one week's visitors at the Salvation Army

This week at our community centre we've been trying to keep a count of the people who have come into the building for activities, meetings or help. It's been a pretty busy week and not finished yet but it looks as if we will top 500 in the total count. And this has been a week when several of our regular groups were not running.. But it seems all human life has been there.. and it's kept us on our toes... The list has included:

about 15 volunteers with disabilities or learning dificulties working on our garden project or lunch club.

10 homeless big issue sellers

4 destitute people asking for clothing or in the case of one couple sleeping bags and blankets so they can be more comfortable when sleeping rough

40 students involved in the Christian Union Freshers week

over 100 people attending the AGMs of two voluntary sector organisations

30 local tenants to their landlords display of possible kitchen improvements

30 members of the regular meetings of the MS group, and Narcotics Anonymous

50 elderly ladies at fellowship or social club meetings

Not to mention 3 disruptive youngsters intent on causing trouble or making a nuisance leading to visits from a fire engine and two police constables working on the case.

Tomorrow we've got a consultation on ministry among new migrant communities....and on Sunday there will be regular Salvation Army...

And I've been trying to get space to work on multiple funding bids for the next stage involving an ICT project..

How do we find time to reflect and build an adequate theology and spiritual dynamic to cover all of this.... Thankfully God is big enough to hold it together...

Colossians 1

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross