The Moderator prefaced his sermon by thanking the congregation for their response to his Tsunami appeal, describing the community’s response to the disaster as “a second Tsunami, this time of love, compassion and generosity which would allow communities to be rebuilt and hope to be restored in the countries affected”.

For the sermon he drew on the fact that West Church was planning a building programme, and pointed out that often expansions in church properties bring with them new visions that can reshape the way we do church. But despite new visions, the old description for church buildings, as “Meeting Houses”, still provided a good description of what such buildings should provide.

“Meeting Houses”, he said, “are places where people come to meet with God, to which the risen Christ comes, stands amongst friends and says afresh: ‘Come to me, I will give you rest’. A Meeting House is a place where the Holy Spirit is active, breathing to fill our sails and taking us out deeper. The Holy Spirit is not just a wind, but also a fire in our hearts, and a dove of peace that can be felt like a breeze, like the warmth of a candle, caressing our spirits to bring calmness and peace.

“A Meeting House is also a place where people come to meet each other, and to help each other. God asks us to open our hearts to each other. This is what it means to be a Christian, and what it means to be a Protestant.” He related this point about showing love to others to his moderatorial theme, “Live a Life of Love”, stressing that each of the “L” words in the phrase were essential: “We are not simply called to think about love, but to live it, and not to live it out just once or twice, but to live a whole life of love”.

Developing this theme, Mr Newell went on to highlight three things that we should find in a Meeting House. “First, and simply, we should find a warm welcome, both to those within our church and to those around us. Christ had a way of saying to people ‘you are important, you are welcome’. That’s why people liked him. He was radical for his time – it mattered not to him whether a person was rich or poor, man or woman. Rather, he would go for the person liable to be overlooked – a child, or an older person. Christ also treated equally the religious and those who had become bored with religion. He was interested and fascinated by those who were considered by others to be ‘dodgy’ people. That didn’t put him off. He sought out the people who were struggling with morality and with broken relationships. He befriended Samaritans like no other Jew would, and his friendships got him in trouble. We should therefore be a church without walls or fences. We need to build bridges, to break out of the sectarianism that makes us only be friends of people like us.”

He challenged those present to model themselves on the statue of Christ with His arms outstretched. “If you see someone alone in Church, make a move. Don’t leave it to the Minister or the Elders. If you have seen that someone is alone it is because Christ has helped you to do so – that’s what He does. A warm welcome in Church goes back to Christ’s welcome.”

“The second thing we should find in a Meeting House”, he suggested, “is a familiar voice, the voice of Christ. That is what makes Sunday, and times of worship, different to other times”. He spoke of his own memories of returning to his parent’s house after he had left home, and of hearing their familiar voices in response to his calling “Anybody home?” “Home is somewhere we associate with familiar voices. Jesus taught that sheep follow the shepherd because they are familiar with his voice, and we will do likewise when we become familiar with Christ’s voice”. He explained that people often ask him ‘What do you hear when you say that you hear Christ’s voice?’ “Christ usually speaks to me in about five words, not in paragraphs. It might be ‘Ken, I love you’ or ‘Ken, hold on’ at a time when I feel like I am falling; it might be “Ken, your sins are forgiven, go in peace, but next time try to get rid of your sins’, or ‘Ken, let go and move on’. At other times it is ‘Ken, I like the way you are thoughtful with people’”. He pointed out that when he goes to Tescos, he does not go as a tourist, to admire the products on the shelves. Rather he goes to get, picking up a basket and not leaving with it empty. In the same way, we should come to Church aiming to get. “When Christ says these things to me in Church they go straight into my basket”.

He told a story of how he once asked a woman what she thought she heard God saying to her, and she replied that she always heard Him telling her about her shortcomings and weaknesses. The Moderator had responded by asking her if that sounded like anyone else she knew, and she said that it did – her Mother. “Do you think that maybe it’s your Mother that you are hearing, rather than God?”, he had challenged her, “Because Christ will always see the good things in your life, and we as Christians should do likewise. If you see something that you can affirm someone over, do so.” And he challenged the congregation again: “Hear three or four words from Christ before you leave here this morning, and put them in your basket”.

Finally, he suggested that a Meeting House should be a “room with a view”. “Christ will show you a window, through which you will see where he wants you to serve.” He told of how he had been in Indonesia during the last year, and had stayed with a woman who had literally looked out her window and seen poverty, rejection and neglect. The Lord had said to her to see what was right in front of her, and as a result she had set up an orphanage and a centre for women. He asked those present “What is your mission? It may be to your own family – the mission of Mary and Joseph was to be parents. Perhaps you are older, and thinking of retirement – God gave many of his most important missions to people aged over eighty. So look at the place where you work, at the community you live in, and try to see what your mission is. Christ will always give you a room with a view.”

In concluding his sermon he reminded the congregation of the three characteristics of a Meeting House: “a place where we receive Christ’s welcome; a place where we hear Christ’s voice, and a place where we discover Christ’s mission for us – a room with a view. May God help us all to live a life of love here in this location in Bangor.”

The former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, The Rev. Ken Newell, visited West Church on Sunday 16 January, preaching at both morning services. Between the services he attending a coffee morning run by the scouts to raise funds for his Tsunami Appeal.

In welcoming the Moderator the Rev. Charles McMullen spoke of how important Ken’s ministry had been, for the Presbyterian Church, for the wider community and for himself personally, in challenging prejudices and demonstrating God’s love in action.

Ken was accompanied by his wife Valerie, and during the morning a new banner was hung at West Church, designed and produced by the church’s Banner Group to reflect the Moderator’s theme for the year of “Live a Life of Love”. West Church also presented the Newells with a smaller version of the banner, for which Valerie expressed thanks to the congregation and those who had sewn the banners.

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