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What do you first notice when visiting somewhere for the first time?
Maybe you are trying a new restaurant, and as you go through the door what would you expect to see?
A friendly face, a warm greeting, a safe environment?
Over the last few months many churches, libraries, community centres have been turning their buildings into a warm welcome or a warm space.
During autumn last year, the realisation that there would be many who could not afford to heat their homes, with many people now based at home due to the increase in home working through the pandemic.
Families who would be facing a choice of eating or heating. The older generation who are scared to put the heating on for fear of not being able to pay the bill.
We see many who are on benefits who too are struggling, although there is a lot more help available to them than there is for those in work, we are finding.
Nationally there are websites that venues can register on so that anyone can find the nearest ‘Warm Welcome’ or ‘Warm Space’, these have been set up for anyone to access.
There are many who don’t have access to the internet and so if you are reading this and know someone who would benefit from some company and a warm environment, please let them know.
What each venue can offer is listed on the website, for instance here at The Salvation Army offer, free food, and drinks, free Wi-Fi and charging points for laptops, phones etc.
We have a shower room and laundry facilities too for anyone to use.
Many of the Churches in Wokingham are offering various times and activities for their warm space and I would encourage you to use them.
January is a bit of a bleak month, short days, colder, money seems short having perhaps overindulged at Christmas, perhaps a warm welcome and a change of scene could be just the thing to get you through the next few months.
It is a real chance for the Churches to exercise the gift of hospitality and welcome in anyone who needs just an extra bit of help to get through.
Offering a warm welcome or giving hospitality is nothing new, it is how the church was when it first started, people sharing what they had with those that didn’t have, showing love and giving hope. The Bible says: “Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer.
“Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless — cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help.
“That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!” (The Message, 1 Peter 4:9 – 11)
Captain Jan Howlin from Wokingham Salvation Army, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
