The Church is the body not the building
Monday 3rd May 2010
When there's a political bundh (strike) across Nepal, regular routines need to be abandoned and creative ways found to 'carry on' but in a different way.
In this short article, Grenville Hopkinson describes how their church fellowship had to do things differently when Kathmandu was 'shut down' by the recent Maoist street protests and bundh.
“Last Sunday, Georgie and I were reminded that the Church is the body not the building... why?
Well on Thursday of last week the board of the Kathmandu International Christian Congregation (KICC) decided that the upcoming Maoist bandh (strike) posed a significant security risk and that the normal Sunday service should be cancelled.
Alternatives for Sunday worship included - not meeting at all, meeting in small coordinated house groups, or meeting in a safe alternative venue. After a short discussion with our landlord, we offered to host everyone in our garden.
So by Friday afternoon emails were circulating directing people to our house for the Sunday service. People were under strict instructions to bring something to sit on, something to shade themselves with and to go to the loo before coming to church, as we don't have a good water supply to our house!
When Sunday came we rushed around making the final arrangements: moving the trampoline and the rabbits out of the way, putting down big tarpaulins for people to sit on, setting out chairs and cushions, setting up a crèche / Sunday school area, preparing tea and biscuits for more than 50 people and putting out our missionary 'blue barrel' as a pulpit for the new pastor.
Before the service, we quickly assembled a group of musicians to play guitar, flute and violin. Music sheets were held in place with clothes pegs, the sun came out and before we knew it the garden was full with some 60 people.
Pastor Rendell took us through the final sermon in a series exploring Jesus' encounters with people after His resurrection. This week the focus was on John 21:20-25. Peter's response to being challenged to follow Jesus was to point at John and say, “What about him?” Jesus tells us that what He calls us to do is our business and what He calls others to do is their business.
We are reminded not to compare our lives, our gifts and our calls to others but to focus on our life and walk with God. We were reminded too that we are to enjoy fellowship together and that no matter where or how we meet, God promises to be with us and He certainly showed up at our house last week.
After the service people, stayed behind for some tea, the kids played with the rabbits and everyone enjoyed coming out and having church outside in the sun with a gentle breeze. Actually everyone had so much fun it they stayed for ages and they've already agreed that church should come back next week - if the bandh continues!”
Grenville Hopkinson
Kathmandu, 3 May 2010
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