Finding time to celebrate our life of service

I’M not really a “party animal” but this Saturday afternoon I’m going to a 25th birthday bash at Christ Church in Reading Road, Henley.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Christ Church Centre and the end of a massive building project which entailed the reconfiguration of the century-old buildings and the graveyard too.

The aim was for Christ Church to become a “seven day a week” church, in the words of Vivian Morris, the then church secretary, serving the needs of the wider Henley community.

We have sought to do that in two ways. Firstly, by meeting them ourselves. So currently we run FROGs (Friends Of God, geddit?) for toddlers, a twice-a-week memory café, for folk with memory problems and their carers, and a variety of activities for people who are elderly and possibly alone.

Secondly, by providing facilities for other groups who themselves are seeking to meet needs within the community. So we host, among many others, the wonderful Bluebells, a twice-weekly day-care centre for people living with dementia. The thriving “Woven” nursery school for pre-school children. Opera Prelude, a charity encouraging up-and-coming opera singers. Groups for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Concerts from the Henley Symphony Orchestra and the Aliquando choir. The marvellous work done by AA and Al-Anon. SOBS (survivors of bereavement by suicide). Just a few names out of a long, long list.

We do this because Jesus taught us to care, and when we care for others we show that our care for him is real: Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

32: Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33: And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.

34: Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35: For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.

36: I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

37: Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38: And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39: And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40: And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“When he comes in his glory” — now that will be quite a party!

l A PARTY will take place at the Christ Church Centre in Reading Road, Henley tomorrow (Saturday) from 1.30pm to 5pm. The event celebrates the centre’s silver anniversary and welcomes past and present hirers to showcase their groups, charities and classes.