14:27

Seven years ago we were thinking about how to reach out to our neighbours and, as it was coming up to Christmas, the thought came, “Why not give them a Christmas card?”  We obviously couldn’t cover everyone on this council estate so the 12, or so, nearest houses were chosen.

This was stepping out of my comfort zone so I was very pleased that the first year it was raining when it came to deposit them to the various letter boxes.  I was able to hide under an umbrella!   After a couple of years we thought, “Hey, we are Christians and  we ought to give them religious cards, rather than the regular secular type.”   Again, out of my comfort zone, so even though it wasn’t raining at least it was dark!

By now most of our neighbours knew we were Christians, so three years ago another step was taken and another comfort zone breached.  We included the following on a slip inside each card.

“20 Rudheath Avenue

Dear  (fill in the appropriate name),

As this is the time of the year when many are giving to others we thought we would offer our service and the service of our church to our neighbours.  The two congregations we serve in Manchester and Preston regularly hold prayer sessions and are happy to include others at those times.  If you would like us to include any of your needs, or problems, at these meetings please feel free to drop the details through our letterbox.  Alternatively, if you prefer, we could discuss them personally.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and an uplifting New Year. 

(Sign our names.)”

Feeling it the best to not include the same invitation every year, two years ago we included a sticker on the envelope.  It read “Read the Christmas story for yourself” at the top.  Then an appropriate Christmas picture, with the bottom line reading www.therealstory.org.uk    These can be obtained from the Bible Society.

Last year we repeated the prayer invitation and this year we plan to repeat the stickers on the envelopes.  The thought is to alternate these two each year unless God has some other plans for this project.

So far we have not had any requests for prayer, but as least some seeds have been sown. We have not had any negative reactions and most of these neighbours now give  us a card.