Chandlers Ford Methodist Church

Minister's Letter - October 2012
Rev Peter Cornick
When did you last see Christ in the face of a person in need and take action? The latest Southampton Methodist District prayer card – freely available in church – asks this question. It features a picture of ‘The Dalit Madonna’ by Jyoti Sahi (Google it!). The Indian Dalits are the so called ‘untouchables’, but in the picture, Mary is shown as a Dalit, holding Jesus, who has Dalit features. The picture’s message is, Christ comes as the least, the unseen – or the one we would prefer to keep unseen. So, to see the face of Christ as a Dalit is both shocking and liberating. Shocking to those who would rather keep people hidden; liberating to the Dalits who through a painting have declared, ‘God loves us also!’ When did you last see Christ in the face of a person in need and take action? We don’t see many Dalits in Chandler’s Ford, but are there people who are unseen; dare we say, we would rather not see? ‘Street Pastors’ – a scheme embraced by our church – see young people (and older) on a Friday night, perhaps worse for wear after an evening out or simply at risk of finding trouble. In those people, who might otherwise be unseen and unsafe, Street Pastors see the face of Christ and take appropriate action. A new scheme in Chandler’s Ford – I pray our church will embrace it – will help people who, due to their illness, occasionally just forget where they are or feel frightened whilst out. They will be able to go into a public building displaying a recognised sticker and be sure that someone will simply ring their carer (the person will carry identification and a phone number). As they wait to be collected, that person will at least feel safe. Listen out for more details soon. We don’t need to be in India to see the face of Christ in a person in need and by a phone call, take action. Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40).

Minister's Letter - October 2012

Rev Peter Cornick

When did you last see Christ in the face of a person in need and take action? The latest Southampton Methodist District prayer card – freely available in church – asks this question. It features a picture of ‘The Dalit Madonna’ by Jyoti Sahi (Google it!). The Indian Dalits are the so called ‘untouchables’, but in the picture, Mary is shown as a Dalit, holding Jesus, who has Dalit features. The picture’s message is, Christ comes as the least, the unseen – or the one we would prefer to keep unseen. So, to see the face of Christ as a Dalit is both shocking and liberating. Shocking to those who would rather keep people hidden; liberating to the Dalits who through a painting have declared, ‘God loves us also!’

When did you last see Christ in the face of a person in need and take action? We don’t see many Dalits in Chandler’s Ford, but are there people who are unseen; dare we say, we would rather not see?

‘Street Pastors’ – a scheme embraced by our church – see young people (and older) on a Friday night, perhaps worse for wear after an evening out or simply at risk of finding trouble. In those people, who might otherwise be unseen and unsafe, Street Pastors see the face of Christ and take appropriate action.

A new scheme in Chandler’s Ford – I pray our church will embrace it – will help people who, due to their illness, occasionally just forget where they are or feel frightened whilst out. They will be able to go into a public building displaying a recognised sticker and be sure that someone will simply ring their carer (the person will carry identification and a phone number). As they wait to be collected, that person will at least feel safe. Listen out for more details soon. We don’t need to be in India to see the face of Christ in a person in need and by a phone call, take action. Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25: 40).