We have had the same neighbours since we bought our house in Ottawa, 9
years ago. They are a lovely couple with cats and other animals. We help
each other out with small things like picking up packages or feeding pets. We
chat about what is happening in our lives, the weather, and the shared fence
that needs fixing. And later this month, St. Stephen’s will be hosting his
grandmother’s funeral, where I have the honour to lead the service.

It is hard to know, when you first meet someone, where that relationship is
going to go. And it is also hard to know how long it might take to get there.
Sometimes you click with someone right away, and sometimes it takes years
before you realize what you have in common. But I believe that in all of these
relationships, God is at work through us, even if we can’t always see it.

The Good Samaritan is a popular enough parable that even non-Christians
are familiar with the term. It starts with a Bible scholar trying to test Jesus. He
then wants to limit the commandment to love by asking “Who is my
neighbour?” As Jesus has a tendency to do, he flips the question around
through his story, leaving us with a different question, “How can I be a good
neighbour?”

My experience has been that when I am tempted to limit my circle, God
expands it. Have you ever had that experience? Over the past couple years,
we have been thinking about, praying for, and trying to engage with our
neighbours quite a bit at St. Stephen’s. And I have been surprised and
delighted by some of the new connections we have developed. But I have
also learned that we cannot just wait for people to come to us. Jesus sends
us out to be the good neighbours. I wonder what God is inviting us into
next….

October is always a busy month at St. Stephen’s, with Communion
(Oct 4), Thanksgiving (Oct 11) and our Anniversary Sunday (Oct 25).
That means lots of wonderful music, cake on at least one Sunday,
and a chance to share our gratitude for all God has done and
is doing. And hopefully there will be an opportunity to say
thank you to a neighbour, and maybe even invite them
to church! I hope to see you soon!

Blessings,
Meg

A Song from my Playlist:

Thanksgiving by Gas Street Music is a new song and artist for me. Gas Street Church is in the UK, andthis is their praise team! The song starts by paraphrasing Psalm 100 “Enter in | His courts with praise | Forhe is greatly | to be praised.”

Click below to listen.