FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY: Pantomime embarrassment proved we are family
by the Rev Hugo Deadman, vicar, St Michael's Church, Paulsgrove
IT was one of the most terrifying things that’s happened to me.
Thanks to some very kind donations, I took a group of 30 from Paulsgrove to see Cinderella, which was staged by Groundlings Theatre in the Historic Dockyard.
It was a cracking show – and the Paulsgrove contingent added to the noise, colour and energy. Two of our children. Adalia and Penelope, even got to dance on stage!
But then the Dame, the Fairy Godmother, said that he was looking for love – and hoped to find it in the audience. Thirty people from Paulsgrove immediately pointed straight at me.
So I was love-bombed by a large burly dame for the next hour and a half. As you imagine, when he realised I was a priest, the innuendo went off the chart.
It was excruciating. But I was quite moved by their reaction. It meant that the Paulsgrove crew knew I was up for a laugh at my own expense – and they could put me in the firing line. One of our mums, Katie, posted afterwards that she’d had the best time with her church family.
That’s bang on. We are a family. We can laugh at one another and with one another. We can enjoy treats like attending the pantomime together.
Sometimes we might disagree – but we’re bonded together and nothing can break those bonds. We’ve got one another’s backs. Nobody gets left behind.
I see that every day at St Michael’s, where I’m lucky enough to serve – and right across Paulsgrove. People always go the extra mile for one another, even if it costs them.
That shows in how we are as a church – and how people explore and live out their faith. They preach the gospel, but they only sometimes use words. The show it in the good that they do and the love that they share. This is the love of God in action.
It’s often how people start coming to church and then stay. They know everyone is loved and cared for. Everyone is valued.
That’s a glimpse of the endless love and care God has for every one of us. We are all part of God’s family. You’d be welcome to join us – and I promise you won’t get love-bombed by a pantomime dame.
ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH, Hempsted Rd, Portsmouth PO6 4AS