I've just been talking with Neil Griffiths about our ten o'clock service to mark Homelessness Sunday on 28 January 2007. This will be a Parade Service and suitable for all ages.
Neil has real expertise and experience in this area and I've been really impressed with his passion about the subject and his imaginative thinking about worship. He works in the sector of Housing Associations and voluntarily works with Leicester YMCA as it's Chair. Neil is also a member of our church and co-leads the Pathfinders group for our 11-14 year olds.
The national organisers of Homelessness Sunday say,
The theme for the 16th Homelessness Sunday is No Home – No Justice.We've invited Neil to lead our worship and from what I've seen this morning, I think this will be one of the special services of this season. Neil has already taken a number of the young people from Pathfinders to meet with a range of people affected by homelessness and housing issues and their experience will enrich our engagement with this vital issue.
In our affluent consumer society we are all encouraged to think of our dwellings as monetary assets rather than as the heart of family life, as places of comfort and safe refuge, and as key components of our identity. In contrast Homelessness Sunday will focus on some of the injustices that are linked with homelessness.
