Boys and Girls, we have got a new family in church this morning. I'd like to introduce them to you. They are called the Tate family. They have just moved in. The Tates' have always gone to church every week, in each of the various places where they have lived before they came here, and they have come to join us this morning.

I'd like you to meet Mr and Mrs Tate and their two children.

Mr DICK TATE stands for the person who must have his own way at all costs, and who objects to everything; otherwise he will leave the church. He is a bully who has absolutely no regard for other people. He doesn't care who gets hurt, as long as he can manipulate others to maintain his own position of power and control.

His wife Mrs HESTER TATE - her friends call her HESI. Poor HESI is bad with her nerves. No wonder. She worries about every single thing down to the last detail, and have you noticed how she keeps putting things off. When it is proposed to do anything she is always unsure. She'll tell you to wait a while. Wait a few years, this is not the right time. Why don't you wait till things are better? Or she'll say I don't think we can afford it. The church is always looking for money. At other times you'll be told we've tried it all before and it hasn't worked. Or the most used six words in any church WE'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, which in HESI's vocabulary also means and we've no intention of doing it either! Getting HESI to express her opinion on anything is very difficult, because she will never give you a definite answer. She always sits on the fence with a cushion.

When their first child was born they decided to call him after his Italian uncle AGOSTINI. In school he was called AGI. Young AGI TATE can be an awkward customer. He never stops talking, usually about other people's faults. If there is any gossip, innuendo, or petty jealousy about AGI will be in the thick of it stirring the pot. And then when trouble comes he keeps himself out of the way and someone else has to pick up the pieces. He is a professional moaner. He is always the first to complain, and if there is a worst interpretation to be placed on a neighbour's action that is the one that AGI will take. He left his last church because the minister didn't shake hands with him. His parents said he was quite right. They never liked that minister much anyway! They were so glad that they would be moving soon and coming to live in our parish.

We've met the son, now it's time to meet the daughter. Here we have SARAH, PATRICIA, ELEANOR, CAROL TATE, known as Miss SPEC-TATE. She pays £1 a week for the privilege of criticising the parson. Miss SPEC-TATE is the onlooker who knows the answer to every question. Of course she does, because she has had a very good education-she is completely self taught in every subject. No matter what it is she will make sure that her views get pride of place. But she doesn't get round to doing anything herself, because she really doesn't want to become involved. After all she hasn't the time. She is too busy minding other people's business, instead of minding her own.

We've met DIC-TATE, HESI-TATE, AGI-TATE AND SPEC-TATE. You can see that Christianity has worn a little thin in this household. When all four members of this family get together, peace and harmony go out the window.

The best antidote to the TATE family is COMMITMENT, COURAGE AND PRAYER, and as the gospel tells us today, to be salt and light right where we are. Salt is a symbol of hospitality, an antiseptic, and a preservative. It gives flavour to everything it touches. As Christians we should be effective grains of salt, spreading the flavouring of FAITH, HOPE, and LOVE in our daily living. We are also to be light to the world. However brightly we may shine for Jesus, if we share his love only with other Christians we shall be hiding our light under a tub.

God wants everyone to come to know him for themselves, to enter into a personal relationship with him through faith in Jesus Christ crucified and risen. When we do that, we become part of God's real family, which is made up of those who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord; who are prepared to count the cost of promoting unselfish attitudes; who are willing to offer help and encouragement to others and to accept personal responsibility in the service of the kingdom of God.

The Tate family is to be found in every congregation. This morning it may be easy to think that we can identify our neighbours, but the harder question for all of us is do we recognise ourselves?

Prayer: