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The Commentary

You never know...

Away with comments on UK politics and the state of the euro! Let me tell you an encouraging Christmas tale.

In recent years our occasional church choir has become decidedly decent. It is made up of ordinary folk with a sprinkling of true talent and is trained with transatlantic enthusiasm by Steve, the choirmaster, each Sunday tea-time during the run-up to events.

Being near the town centre we usually sing carols to the shoppers on the Saturday before Christmas as they flow past the back of our chapel building to and from the multi-storey car park. As we were thus singing on one such cold morning in 2009, and offering hot punch and mince pies to the passers-by, a man stopped to listen. He later approached us and said: ‘This is rather good. I’m one of the managers at the House of Fraser department store. Would you consider coming to sing in the store next Christmas?’ Contact details were exchanged. Later communications clarified that they were happy that if the choir sang we could give out some Christmas invitations. Details were finalised.

Amid the men’s wear

So, last December 18, about 30 to 40 Chertsey Streeters could be found singing their parts from their hearts in a glitzy cathedral of consumerism for two or three hours. If you remember, it was an extremely snowy day. This meant there were not quite so many people at the shops, but it made for a most Christmassy atmosphere. The choir was positioned amid the men’s wear on the ground floor at the bottom of the escalator well. The glorious sound rose to all floors. You could hear the carols and the tidings of great joy throughout most of the vast store.

On each floor around the escalator areas non-choir members from church were smiling broadly and offering invitations to our Christmas services. By and large these were gratefully accepted and one or two conversations ensued.

Unexpected encouragement

And so it was that a great and totally unexpected encouragement came. Adrian, one of our elders handing out invites, offered a leaflet to a man. The man smiled and said that he already had one and walked on. But then he stopped and walked back. ‘You’re from Chertsey Street, aren’t you?’ he said. ‘Let me tell you something. My mother came to your church for just one evening service over 20 years ago. She was just moving from Guildford to Bristol. But that night she was converted. She lived as a clear Christian for the rest of her life. Sadly, she died this last autumn.’ Adrian tried to find out a bit more in conversation, but soon the man had to go. When Adrian shared this with us, we all scratched our heads. I had a vague recollection of a woman who said she was moving to Bristol, but we really had no idea about what God had done on her one visit to the church. It was news to us all, even those who have been part of the church for a long time.

What’s the point of the story? It is this. Often we never know the outcome of our service for Christ. Sometimes it can seem as if nothing has been gained. However, it is not a cliche, but the truth, that you never know what God might do through your efforts for the gospel. I hope that encourages you. Outreach may seem as fruitless as casting bread upon the waters. But after many days it will return to you (Ecclesiastes 11.1). Nothing is lost that is done for God.

John Benton