CAFÉ Church was held at Crediton Methodist Church on Sunday, February 5, led by Abigail Hardiman with the theme of “Wherever We Are”.

In the previous Café Church we had started a series called Front Line Sundays and, continuing this theme, Abigail wanted to consider what a difference we could make in the world whatever we are doing and wherever we are by asking God how we can do good things for the people today.

In the reading from Genesis we heard that Jacob was escaping his brother and laid down in the city of Luz to sleep and dreamt of a stairway from earth to heaven.

He called the place Bethel because this was where he had met with God. Many people had very real experiences of meeting God in ordinary and unexpected places.

Several people spoke of times they had experienced God’s presence with them.

Abigail said she had had an encounter with God halfway down the stairs at her parents’ home and she knew that God would be with her wherever she goes.

This promise we hear echoed down through history “yes, I will stay with you and protect you wherever you may go”.

Jacob seems to be a schemer and had cheated his brother, but God promised that He is with him and will use him to bring about His Kingdom. We are all living part of God’s plan and Abigail asked how God might be able to use us for His purposes in the places that we find ourselves – our front line.

We must trust in that promise that God is with us wherever we go.

We can all be chaplains in places where God’s love is needed.

Are we listening for God’s message?

What opportunities might we find opening up in many varied places that we find ourselves in during this coming week?

God is with us wherever we are and He wants us to share His love with the world.

We should be open to encountering Him and embodying His loving message to all on our front line.

Bronwyn Nott