WORKING TO BECOME A CHURCH OF WELCOME

The last thing the church wants to become is a service station. This means you drive into the church to get your religious services done, your documentation filled out, and then you are off until the next time. This is being church at its low point.

 

A healthy church is one which works hard to be welcoming to people. 

 

Now, welcoming is always a difficult risk. I do not know the other person. Perhaps he will want to use me for money or take advantage of me. Perhaps he will be frightened of me and say some unpleasant words. Such a person is like an angry porcupine; always in an attack mode.

 

There will always be risks to becoming welcoming.

 

Welcoming was given a structure in the early fifth century by St. Benedict. In those days there were hardly any rest and food stops along the roadway. (Our society is highly organized for the person on the move.) In his rule for monastic living he directed all monks that they were to welcome the visitor as you would welcome Christ. That great value has stayed with us and empowered the life and service of so many Christians.

 

Everyone in our churches must ask: if I move into Moose Jaw and do not know anyone, would the first thought be ‘I will go to church because there I will meet some new people?’ Do we have a reputation for being welcoming and reaching out to the newcomer, the stranger?

 

Welcoming means much more than just shanking he hand of a stranger. We need to work, pray and eat together.

 

There was a wise woman some years ago in the parish. That particular parish has a very large kitchen and a large hall. The women’s group catered to many civic and church functions. They made very good use of their kitchen. Some women strong pushed that the parish should install an automatic dish washer. She cautioned against this suggestion.

 

“We have three siks on either side of this counter. We are at least five to seven people doing the dishes. It is only when we work together do we get to know each other. Washing dishes builds friendships. We are much better off as a community because we have to doing the dishes manually.”

 

Our welcoming must be inclusive. We must strive to know all the people and bring them into the prayer and the life of the parish community. Come and help me serve the coffee. Come and help us with the children. Can you help with visiting the sick and the elderly?

 

Church is never a service station where I drop in, do my praying privately and then drop out. 

 

To be welcoming means to bring the newcomer into the flock, to bring them to be a part of the ministering community. Everyone has gifts to share.

 

We want to reach out and bring these gifts to the service of Christ and the people of the Church.