Warm welcome

WHAT do you first notice when visiting somewhere for the first time? Maybe you are trying a new restaurant, and as you go through the door what would you expect to see – a friendly face, a warm greeting, a safe environment?

Over the last few months many churches, libraries, community centres have been turning their buildings in to a warm welcome or a warm space.

During autumn last year, the realisation that there would be many who could not afford to heat their homes, with many people now based at home due to the increase in home working through the pandemic.

Nationally there are websites that venues can register on so that anyone can find the nearest ‘Warm Welcome’ or ‘Warm Space’. What each venue can offer is listed, for instance here at The Salvation Army offer, free food, and drinks, free Wi-Fi and charging points for laptops, phones etc.

We have a shower room and laundry facilities too for anyone to use.

January is a bit of a bleak month, short days, colder, money seems short – perhaps a warm welcome and a change of scene could be just the thing to get you through the next few months.

Offering a warm welcome or giving hospitality is nothing new, it is how the Church was when it first started, people sharing what they had with those that didn’t have, showing love and giving hope.

The Bible say in 1 Peter 4: 9-11: Love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless – cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. (The Message)