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I was directed to this article by a friend, thought it’d be good to share.  This is something I have seen a lot of in our churches and really want to push us to break the trend.  It’s from a pastor’s blog for a church in Ireland (thus the lingo at times) :

I was sitting at a large table having a meal with 10 other people last week at a really cool, small intimate wedding. The seat I had was facing out through the nearby large old window looking towards the beautiful view of a lake with swans gently gliding by. It had been a busy week and I had been busy talking to those seated around me. I enjoyed the talk and banter that went on. But I found myself every now and then just being captivated by the view and silently drinking it all in. I’d love to say that I was having a real God moment for myself right there and then….but I wasn’t. I was just enjoying the view and the stillness of the lake.        

And then, in the middle of one of these moments, a caring sensitive soul looked over and called out to me “Ah Tom ya poor thing, nobody’s talking to you!”

And that was the end of that sublime moment.

And no, I didn’t mind talking to that person at all.

And I never said anything rude like “Ah go away & leave me alone will ya!”

And I never even thought like that, not then, not now.

It started me thinking of how sometimes, during the community times at church, before and after meetings, new and not so new people are left on their own while many regulars are happy to just chat to their own circle of friends, not realising that someone nearby is alone. Many people of course are shy and would find it very hard to just start a conversation. That’s fully understandable. But surely there are enough of us extroverts at Grace to go around and make people feel welcome in a real way.

Many of course do exactly that and thank God for all of them. But how we need more “brave souls” to just, well…. mix.

I didn’t mind looking out at the lake for a few moments, but I wouldn’t have liked to have been ignored all through the meal while everyone else chatted with their friends. That everyone else there is so popular but nobody even noticed that I was there on my own. I mean, would you like that?

Would you hang around a place where everyone more or less ignores you?

Lots of laughter and interaction and you are just passed by as if you don’t exist?

Blanked by all around you?

Is that anyones idea of a good time?

Lets face it lads, we all like to be made feel welcome. And that’s why at church it’s even more important!!! So often someone who is on a spiritual search will finally work up the courage to come into a totally new and strange environment which is the local Christian Church. Probably never been at anything like that before. Loads of questions going on in their heads like ‘will they be normal or weird’ or ‘will I stick out like a sore thumb in here’ etc. etc.

No matter how good the view out the window may be, I’m always really glad when someone cares enough about me to notice my still silent moments and wants to rescue me from my ‘loneliness’. I think it’s so important that Christians keep an eye out for one another AND FOR VISITORS!. And it’s 100% vital that we look beyond ourselves and our circle of friends, to the needs of others, especially at church.

So how about it lads? An even more welcoming and inclusive church?

All right, sermon over. I’ll get back to talking about country walks next time. Really I promise, I think…..