All the lonely people...

One of the churches of which I am privileged to be Minister is New Parks Methodist Church.  The church building is situated on a large council estate.  Within the last year or so, a recognition arose that in some ways the church had become detached from the community which it sought to serve.  Rather than come up with some ‘great ideas’ which might not work, a decision was taken to meet regularly to pray and try to listen to what God was saying (always the best place to start!)

A number of members of the church family have met together week by week, committed to waiting until God gave them a clear vision of the way forward.  In the meantime, links were being made with various community groups.  After a number of months of praying and listening, a strongly held belief arose that God was challenging the church to address the needs of some of the lonely people in their community, and to offer opportunities for friendship to those who feel isolated. 

There is no doubt that loneliness is a huge issue in the UK. The following is an extract from an article in The Guardian:

...Three months ago we read that loneliness has become an epidemic among young adults. Now we learn that it is just as great an affliction of older people. A study by Independent Age shows that severe loneliness in England blights the lives of 700,000 men and 1.1m women over 50, and is rising with astonishing speed.

Social isolation is as potent a cause of early death as smoking 15 cigarettes a day; loneliness, research suggests, is twice as deadly as obesity. Dementia, high blood pressure, alcoholism and accidents - all these, like depression, paranoia, anxiety and suicide, become more prevalent when connections are cut. We cannot cope alone...

...A government study in June revealed that Britain is the loneliness capital of Europe. We are less likely than other Europeans to have close friends or to know our neighbours…

A desperately sad state of affairs.  As I pondered the issue, into my mind came the well-known Beatles song, “Eleanor Rigby”, which includes the haunting lyrics, “All the lonely people, where do they all come from?”  

I found and listened to a version of the song on YouTube.  As I listened, I read some of the comments which others had left.  One comment really struck me:

“I was listing to this song and looking through the comments and I have finally realised that I am all alone and I don't know where I belong.”

The New Parks project is still in its early stages, but I know it reflects God’s heart for those in desperate need of love and friendship.