Christian Aid
Sunday Worship
It was good on Sunday morning (November 3rd) to welcome Jan & Andrew Jenkins who came to share with us something of the vital work done by Christian Aid and its partner organisations. Jan & Andrew have spent 40 years working overseas especially in Bangladesh but also in Myanmar, India & Laos. Andrew is an agricultural engineer. He also assesses the effectiveness of development projects. Jan taught English as a foreign language. Andrew spoke to us during our morning worship.More about the work of Christian Aid here.
The scripture reading chosen by Andrew included the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke chapter 10. When someone asks Jesus "Who is my neighbour?", Jesus responds with this story. Someone is robbed and beaten up and left for dead at the roadside. One after another, two religious types come along but both of them, when they see the victim of the robbery, cross over to the other side of the road and go on by doing nothing to help.
Then another traveller comes along.
This traveller stops and helps the victim of the robbery, binds their wounds and takes them to an inn to recover, undertaking to pay hostelry whatever it cost to look after them.
"Which is the neighbour to the victim of the robbery?" Jesus asks.
Well, obviously ...
Andrew talked about our global neighbours who have been robbed and beaten up (in effect) by the global economic system (I'm riffing a bit here. Andrew didn't actually say this in so many words as far as I remember but I do remember that this is what I was thinking while I listened). He spoke especially about refugees and displaced people who have had to leave their homes and everything they know because of violence or disaster. They are our neighbours and we can help them by supporting organisations like Christian Aid who work with local partners to bring relief.
Information about the CA Christmas appeal (November 2019)
Brother can you spare a dime *(YouTube. Martin Simpson, Cambridge Folk Festival 2011)
* We didn't actually sing this in our service but, hey, maybe another time.
