June 2011
May's Parochial Church Council
(PCC) was the first after the AGM - time to welcome
new members and to look ahead. I have set all the
members homework - to return to the July meeting
with three challenges that face our Church, and
with some ideas as to how we should face those
challenges. I'd be glad to hear from anyone else on
this subject. Looking at the Diary, my biggest
challenge for this summer will be marrying the
right bloke to the right girl - on one Saturday in
July we have three weddings (which could be a
recipe for disaster!).
One challenge we all face is that
there are new people coming to church. Some just
pass through, and they/you are very welcome. Church
should be a place you can drop into and out of - if
people want to be anonymous, they have that right
(no-one is anonymous to God, so I can leave it to
Him). If St Mary's or Holy Saviour has provided you
with a place of peace and prayer, or with a
community to slip into when you need it, then we're
doing a large part of our job.
Most new people, I hope, want to be
more than just poppers-in. So how do we make you
feel welcome - make you want to return and use your
gifts, talents and skills, for the continuation of
the life of the Church and the work to which God
has called us all?
I gave the PCC a telling-off about
the times I've walked into the Hall for coffee and
seen visitors sitting by themselves. The problem
is, partly, that many visitors go to the Hall quite
quickly, whereas 'regulars' are chatting and
tidying up in church - and we are all better at
making conversation with those that we know. There
is also the fear that we will say "Hello! Are you a
visitor?" only to be told "I've been coming here
for the last 20 years!"
How do we go further than just a
chat over coffee? I'm happy to come and say
"Hello" to you at home, but I want to be invited.
Some churches divide their parish into sections,
often having several House Groups, so they can say
to new people "You live in the High Street; this is
Fred, who runs the House Group in the High Street."
We're not that efficient, so how do we help you to
meet your new neighbours; how do we do more
together?
We are also a church where lots of
people have been doing a good job, a particular
job, for many years. And - much as we say we'd be
happy to hand it over - in reality, we don't. I am
one of the worst, in this respect: I do things
myself because it's the easiest option; when life
is busy, I haven't always got time to find someone
to come and help - but that doesn't encourage new
people to become involved. Over the next few weeks,
lots of Summer Festival rotas will be posted at the
back of the church, with numerous opportunities to
become involved - and we'll moan, because people
may not sign up and there'll be lots of gaps.
"Where are the new people?" is the cry that I'll
hear.
Because we've done the Festival
every two years since Adam was a lad, we assume
that everyone knows what it is, and when it is. If
you're new, please come and take part; if you're
'old', please invite, welcome and involve. Keep
smiling - and enjoy!
Peter vicar@pontelandstmary.org.uk
