I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was expecting when I set off for my first Summer Link event, “God’s Comfort in Troubled Times.” I’d never been to the vicarage before, but a cosy family home tucked away in a quiet cul-de-sac? That definitely wasn’t what I had pictured.
The moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt warm and welcoming. Jamie, our vicar Jon Drake’s four-year-old, had clearly taken on the role of chief cake server with great enthusiasm. I only wish I hadn’t eaten such a big dinner so I could have enjoyed more of the cakes!
It was nice to see people from all the different congregations coming together. By the time we settled into the living room to begin, there was already a lovely sense of connection.
As we listened to Helen’s experience and shared together, something really touched me, also voiced by another participant – the powerful sense of unity and empathy between us.
As someone who’s still relatively new to St Mary’s, I found that deeply comforting. The evening was rounded off by a Domino run painstaking put together by Matthew, Jon’s older son. I left feeling lighter, reassured, and grateful – reminded that God’s comfort often comes not just through his word, but through his people.