Anji Russell
Poetry and Design

Sharing a meal together is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy hospitality at the home of another person. In our church recently we embarked on a sermon series called 'Jesus is in the House'. We went on a journey into many of the houses that Jesus entered, as recorded in the New Testament. We met Jesus there, the people who lived or were visiting there, learnt about what they were doing, their hopes, challenges and emotions. What a wonderful journey we had! We saw miracles, changed lives and so much more. When Jesus is in the house anything can happen! More often than not there was a meal to be shared when Jesus was there. My research for these poems was taken straight from the Bible and these Sunday sermons.

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A subsequent initiative in our church called 'A Place at the Table' followed on from this sermon series. The church family was all invited to offer hospitality in their homes, or accept the hospitality of another person after a Sunday morning communion service held on the third Sunday of each month. During communion we are involved in the most important meal that Jesus ever took part in - the Last Supper. We invite Jesus into our homes too, to share in our hospitality - then we can also say Jesus is in the house!

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'Jesus is in the House' and 'A Place at the Table' inspired these poems. Sometimes they are told through the eyes of an onlooker and sometimes through the eyes of the main character. We see people healed, forgiven and wonderfully changed.

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As you read these poems my hope is that you too will experience a wonderful journey and see miracles, changed lives and so much more. Please travel with me as we see what happens each time Jesus is in the house.