The morning of July 17th was a very special one for me and for St Thomas. In our morning service on that day we were all reminded, if we needed it, that God is not finished with our church. That reminder came in the form of four very different individuals who made their choice to exercise their discipleship amongst our fellowship.

Ministers (and others) are always tempted to play the numbers game – depressed when numbers are falling (as they are in so many churches) and elated when new members join. But what was special about that Sunday was not simply that four new members were welcomed but that they came to us by such different routes in life and from such different places. In one day we received the gifts that spring from Christian lives fostered in East Africa, Hungary, Scotland and England, and in four different traditions. And that is not even to mention the baptism of young Robert, who has been part of the life of the church since his earliest days and seems to have been adopted by half the congregation.

In the Reformed tradition we are taught that each and every person who joins a Christian fellowship is the bearer of new gifts sent from God. The church is not a long-established club which individuals join as humble new members. Rather, it is a living organism which is in constant need of refreshment and regeneration – just as a healthy body constantly regenerates itself, so does a healthy church. So when we met together in the days before the service I told our prospective members that I hoped they would not be shy in claiming their rightful place and their rightful voice as full participants in the life of St Thomas – a voice at least as loud as young Robert’s welcome contributions to our worship.

But best of all is not the gifts that new members bring but the fact that God has chosen to speak to the hearts of four such different people and say, in effect: ‘St Thomas’ is the place I choose for you to worship and serve me.’ It means that though the going can sometimes seem very tough, God still has a place for us in the divine purpose for this community. And that in itself is sufficient cause for celebration.

Our Church Meeting in June decided that the charity to benefit from the 5p collection for the third quarter would be Sister Lilly Pragasam’s work with widows – which she described so movingly at the special service in May. So David wrote to Sister Lilly and asked her for a short description of that new work…

Dear pastor David,

Greetings in Jesus name,

Regarding the widows, there are about 15 widows at a place called Dhandipura 120 km away from Bangalore, they are from the branch church of Good News Outreach Mission (Christ Prayer House). It was started in the year 1998.

The people who attend this church are from a Hindu background and they are very poor. In India if someone becomes a widow they will be neglected by their family and will not be looked after and also they cannot attend any special occasions – they will be left behind. But in this church since these ladies became Christians they were totally neglected by their sons and daughters, so sometimes during the festivals they come to the church and stay over there.

One day I happened to visit them with some sweets and a saree, since we used to distribute during Christmas. So when I heard about their story I was moved with compassion and decided to help them with one meal a day and to celebrate Christmas with them, because when I became a widow I was also treated like that by my neighbours. I was really hurt and cried more than I cried for my husband, but God was so good to me. He consoled my inner spirit and made me free from all these traditions. Now nobody says, you be away! I am with non-Christian neighbours: I share the love of Jesus to them but these widows at this village have been treated very badly. They love Jesus and they are strong in their faith. They never had cakes and good tasty food like the biryani we usually have at festivals – but now they have sometimes as and when we raise some money for them.

Pastor I am very much thankful to you and to God for coming forward to support these ladies, it was my prayers also, I have a prayer request please pray that somebody should come forward to give a piece of land for these ladies for less price, so that we can build a home for them and they can be more happy and safe. There are so many people in this village as land lords but these widows are not a concerned for them. They refuse to see the widows’ faces early in the mornings, so they wait till everyone goes to their respective work and then they are free to go out.

This is how the lives are, even though India is civilized.

I hope this information is ok, you can correct and do what way it can be put in since I am not good in English.

My love to your family and to all at St Thomas’ Church.

Closing with love and prayers from all of us.
In His Mission
Lilly