A new fence

Over the summer we had a new fence put up at church. The old, very old, broken wooden one has been replaced with a new metal fence. It is a huge improvement. And so many people have commented on how much better it looks - from people just passing by as the work was being done, to parents in the playground at the girls' school. We've even had people from the local allotments provide us with plants for the flowerbeds as these are now much more visible with the thinner fencing.

The local community have noticed the new fence. Presumably they noticed the old fence too - but were too polite to comment.

Last Sunday we started our autumn preaching series. Between now and Christmas we're going to be looking at Leviticus. But we started in Exodus 40 with Moses setting up the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle was the tent where God met with his people. The word 'tabernacle means 'dwelling'. In Exodus 40:34 we read that after Moses had set it all up as instructed the glory of God filled the Tabernacle. Later the Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple in Jerusalem, and in 2 Chronicles 7:1 we read the same thing - that the glory of God filled the Temple.

So when John speaks about Jesus in John 1:14 and says that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and that we have seen his glory John is letting us know that God now dwells with his people in the person of Jesus.

If we then skip forward a few more years to Acts 2 we read that after Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension the disciples were together when there was the sound like a strong wind and fire came to rested on each of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. God no longer dwells in the tabernacle, or the temple. God no longer makes his presence known on earth in the person of Jesus. Now the presence of God is experienced in the disciples as they meet together through the Holy Spirit.

What has that got to do with a new fence?

Although God cannot be limited in any way, he often chooses to make his presence known through the local church (the people rather than the building). People will experience God through the local church. Whether that is on a Sunday morning, or through the care shown at a parent and toddler group, through a meal served at a homeless shelter, through a Christmas shoebox gift, through... through... through...

People notice a new fence. I wonder what else people notice about their local church. Do they see the glory of God? Do they experience the presence of God as he meets with his people?