What is your church like?
I’m often asked that question by people who usually haven’t been to church for a while and perhaps they would like to start coming again. I usually answer that I hope we are a church where people find it easy to feel ‘they belong’. As I have got used to spending more time in the parishes of this group, I have felt welcomed.
Some time ago I came across the following welcome notice; it has been circulating on social media. I think it originates from Coventry Cathedral. I very much hope we are this sort of church:
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, straight, gay, confused, well-heeled or down at heel. We especially welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers.
We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You’re welcome here if you’re ‘just browsing,’ just woken up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury or haven’t been to church since Christmas ten years ago.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet, and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit mums, football dads, starving artists, tree-huggers, latte-sippers, vegetarians, junk-food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like ‘organised religion.’ (We’re not that keen on it either!)
We offer a welcome to those who think the earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because granny is visiting and wanted to come to the Cathedral.
We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throat as kids or got lost on the ring road and wound up here by mistake. We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters… and you!
It is always wonderful to be able to welcome you, Sunday service details are always in the Village Magazines and on noticeboards.
You are especially welcome to join us for Harvest on Sunday 5th October and early next month for the Service of Light on 2nd November at 3.00pm. Here we name and light candles for those villagers who have died in the last year and for loved ones we would like to remember.
The following Sunday 9th November is Remembrance Sunday when we gather around the war Memorial to remember those who died in war.
I do hope you can join us; a warm welcome awaits.
With best wishes
Caroline
The Revd Caroline King
Parish Administrator
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