Joy to the World

Last night, two of my church cell groups combined to go Carol Singing in the streets around our church building. It was a beautiful night anyway with a gusty wind which would carry our voices and a sharp clear night with stars and a cracking atmosphere.
There would have been about 16 - 20 of us including teenagers, and we all greatly enjoyed being together and singing out of our love for the Lord and our desire to bless this community.
For those of you that don't know Scotland, we live in an area which is difficult to reach, not through persecution, not through aggressive response, not because of anything other than an apparent indifference. People seem completely unmoved - until you either wait for them to make the opening, or till you touch a sensitive area in their own being. The latter seems to be the only way to reach out. To do this you need to be in relationship and open with folks.
We had many people coming to their windows, children receiving sweeties, many folk just listening, a couple paused on their way past. As we moved between locations, a young single mum and her friend had been stood on the kitchen doorstep - listening.
On being greeted with a "Merry Christmas!" she declared that our "carols had made it seem like a real Christmas" for her - "at last!"
Hopefully we can continue to get alongside these lovely but damaged folks with our toddler groups, dance groups and 'Kettle's On' coffee times.
One thing's for sure - they're ready and open it seems.