This Sunday the whole Swan Hill Anglican Parish worships together barefoot. Two years ago a parish councillor suggested we have a ‘Barefoot Worship Service’ because ‘Barefoot Bowls’ is so successful. So finally we are giving it a go. This is a service were we leave our shoes at the door (optional of course) and with them some of our formality. Instead of a sermon we have Rev’d Tawk Kap to give 
his witness. Our songs and hymns will follow the theme and we will enjoy a ‘bring and share’ lunch after the service.
For me as a child going barefoot was a symbol of freedom. The only times we were allowed to go barefoot were at the beach or at my Uncle and Aunt’s farm. But going barefoot does have a more serious side. God asked Moses to take of his shoes because he was on holy ground, so it is a sign of humility and acknowledgement of God’s presence. In most of Asia it is customary to take shoes off to go into a place of worship or a home. Pilgrims sometimes walked barefoot as penance or to be aware of the poverty of those who cannot afford shoes. St Francis lived humbly in utmost simplicity and walked barefoot. And then there is the beautiful poem Footprints by Mary Stevenson.
Please come and join us in this service as we contemplate what it means to go barefoot.