All this is a pity. The Christian community in Selsdon is very relevant to the life of the neighbourhood as I hope to show, and the relationship between various local denominations is very supportive and cordial. If I may take one example of this: some weeks ago we were told in the newsletter that Selsdon Jubilee Church was in danger of becoming homeless, and this was a cause of concern. The Jubilee Church has found a new meeting place now, at Selsdon High School, and we can all be glad that they join St Francis’ as a visible sign of Christ’s presence on the Monks Hill Estate. If this had occurred in my youth, it may not have been mentioned at all, or if it was, it would have been with a warning to keep clear of these churches at all costs!
Initiatives from the local Christian community are working to enhance the lives of those less fortunate in the area. A very recent example of this is the cold weather shelter, where Christian congregations, including those from Selsdon, are working together to provide shelter, food and companionship to the homeless during the colder months of the year. Organisations that we now take for granted – Contact and the Selsdon Centre for the Retired – also arose from the local Christian community. While it is certainly true that many volunteers in these two organisations have no formal church affiliation, the organisations themselves are managed on behalf of the Christian community by local church members, and obtain much financial support from the local churches.
These organisations are all more effective because they use the skills and resources of the whole local Christian community – all great examples of the result of working together. A single congregation would not be able to tackle these tasks alone.
More visible organisational unity will come as God wills, but it’s worthwhile to pray together to keep our minds and hearts open to grasp opportunities as they arise. For example, it would be wonderful to see an initiative which managed to serve the needs of the disaffected young people one sees around the area in the evenings – perhaps that would be a fruitful area for prayer as a single community, rather than as a number of churches.
There are two joint services for the week of prayer for Christian Unity. The first is on the afternoon of Sunday 20th January at 4pm, at St Mary’s, Addington. An excellent way to spend some time on a dark winter afternoon! St John’s, in Upper Selsdon Road, will host closing prayers for the week, on Thursday, 24th January, at 8pm. Do come along if you possibly can.
Tricia Steel