I hope you have had a good summer! As I write this I’ve just
returned from retreat with the Franciscan brothers at Alnmouth Friary. For four
days I joined in the life of the friary, with long periods of silence, simple
food, no heating, and very basic accommodation. I found it quite a challenge –
it made me realise how used to my creature comforts I’ve become!
I did some walking whilst in Alnmouth and one walk took me a
long way round to a headland just across the river from the village. Up until
1806 the river had flowed around the other side of the headland to the sea, and
so the headland and the Church built on it were connected to the village. But one
night a storm came, the river flooded and it changed its course, coming between
the headland and the village, cutting it off from the village and leaving the
Church isolated. As such, it had to be abandoned and a new Church built on the
same side of the river as the village so the villagers could get to it. Today,
just a cross on that headland, visible across the river, marks where the old
Church used to be.
This story spoke to me about changes in our society that the
Church needs to respond to. It used to be the case that most people would find
themselves in Church every now and then just through the normal course of life
– if nothing else through weddings, christenings and funerals, or at special
times of year like Harvest, Easter and Christmas. There they would be reminded
of the Christian message they had learned in childhood. But nowadays, you can
get married anywhere, not just in Church; funerals are often at the crem, and we
do fewer christenings. At special times of year we are ‘competing’ against a
whole range of other activities taking place. Of course we work hard at putting
on special services which will attract new people to come and hear a simple
Christian message, and often new people say how surprised they are at how nice
the Church is and what a good experience they had! This is a great compliment,
but it shows us that people don’t know what Church is like – the natural ‘flow’
of life no longer brings them into Church. It didn’t happen overnight, like the
Church in Alnmouth, but slowly those natural contacts in life that brought
people to Church services have changed their course.
But all is not lost! We do have lots of natural contact with
our community still! Every week lots of people do find themselves on Church
premises – through our toddler groups, lunches group, fellowship and interest
groups, children’s work and all the many things that happen. Our task is to
find how we can bring more of the good news of Jesus to people who do naturally
come to those groups. This fits with Strand 2 of our Church vision ‘Serving in
a way that makes our faith visible – offering the chance to learn more’. As
such, we are looking at ways that we can offer something which gives people the
opportunity to find out about the Christian faith so they can decide for
themselves if it is something they want to follow. For parents this might be,
say, a parenting course based on Christian principles. For other folk it might
be a Christian basics course, like ‘Alpha’ or ‘Start’. It wouldn’t be for
everyone, but a number of folk will want to come. Do think and pray about if
there is anyone who God is prompting you to invite. Why not come with them on
the course? People are most likely to come if they come with a friend, and it
does us all good to have a refresher some times!
We are very fortunate at St Luke’s to have contacts with so
many local people through all our groups and activities. People who may be just
waiting for an invitation to find out more about the faith that means so much
to us.
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