Everybody needs good neighbours
Action ideas - Everybody Needs Good Neighbours
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Fellowship through a community meal
"The whole law is made complete in this one command: 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself'" (Galatians 5:14)
This is arguably the most famous command in the Bible. Jesus said it, and here in Galatians it is quoted by Paul. The word "neighbour" can be interpreted as anyone we know, but what if we were to take it literally? How well do you know your actual neighbours, the people who live on your street?
That is a question that Church Army worker and author Peter Graystone asked while chatting with friends from his church who happened to live on the same road:
"We were talking together in church about how we only really knew our neighbours as nodding acquaintances, and needed to pluck up the nerve to get to know them better. We wanted to develop a sense of community in our street (which is typical of the suburbs in that people keep to themselves behind their front doors). So we decided on a format that would be a bit intriguing (and keep our effort and expense under control)."
The format they came up with involved food. It is well-known that a highlight of Christian courses like Alpha is the introductory meal. Sitting round a table eating together often leads to relaxed and open conversations. Peter and his friends could have chosen to organise an ambitious street party, with bunting, tables, entertainment and plenty of food – similar to the recent Golden Jubilee street parties. They could also have arranged a big dinner party in one their houses. Instead, they decided to start simply, with something that requires little organisation, minimal budget and can be done by virtually anyone: a roving three-part meal with anyone from the street invited to join them.
Peter explains: "The decision was to have the first course at my house, then to walk as a group down to the bottom of the street to have the main course at my friend's house, and finally up to the very top of the street to have dessert and coffee at the last house. Our objectives were: to know the names of our neighbours and enough about them to build worthwhile relationships, to introduce the fact that we are Christians in an entirely matter-of-fact way during our conversations, and to let them know about the entry points into the life of the church that seemed most appropriate for them (eg, mother and toddler group, exercise class, weekly
family-friendly services, marriage enrichment course)."
The experiment was a success: "Five households joined us first time; six the second time. The most significant difference I have noticed is that everyone says (even people who don't live in it) what a lovely street it is to live in. Conversations are taking place at a deeper level than previously. And several people now hover around the church's loose fringe, with occasional contact. It's early days. I'm expecting the impact to grow."
Action points:
- Are there any other Christians on your street that you could join with in hosting a three or four-part meal?
- Who could you invite to your first roving meal? Do you already have nodding acquaintance with some of your neighbours?
- How regularly do you think you could have a roving meal (monthly; bi-monthly; quarterly) and what would be the best evening of the week to hold it on?
Peter Graystone works for Church Army, developing fresh expressions of Christian community that allow the good news of Jesus to reach beyond the walls of churches in new and relevant ways. His previous ministry has been with Christian Aid and Scripture Union, and he is the author of many books, including the bestselling "Detox Your Spiritual Life in 40 Days"- available from Canterbury press at www.scm-canterburypress.co.uk
