By Rev Jonathan Easton-Crouch

Two Sundays ago, St James Church, in Martin Way, marked Homeless Sunday in readings, music and prayers at our 9.30am Parish Eucharist and also at our 11am Family Service.

We heard from a Trustee of the Merton Faith in Action Homeless Drop-In project about the work the charity does to provide hot food, clothing, advice and a place of safety twice a week for the homeless and precariously housed.

The project is an inter-faith initiative in the Borough of Merton and runs from The Salvation Army Citadel on Kingston Road Wednesday and Friday. It is always looking for more local groups and faith communities to support it through donations of money, food and clothing.

Find out more at: http://homelessuk.org/details.asp?id=UK30974.

Christ, who had no place to lay his head, told us that if we feed, clothe and offer hospitality to any, we do it for Him because we are all members of the same human family.

The collection at St James for the project raised over £260.

The children and parents/carers at St James Family Service also learnt more about homelessness and God's call to care for all people.

We played a game of musical chairs with a difference to see what it felt like for some to lose out and for others to win everything - such as warmth, food and the comforts we all take for granted.

Then we made some models of houses out of cardboard boxes to go on our family service board, to remind us that those who live on our streets need homes.

Our Family service is on the 1st Sunday of each month at 11am and is 45 minutes of sing, story and activity for children and their parents/carers who want to learn more about God.

You would be very welcome to join us.