How many of us today are worrying about what will happen to us after the end of the month? As March 29th approaches media reports constantly focus our attention inwards on ourselves and our own lives. However God calls us to look outwards whatever our own life may be like. He calls us to remember our neighbour, to serve in his name to share the love of Jesus by extending a welcome to those in need. Over the last two years, as a life group, we have prayerfully looked at understanding our response to the Refugee crisis. There are references throughout the Bible to welcoming andcaring for the stranger, as in the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37. Jesus himself became a refugee as a child Matthew 2:1

‘Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not see it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert……… to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise’. (Isaiah 43: 18-21) These verses were given to leaders of churches in Chester at the beginning of January, and they have continued to challenge me whether it be preparing a sermon, in my daily bible readings, and yesterday (Feb 5th) as verse for the day! And I shared these verses with the church on Vision Sunday, when we were sharing our dreams for St. Mark’s. I have been so encouraged