Feed, teach and pray
CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 31 July 2025
Friends in Christ,
Community Hub BarBQ, Homelessness Week 2024
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them… So he began teaching them many things. (Mark 6:34)
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14)
Jesus was frequently surrounded by large groups of needy people. He attracted them. On one famous occasion he tried slipping away with his apostles to a ‘solitary place’ only to be met by a crowd in excess of 5,000.
When confronted by these needs and numbers, Jesus was stirred to compassion. Both the Greek and English words for compassion convey a sense of being deeply affected: the Greek contains the idea of being moved in one’s guts; the English carries the idea of shared or common (com) suffering (passion).
Of course his disciples were neither as compassionate nor as capable; but they did have the best of all teachers.
And so, as evening approached and the disciples are getting ready to dismiss the crowds and call it a day, Jesus challenges them to provide for the masses - a task which to them seems unfair and impossible. But when the bread and fish were handed out ‘they all ate and were satisfied’; there were even more leftovers than there’d been food to start with!
God knows that we’re not able to solve the world’s problems all by ourselves; that was never his intention. But when in obedience we bring to him the little that we have, he is able to provide – abundantly.
God’s people are still surrounded by large groups of needy people. We must learn from Jesus to teach them, and feed them, and pray with them. Jesus is patient – his disciples needed to be taught this lesson on more than one occasion (see Matthew 15 & Mark 8 with the oddly similar feeding of the 4,000). But when offered first to God, our material and spiritual means can bring about great good.
I would say that’s certainly been our experience at Street T, our twice weekly breakfast, Bible & buddies club. Our material offerings are quite simple – porridge, toast and fruit along with something home-made, care of our clever Street Chefs. But our fellowship is rich. Indeed, our two Bible discussions were full to overflowing this week. It’s so uplifting to see volunteers and guests alike tucking into some porridge, enjoying a chat, and feasting on God’s word. God has provided – abundantly!
This coming week is national Homelessness Week. St Andrew’s will be hosting a special Community Hub on Tuesday morning with a variety of charity and government services, and offering free food, haircuts, photo portraits, clothes and bedding, a Bible discussion, and tours of the cathedral. Please pray that God would use this occasion to help the needy and glorify Jesus.
You can assist by donating blankets or clothing – especially warm or waterproof jackets – to the cathedral office by Tuesday. And please get in touch if you’d like to know more about our Street T breakfast club.
Warmly in Christ,
Rob Elder
Community Chaplain