Birchwood Community Church

I learned a new word this week – “anomie”.  Anomie is a measure used by sociologists to describe a feeling of “not belonging”.  In the last 30 years a BBC Report found that the UK (including of course our region) has less of a sense of togetherness than once was the case.  People are lonelier.  Our society is more fragmented, or as sociologists put it “more atomised”.

The anomie index is based on various measures - the numbers of non-married adults and one-person households, how many people have moved in the last year and so on.  Sadly many of us have had experiences which underline the fact that family and community are not the strengths that they once were.

The same BBC report also pointed out that fewer people vote.  I believe that this is because we as a nation have lost faith in our politicians to solve our problems.  We are not only lonelier, we as a nation have less hope that things can change for the better.

Faced with this how do we – Birchwood Community Church – respond?  What can we do?  The need is so great and getting greater.

True – the need is massive.  But we have a great God, and I have a growing sense that God has put us here in Warrington for just such a time as this.  God's solution for a fragmented community is to gather people into His family, the church.  He can bring people together and reduce the loneliness.

When John Wesley saw the terrible social troubles of his day he did not despair.  Instead he saw the land as “ripe for mercy”, ready for God to act.  And God did act and our nation was transformed.

To end with another quote -“Some men see things as they are and ask why?  I dream dreams that never were and ask why not?"

I don’t doubt that God’s view of how He wants to change things here in our community is way beyond our wildest dreams.  So let's pray for Him to step in, then watch and see what He will do.  The Bible says that God's kingdom is "forcefully advancing" (Matthew 11 v 12); may it be so here in Warrington.  We desperately need it.

John