A CULTURAL FLIP-FLOP
From Koinonia, October, 2008
Did you feel it? A big change just occurred in the life of the Episcopal Church. No, it has nothing to do with Gene Robinson, or Lambeth Conference, or General Convention. It is much more important than any of those things, and it will affect us much more. It is a cultural reversal.
Through most of the twentieth century, we believed, and most Episcopalians still do believe, that our liturgy is our strength and our gift to the Christian world. In confidence, we expect that most Christians, if they will only attend our liturgy a time or two, will be captivated by it, and will respond to its allure indefinitely, long enough to become thoroughly immersed in our theology as well, which we know to be our true glory.
It worked for me, and for many of us. I can remember, in 1977, experiencing 1928 BCP Morning Prayer for the first time, having the awareness that I had no idea whatsoever what was going on, but knowing that I liked it. Familiarity and appreciation for the teaching of the church came more gradually.
So what’s wrong with that formula? Only that suddenly, and unexpectedly, it is no longer true. Oh, there are a few who “get” liturgical worship, even as young people. But by and large, younger adults in our culture are not only not attracted, but positively repelled, by our way of worship. They don’t understand it at all. It does not speak to them.
Yet our theology, Anglicanism’s peculiar grasp of the gospel message, does speak to contemporary Americans. We do not hold or teach any doctrine that could not be found in some other Christian body, Protestant or Catholic. It is our combination of key understandings of the church, catholic and reformed, that is unique. The world today needs desperately to hear that one does not have to be wack-o to be a Christian, and that heaven can actually be a large and festive place. It needs to know that Christians can be friendly and respectful of the created order and that science is neither our enemy nor God’s.
We must change our approach, however. We can no longer count on liturgy making sense of theology. We must find ways to help theology make sense of liturgy.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Shift to Discipleship
The Shift to Discipleship
From Koinonia, September, 2008
We show up at church one day because we recognize that we have needs. We need God—to give thanks, to petition, to praise. We need the company of other Christian people—for friendship, for comfort, for encouragement. We need instruction, inspiration, and guidance. We need the church.
For many, that need motivates faithful participation for decades. They regularly attend worship, and maybe other activities as well, and contribute what they perceive to be a “fair share” for the support of the congregation, year after year. For others, once the need is assuaged, at least temporarily, they drift away, until the next period of need arises. Every congregation has members like these, and every congregation needs them.
But for another group, something else happens, a miraculous shift of perspective. These members begin to work toward meeting the needs of others. They sing in the choir, serve as Eucharistic ministers and lectors. They work as greeters and ushers, as teachers and youth leaders. They organize and lead Bible study, discussion, or prayer groups. They lead as vestry members, wardens, and treasurers. They organize outreach projects, rummage sales, work parties, supper groups, and church dinners. They host coffee hours and shepherd newcomers. They give generously, thankfully, and sacrificially. Not satisfied with being believers in Jesus only, they become his disciples. And at some point, they notice that as they serve, their own spiritual needs are being met, too.
No congregation can exist without this third group of members. They are, in fact, what the church exists to create.
From Koinonia, September, 2008
We show up at church one day because we recognize that we have needs. We need God—to give thanks, to petition, to praise. We need the company of other Christian people—for friendship, for comfort, for encouragement. We need instruction, inspiration, and guidance. We need the church.
For many, that need motivates faithful participation for decades. They regularly attend worship, and maybe other activities as well, and contribute what they perceive to be a “fair share” for the support of the congregation, year after year. For others, once the need is assuaged, at least temporarily, they drift away, until the next period of need arises. Every congregation has members like these, and every congregation needs them.
But for another group, something else happens, a miraculous shift of perspective. These members begin to work toward meeting the needs of others. They sing in the choir, serve as Eucharistic ministers and lectors. They work as greeters and ushers, as teachers and youth leaders. They organize and lead Bible study, discussion, or prayer groups. They lead as vestry members, wardens, and treasurers. They organize outreach projects, rummage sales, work parties, supper groups, and church dinners. They host coffee hours and shepherd newcomers. They give generously, thankfully, and sacrificially. Not satisfied with being believers in Jesus only, they become his disciples. And at some point, they notice that as they serve, their own spiritual needs are being met, too.
No congregation can exist without this third group of members. They are, in fact, what the church exists to create.
