I’ve been really impressed by so many people in and around Billingsley who are looking out for others, whether that is via the group organised by the parish council and the church, through an informal network or just keeping in touch with a neighbour. Jesus had a lot to say about loving each other and this is exactly what is happening at the moment, by people of faith and those of none.

The poet and hymn writer Sidney Carter wrote these lines back in the 1960s; they seem very appropriate for today:

When I needed a neighbour,

Were you there, were you there?

When I needed a neighbour, were you there?

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

Were you there?

 

I was hungry and thirsty,

Were you there, were you there?

I was hungry and thirsty, were you there?

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

Were you there?

 

I was cold, I was naked,

Were you there, were you there?

I was cold, I was naked, were you there?

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

Were you there?

 

When I needed a shelter

Were you there, were you there?

When I needed a shelter were you there?

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

Were you there?

 

When I needed a healer,

Were you there, were you there?

When I needed a healer, were you there?

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

Were you there?

 

Wherever you travel,

I’ll be there, I’ll be there.

Wherever you travel, I’ll be there.

And the creed and the colour

And the name won’t matter,

I’ll be there.

 

If you to listen to it being sung, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fExR7eOhJO0