A Pastoral Letter from the Revd Canon Mark Rylands, Bishop-Designate of Shrewsbury.
Date 02/10/09
Everybody Welcome
Removal firms have been calling; rooms and furniture have been measured. We're getting ready to move from Devon to Shropshire.
In recent years, I have met a few Christians who, having moved home, stop going to church. Busy getting the new house in order and keeping up with the friends and family they have left behind, the new residents simply drop out of the habit. They don't ever make it to their new local church. One of them I discovered had served as the church Treasurer for over 15 years in the last parish. He and his wife had decided to have a rest in the new; they enjoyed it so much that they kept their heads down hoping no one would notice. No one did for several years. Then, one autumn the new Vicar encouraged the church family to greet neighbours they hadn't met properly. The former Treasurer and his wife were invited to the Harvest Supper which was preceded by Harvest Evensong. They went, were made to feel very welcome and became part of the Christian community again. They were glad to have been asked. They had realised something was missing from their lives but had felt awkward about making the step back into active worship and service. So they didn't, until they were invited. Equally, I have come across others who, though not practising Christians, move house and want to start afresh. They think this might be just the right time to visit the local church, get to know people in the community and " give God a go ". But it's hard to cross the church threshold when you haven't done it for ages (or never at all), when you are worried about local customs and feeling like an alien. We often need encouragement to try something new ­ and to know we will be welcome.
Back To Church Sunday and Harvest-tide gives the local church family the perfect opportunity to welcome back and welcome afresh those new to our communities. Of course, some are natural at welcoming, others are challenged in this area.
I'll not forget the Churchwarden who came up to the vestry just before the start of the service on my second Sunday as Vicar to tell me: " Mark, there's a stranger in church! " Nor the time I had invited a friend, a local parish councillor, together with his young family to church. In the past he had been an active participant but, following an argument and rift, had left. On this occasion, his first Sunday back for several years, he was greeted by the Sidesman at the door with the words: " Hello stranger! " I could have chinned him (the sidesman, that is). A church's welcome can be let down by one remark.
I am currently reading " Everybody Welcome " written by Lichfield's very own Bob Jackson and George Fisher. Full of useful ideas, it provides a step by step guide for enabling your church to become the welcoming, accepting, loving Body of Christ it is called to be. It recognises that " true welcome comes from the whole community, not just a couple of specialists. " This course is not just about welcoming everybody but about everybody in church learning to be welcoming. It looks superb and I hope it will be widely used.
The course, however, will be no easy ride because it reminds us of our high calling _ to reflect God's nature and be beacons of his Kingdom. When people meet the local church, will they meet the living God?
At the heart of a warm welcome is an attentiveness to others. One of the attractive things about Jesus is the way he noticed individuals _ the little man up the sycamore tree, the despised tax collector in his stall, the sick woman who touched his cloak in a crowd. Not only did he notice them but he made them feel that they really mattered. He counted them in and saw, not the problem, but the potential. Matthew, Peter and Mary Magdalene all came with their issues but Jesus was able to see what they could become. A church like that would be so attractive _ worth joining, even. Mandy, Fran, Sam and I are looking forward to moving to Shropshire and becoming part of God's family in Lichfield Diocese. Thank you for the kind cards and messages that have already made us feel so welcome. Together with you, we hope to learn how to offer divine welcome to those searching for the way home.
Mark Rylands >
October 2009