Christmas 8: so much from so little (House of Bread)

Jesus & Christmas part 8 - 

so much from so little

Guest post by William Norris

William became a Christian a couple of years ago as an adult with two grown children. Recently he became the first formal employee of a wonderful Christian charity called House of Bread.  I asked William to share a little of his understanding of Christmas and inspire us with some of the work of House of Bread over the Christmas time.

Christmas - a difficult time?

I have always found the run up to and indeed the Christmas period a difficult time. Many people tell me the same thing.  When I became a Christian two years ago I waited with fascination to discover what sort of new feeling would start as the weather grew colder and the Christmas Coca Cola adverts appeared on TV. What I had not expected was that rather than suddenly being overtaken by the love to buy stuff and share with family and friends, a far wider focus began to form in me.

House of Bread

It is here that the work with House of Bread over the Christmas time helped focus what Christmas is all about and redeemed for me this wonderful celebration of Jesus Christ being born into this world as a tiny baby. The material world crowds in on people across society and for many it is hard to manage and understand. For the vulnerable it seems to offer the quick fix to happiness and normality. But as the retail world increases the pressure, the message of Christmas gets lost behind the glitter of the shopping centres across the country.

Engaging All People 

The most exciting thing for me about what House of Bread is what it does in helping such a wide range of people in need, while at the same time engaging an even wider volunteer group around the work. The sense of Christian community with the sole purpose to think about others needs and not one’s own, is the gift that can only come through knowing God. So many in the wider society have confused the true Christmas message and yet it is so simple.

House of Bread currently offers a weekly meal and the opportunity to share conversation in a safe place to a wide range of people in need. The closeness of community that faith groups try to have is what we offer. A growing need in many of our friends is to ask the volunteers about their faith and many now come to churches in the local area. By doing this they see for themselves Christian witness in the wider community and not just on a weekly basis at House of Bread.

House of Bread has continued to grow in what we can do to support an increasing number of people who come each week. We now offer food to take away as well as a bag of food to support the food needs for the week. Many of the friends who come are living in a confused world and have great difficulty in trusting people. Much of the work is around relationship building and stabilising the world they live in. Often conversations are around what positive things can be done to try to break the cycle of troubles.

Making things normal

This Christmas, we have really tried to learn from the work through the year and a particular focus is on trying to normalise things. We have worked with  many wonderful volunteers, so that we have nearly as many helpers as friends! We want to share the sense of community.

So much from so little

The Christmas story is about so much from so little; a baby born in a manger, with nothing in the world, save his loving parents; no money, no material wealth. The parallel for me is the House of Bread Christmas. For many people who come, have very little or nothing in terms of material value or money. This nothing includes a lack of spirit and self-worth. Very often the early life of many of our friends has offered a confused view of the christen Faith. By talking and explaining the truth and the simplicity of the true message many, for the first time, begin to understand things better.

So to be part of a family and to experience the unconditional love that comes as the true meaning of Christmas is the redemption of what Christmas is all about for me. I ask myself how I feel and the answer is simply - love for all mankind. The desire to be able, through the work of the House of Bread at Christmas, to share the wealth of Christian Love with others in the community; how simple and yet…………..Most of the world just does not ‘get it’ and regards Christmas as a time of burden. But we can redeem Christmas.

How could you reach out this Christmas to someone in need?

How could you encourage your children to reach out to those in need in their lives?