The story of Jesus’ visit to the temple as a 12 year old, staying back with the elders and causing his parents to search for him for three days says this

Luke 2:49-50 NRSV
He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them.

https://bible.com/bible/2016/luk.2.49-50.NRSV

If we allow ourselves to see this as a metaphor for today, where is the Father’s house where we must go to to find Jesus?

John 14:23 NRSV
Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. https://bible.com/bible/2016/jhn.14.23.NRSV

So, as we learn obedience to Jesus, firstly, by loving him, there we will find Jesus in the midst. We search for goodness, beauty, and justice and wherever it may be found, find Jesus. Jesus commands us to love God, our neighbour; our enemy, and ourselves. Jesus commands us not to be anxious and draws us to wisdom. He gives us each other to work this out.

All of this formation is experienced face to face with real people: it is found in community. In Paul’s time it was clear where he might find this community.

Acts 16:13 NRSV
On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there.

https://bible.com/bible/2016/act.16.13.NRSV

Where might we find such people in our search? Where is the river for our times? We are if nothing highly connected, but the wise say lack real connection.

Takeley chapel might be a place with religious services. But, as a group of people, we meet for coffee each Sunday morning and soup on Wednesday. And yes, these come first. At about 10am on Sunday, we will read scripture and sing, but the coffee is brewed by 930am. At about 7pm on Wednesday the soup is on the go, all varieties, and at 8pm we will sit in silence and pray. We would be delighted to see you there. What I am saying is, here is a river, here is a place of connection.

So put your phones away and find some real connection with us.