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The small group who assembled (and I know there are more who would like to have been there) voiced the usual niggle - will we get enough people to help run the various jobs that will need doing as we, St John's Christian Community, play host to so many others who find great joy in the Festival.
Having enough volunteers is not just a problem we face. Many groups are finding it hard. however, we are a faith community who have a commitment to discipleship. We have a Mission which we are which we all share in as baptised people but quite often we have to be enthused and given a vision of God's glory, love, mercy, justice, peace and judgement before we can become more than involved. This isn't about serving at the Christmas Tree Festival (though that is at the heart a ministry of hospitality which has always been a central Christian virtue). This about how we move from Church to attending Church to becoming Church.
The old story about the pig and the hen comes to mind. In the good old English breakfast of bacon and eggs, the hen is involved, the pig, however, is totally committed.
When we start coming to church we get involved but as we are evangelised by the Good News of Jesus Christ we grow in commitment. WE become evangelised when we are in tune with worship, prayers, scripture and the sacrament of the Eucharist where Christ renews his commitment to us. We are also nurtured by the fellowship and faith of our fellow Christians.
A story about St Francis (whose feast day we keep on Tuesday) might illustrate what I'm trying to say:
One day, Francis and his companions were out preaching and they called at the home of a wealthy man. He had heard a lot about Francis's work and was glad to meet him. Francis and his friends were given a meal, shelter for the night, warm new clothing and a generous gift of money before they left the next day. Francis rejoiced in the man's generosity and hospitality. In his offering he was showing an involvement in the work Francis was doing for God.
But Francis sensed that there was something about the man which suggested that there was more. A little while later, he found himself in the area once again and he decided to call on the man again. He had barely opened the gate when the man rushed out to greet him. "Thank you for coming back. I have something else to give you." And there and then, the man gave Francis (and God) the most important gift of all. he gave himself. He joined Francis in his work and became a follower. He had moved from involvement to commitment and, like all who give themselves to God, he was fulfilled as a human being and as a Christian.
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