I spent every evening in the Wimbledon tennis queue

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with Rev Carolyn Skinner

Good morning.

A few weeks ago, I spent every evening in the Wimbledon tennis queue – not to purchase a ticket but to take a team of volunteers from local churches to welcome people to Wimbledon. We love our community, our little patch of London, which is SW19, and we want every person from around the globe to feel welcomed. For 14 evenings we headed to Wimbledon Park with free gifts and a listening ear. We met people from so many countries and loved hearing their stories and their passion for tennis.

One of the things which speaks powerfully to our team is when the tennis fans invite us into their little space around their tent, to sit on their chairs, to share their food. We are there to welcome them to Wimbledon, and yet we too become recipients of their welcome. In this space of invitation and warmth, barriers come down and connections are made. It may feel like a small gesture, but the act of welcome is deeply meaningful. It seemed to come quite easily in that relaxed, friendly atmosphere. I know that often in busy daily life these acts of welcome can require more effort, but they are so worth it. It can really brighten someone’s day.

Ultimately my act of welcome is a reflection of how God has welcomed me, and it is a joy to pass that on, as it says in Romans 15:7 ‘Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.’

Loving God, help me to remember today that whenever I welcome someone with even the smallest gesture of a word, a handshake, a smile, I am conveying something of your heart to others.

Amen