The stonemasons who created St Mary’s unique chequered building hundreds of years ago could not have known what Luton’s population would look like today. We are proud of the black and white stonework, and equally proud that it is a picture of our town, one of the most multi-ethnic and multi-cultural places in England today. And we hope that our congregation will look like that! People of all ages and from all nations in the town built together as one and following one Lord, Jesus Christ. “The black and white church in Luton!”
The sad thing is that unity is not easy in the midst of the diversity of our languages, cultures, and experiences, as well as in a world that has been seriously messed around by wars, colonialism, injustices, racism, slavery and the like. Its sometimes easier to live, work and worship separately than to set out on a journey that will bring us closer together.
Peter and Anne Adams are working as part of the team at St Mary’s to help us make that journey. They have a dream that the church really can work to make peace in this troubled world - just like the prophet Isaiah wrote of in his vision of “turning swords and spears into farm tools.” (Isaiah 2.4) They will be working with others in the church, in the University of Bedfordshire Chaplaincy, and the different faith communities in Luton to make that a reality. Their work in peace and reconciliation also takes them regularly to China.
Update: June 2008. More on plans for intercultural work will be announced in September! Come back then – or before if you are impatient!
Update: June 2008. Peter and Anne Adams are in China for two months over this summer, talking with people about the Beijing Olympics, China today, China’s history and culture, its troubled relationship with the west over the past 200 years, the Church in China, and a host of other things. You can read what they are regularly blogging at www.ChinaEncounters.co.uk and a bit more about why they are there at About China Encounters.