Rev Roberta Topham, minister at Christchurch, Ilkley

WHEN the world turns disastrously upside down there are always those who respond with great courage and kindness to put it right again. This is certainly what happened after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. when small communities on Canada’s eastern edge hosted almost 7,000 plane passengers who became stranded there. The story of how the townsfolk of Gander responded to the grounding of 38 commercial planes in their small airport that day has been turned into an award-winning musical called “Come from away”. I saw it recently in London and believe this is a rare good news story that is much needed for us too in the UK right now.

Gander is the town nearest to the airport on the island of Newfoundland. It has a population of around 11,000, so is a little smaller than Ilkley. It is a place where the residents still leave their houses and cars unlocked and everyone says hello to everyone else. It truly seems to be a town without prejudice and with a warm open heart. It is a landing point between Europe and the United States that has often been used in emergencies. So as American air space was shut down to all planes on the 11th September 2001, the air traffic controllers in Gander knew they had to prepare for an influx of planes and passengers.

The townsfolk of Gander and around about responded by setting up camps in all the schools and churches and even inviting passengers to come and stay in their homes. Food, medicines, clothes, toiletries, blankets and phones were all generously provided for free. It was a time of great anxiety for everyone, but no matter from where the passengers came they were all welcomed warmly.

No wonder this has been made into a musical as it is truly something to sing and dance about! But the story of Gander didn’t end in September 2001. They have painted the street in front of the town hall as a rainbow in a symbol of their inclusive welcome and the churches have raised thousands of Canadian dollars to enable them to welcome five Syrian refugee families into the community.

For us in the churches, Christmas is just coming onto our horizon. It is a time of hope and generosity. Its core is the story of God sending his special son as a messenger of light in a time of darkness. We are all invited to be part of God’s inclusive welcome and to keep on responding with courage and kindness even in the midst of difficult and uncertain times. The people of Gander give us a good idea of just what this response might look like.