WHEN I was a little girl, I remember how my mother used to insist that I share my toys and my sweets with other children.

I can also remember as a very young child not wanting to share, but under my mother’s regime I had no choice.

Now as an adult I am really grateful for those early instructions, as I have learnt over the years that sharing is joy.

There can be no real relationship without sharing. We have to give and take, listen and talk and share out our gifts and skills so that we work well together whether it is a marriage, friendship, work colleague or simply being a good neighbour.

I believe that life in churches and chapels have the same sense of sharing, celebrating together and sometimes weeping together.

The Buddha is quoted as having said: “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”

Every one of us has something to share with another human being and, like the candle, we will not be diminished by the experience.

Brook Street Chapel has a hall in which every Tuesday we have a coffee morning. I would like to offer to share some of the space to any small gathering who would like to meet up with their particular interest.

If you have friends with a common hobby or interest and would like to meet regularly but can’t afford to rent a room for a couple of hours, why not share our coffee morning with us.

Ring 01565 754465 or email chattyministerjean@gmail.com for more information, or better still, call in on us on a Tuesday morning to have a coffee and a talk.

Let us have a shared vision of us all giving of ourselves to make this world a nicer place. May God be with you.

Minister Jean