Friends

Dear Oaks,

I have found myself watching episodes of the American comedy “Friends” over the past few weeks.  It has been around for years but like so many things had managed to pass me by.

I must admit to mixed feelings about it.  The sexual morality it portrays is certainly not consistent with following the way of Jesus.  That sometimes spills over in to a cruel view of others and more than a few lies and deceits along the way.  Yet in places I find it hysterically funny and there is something very attractive about the community of friends that is made up by Ross, Chandler, Joey, Monika, Rachel and Phoebe.

Here are six single (most of the time!) young adults living out their lives up close.   The theme song to the show perhaps gives us a clue to part of its great attraction.  Part of the lyric says something like “I’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour”.

A recent study of young adults brought to light just how lonely many in our society are.  And it crosses every age group. Mother Teresa is famously quoted as saying that “the greatest pandemic in the world is that of loneliness”.

This whilst such a sad state of affairs is also potentially a great opportunity for the church.  One of the descriptions of the church is that it is the “family of God”.  We are called both in to friendship with Jesus Christ (John 15) and with each other.  This is a relationship that should always have as its default position that it is seeking to be inclusive and not exclusive.

Jesus described the kingdom of God as a wedding banquet prepared for His son.  In Matthew 22:9 Jesus says “go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find”.  Look at verse 10 and see just how inclusive it was.

Oak Tree must be a community of friends.  Friends of God first and friends of others, no matter whom, next.

So in that spirit may I invite you to come and show the friendly face of the church on the Mount on Saturday for our carol singing, market stall and live and un-rehearsed nativity play.  As I said last Sunday if all you can do is smile that would be great.

Oh and then invite someone from work or home or market place to come and be with us for the carol service on Sunday afternoon.

Let us build a community of true friendship so that we are there for each other when the rain starts to pour or when the sun shines or the snow falls!

Every blessing,

Mark