Way back at the New Wine conference this year I felt my heart tugged to get out and do more for God. Twice over the summer I was prompted to get out into my community and make a difference for God. I spent some time reaching out to whoever God pointed out to me in the streets of Golders Green. But he was also prompting me to reach out to my neighbours too. It’s kind of hard to love your neighbour as Jesus told us when you don’t even know who they are!

I heard the story in a sermon of a woman who knew the name of all the neighbours in her street. She knew not only their names, but what they did and how they were doing. It didn’t take long when someone was in trouble for her to go round with just the right thing to help them - maybe a hot dinner when their electricity was down or a pie for dessert.

It struck me that I don’t know my neighbours at all, not even what some of them look like, particularly tenants that come and go. God has called us to love our neighbours – and I don’t even know them, so I’m not going to do a great job at loving them! So from then on I sought to make a difference for God in my immediate community.

It wasn’t too hard: some friendly hellos, some moments of boldness going up to ‘strangers’ I’d lived alongside for a year or more, some spontaneous invites for a cup of tea instead of standing outside discussing their building plans in the cold. Within a short space of time I’d managed to collect most names, numbers, email addresses and make some contact with all of them.

On Monday the vision I’d had back in the summer came to pass - I had them ALL over for a Christmas dinner. That’s the two flats above me, the two flats next door, the house next to that and the house opposite. All I did was send a group email three days before inviting all of them round to meet each other over dinner, including some I’d never met yet, and they all said ‘yes’!

We had a wonderful time together. They were all so lovely and were equally thrilled to meet each other too, for the first time in many cases. There was no shortage of conversation, we all seemed to have so much in common.

Through this all, community was being built. Somehow I had a feeling that God was very happy as he watched us having fun and building friendships over Christmas festivities, with candles, Christmas lights and chats around the Christmas tree. It all made sense. Jesus was right at the centre of it all, breaking down barriers, building friendships, filling loneliness and isolation with his love.

‘Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end’ (Isaiah 9:6).