseas for 7 years.
We get this love from God. God is the maker of relationships, and he is in relationship within himself– One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in perfect communion. And astonishingly, our father in heaven rejoices over you and me, his lost creation, when we return home. If I may put it like this– when we are saved, God has a party– he picks the best carton of champagne, he rings all the bells in the town, he fires up the bbq, and he is there at the gate to embrace us. God is our Father in Heaven who love us– deeply, passionately, powerfully.
This is central to why we come to church– to see each other, to enjoy each other, to help each other. To be who we are as Christ’s body.
May absence be a lesson for us. Treasure your relationships. Keep praying for one another. Spur each other on. And draw strength from God- for whom out of sight (or away from home), is not out of mind.
Sometimes we cannot be all together, but praise be to God, that in all the comings and goings, God remains the same. (Andrew)

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