Walking the Streets

On Wednesday we awoke to fog, which dissipated around lunch time, to give glorious blue skies and sunshine, only to reappear again as the temperature dropped.

In the evening it was the next instalment of the Mission-Shaped ministry course which has been running since September. We were the first to arrive and the Leaders informed us that we would be going outside later.  According to the handout we were looking at Evangelism.
"Great!", we thought, "They are going to expect us to go out and convert the locals."  We sat back, our arms crossed, and awaiting our impending doom.

Sure enough, we were sent out. As you would expect in groups of two or three.  However, our brief was to observe, not to convert, the local community, for which we were very grateful. They have no idea how lucky they were...

Off we went, to the left and right, exploring an urban High Street on a dark foggy January evening. Some of the retail premises were run by chains, but many of the stores appeared to be small independents.  Most had closed for the day and had their shutters firmly down, so you had to tip your head back to discover exactly what they would be purveyors of, if they were open.













Significant features of the High Street include bins and bollards. Here is DH standing waiting, as I take yet another photograph. There was also a skip at the side of the road - plenty to illustrate repentance and forgiveness  - getting rid of the rubbish in our lives.






We passed a small corner shop, the owner was sat inside, looking out in bemusement at procession of small groups of unfamiliar passers-by. A guy appeared out of one of the vaping shops, exuding a cloud of vapour. He looked at us - were we potential customers? Could we be converted to vaping? He decided not, and closed his shop door, locking it behind him as he left.

Quite a few of the Fast food outlets had illuminated "OPEN" signs, maybe there is something the churches could learn from that?

The Liberal Club, offered a very contemporary looking brick facade to the High Street. In contrast the Labour club located along a side street, looked run down, seedy and was shut. It looked as if it had been forgotten - perhaps a reflection on the demise of heavy industry within the Black Country over the past 50 years or so..



In the darkness - lights of hope shone out. Some were bright, casting illumination in otherwise darkened doorways - giving the message, do not lurk here. Some illuminations were more gentle, like the light that came from a decorative ornament on a windowsill.  Light shone out through windows, I especially liked the Spiderman curtains - the world needs more superheroes!

There were rows of homes that looked identical, but on closer inspection, there were subtle differences - like the numbers by the doors, or the hangings at the windows.

When we returned we reflected on how the areas compared to the areas we were working in.
Roller shutters - tick
Quiet at night - tick
In need of tlc - tick

Urban, suburban or rural Affluent neighbourhood or sink estate. Loneliness exists everywhere. There is potential for the church to work in all communities. Time to walk around my own neighbourhood and see what I can observe. At least I will get some exercise.