Church of England National Online Service - The Road to Emmaus

Frances Watt - Road to Emmaus

It was a great pleasure to be invited to contribute to the Church of England’s online service which we recorded today for release on Sunday 23rd April 2023. I was asked to speak for two minutes about what I had learnt from my time at St Stephen Walbrook, framing the response around themes from the gospel reading – the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24.13-35). This is what I said:

I hope I never lose the sense of awe and wonder that I felt when I first set foot inside this church. 

I’ve learnt the joy of being one of many footsteps that cross the threshold of this amazing place - some more frequently than others, but all fellow travellers.

By and large this is a place of fleeting encounters where we try to join in with the conversations people are having. There’s nothing complicated about that. It means opening the doors of the church at times when people are passing by – offering a reason to glimpse what’s going on inside. Early morning services repeated every quarter of an hour for busy commuters. Lunchtime Choral Classics to allow tour groups to hear inspiring music and readings. Evening Rush Hour Jazz brings joy to people making their way home.

 

In meeting so many different people - perhaps just for a short time -  I’ve begun to learn the importance of listening to the heart and not just the head. Recognising that our eyes and our mouths can so often let us down. We judge what we see - and often say the wrong thing. But deep down in our hearts we know what is right. 

 

Just as the disciples felt their hearts burning with the love of Jesus long before their brains recognised his presence. 

 

We were made by and for love. Unconditional love of one another and of God. Learning to live in that love is the journey of faith to which Jesus has called us all to follow. 

 

It’s the journey of a lifetime which is now calling me away from this place, to different people and a different path. Perhaps we’ll meet, somewhere along the way?

Image : Road to Emmaus, Frances Watt