Come – Rosemary Cowtan
“COME”
Do you realise how many times Jesus used this word?
I’m not a person who actually counts them but I’m sure somebody could.
Jesus used it when calling Andrew and Simon Peter at the beginning of His ministry.
When I attended an Alpha course with Fr. Tom during which we could walk around, meditate, etc. I found myself looking up at the cross above the altar and seemed to focus on the word Come.
Some hymns are: ‘Come, let us join our cheerful songs’ ‘Come, though long expected Jesus’, etc.
Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me’.
When I lived in London, there was an invitation for young people ‘to Come on a pilgrimage’ from London to Chichester, Sussex, to take new Prayer Books for a new satellite town in Sussex. A handful of us, with our curate, were commissioned in St. Martin’s in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, led by a wooden cross. On our journey we stayed at various churches and received their hospitality. We carried our bedding and clothes on our backs!
One day we found ourselves on part of the Pilgrim’s Way which led to Canterbury. We climbed a hill and found a church at the top, and the organist was practising and kindly played for us to sing “To be a Pilgrim”. It was a great thrill for us.
In church we are often asked to “Come along to ….”
I am now going to put in a plug for Thursday’s “Community Connect” 9 – 11.30 each week in Lakeview. Its purpose is to bring in lonely or curious folk and take part in various activities or just chat over a cup of Barista coffee, made usually by Brad which is extremely good.
I have seen a change in some of the people who come. Over the Lakeview exterior is the word WELCOME, or could it be Wel-Come?
Rosemary, Colourist