The Main Thing
THE MAIN THING
A Few Words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
From Koinonia, July, 2008
We’ve had some superb conversations lately surrounding congregational development and church growth in the diocese. We all have more on our “to do” list than can be done in a year, all designed to make our congregations more welcoming, more hospitable, more sensitive to the needs of guests, more attractive, more diverse. At the bottom of it all is a strong urge to help them become more—BIG.
And there is nothing wrong with having a larger congregation. We sometimes make “big church” jokes and disparaging comments, defensively, as if big were bad. It isn’t.
But in all of this, we must not lose sight of the Main Thing—faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even sick congregations can grow, we’ve seen it all around us. They grow into larger sick congregations, until they split and start the process all over again. That isn’t what we aspire to.
If we focus our attention on getting closer to God, into becoming more and more the beautiful and loving creatures and congregations God longs for us to be, we will become more spiritually well. As such, we can grow, because we will be more attractive to other Christians who are spiritually well, or wanting to be. A large measure of that focus will be just paying close and prayerful attention to what happens on Sunday morning, asking the question, “does this draw us and others closer to Christ?”
In essence, that is the difference between church growth and congregational development: keeping the Main Thing the main thing.
A Few Words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
From Koinonia, July, 2008
We’ve had some superb conversations lately surrounding congregational development and church growth in the diocese. We all have more on our “to do” list than can be done in a year, all designed to make our congregations more welcoming, more hospitable, more sensitive to the needs of guests, more attractive, more diverse. At the bottom of it all is a strong urge to help them become more—BIG.
And there is nothing wrong with having a larger congregation. We sometimes make “big church” jokes and disparaging comments, defensively, as if big were bad. It isn’t.
But in all of this, we must not lose sight of the Main Thing—faithfulness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even sick congregations can grow, we’ve seen it all around us. They grow into larger sick congregations, until they split and start the process all over again. That isn’t what we aspire to.
If we focus our attention on getting closer to God, into becoming more and more the beautiful and loving creatures and congregations God longs for us to be, we will become more spiritually well. As such, we can grow, because we will be more attractive to other Christians who are spiritually well, or wanting to be. A large measure of that focus will be just paying close and prayerful attention to what happens on Sunday morning, asking the question, “does this draw us and others closer to Christ?”
In essence, that is the difference between church growth and congregational development: keeping the Main Thing the main thing.
Think Round
QUICK AND EASY CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
A few words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
from Koinonia, June, 2008
If you could do one simple thing that would instantly induce your congregation, including guests, to linger at coffee hour and parish dinners, and increase by many times the familiarity of members with one another and their enjoyment of their time together, would you do it?
Good. Purchase a set of round tables for your parish hall or gathering space.
The ones with the white plastic tops are lighter in weight and seem to be durable. They also don’t cost a lot, and don’t necessarily require table-cloths to look good. A bonus is that they roll into place. What they do is encourage people to sit, and linger, because the people at a round table can actually talk to one another. At long, banquet tables, we can speak only to the person on either side of us—and pity the poor guy at the end. Round tables facilitate group interaction.
Don’t get rid of the old eight-foot banquet tables entirely, unless they needed to be replaced long ago because they are ugly and dangerous. (They make long ones with the white plastic tops, too.) We need long tables sometimes—for example, for discussion groups of more than eight, when we like to sit around the outer edges of a square of tables and have view of one another. That arrangement almost makes a big round table.
A key is to plan when to use which, and to set up the room for the occasion. I visited a congregation that had a rectangle of long tables with chairs around the outside, seating perhaps 20 people. Other chairs lined the walls of the room. Only half the people at coffee hour were able to sit at the tables, which had been arranged for the forum which gathered earlier. The rest had to sit all spread out in an environment as welcoming and conducive to interaction as Junior High Prom. It would take just five minutes for two people to break apart the rectangle and add several round tables to the mix so that everyone could be accommodated for the next—and critically important—event : post-Eucharist hospitality.
Come on, the church tables haven’t been new since 1957. It’s time to update! And when you do, think ROUND.
Donald Vinson
Canon for Congregational Development
A few words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
from Koinonia, June, 2008
If you could do one simple thing that would instantly induce your congregation, including guests, to linger at coffee hour and parish dinners, and increase by many times the familiarity of members with one another and their enjoyment of their time together, would you do it?
Good. Purchase a set of round tables for your parish hall or gathering space.
The ones with the white plastic tops are lighter in weight and seem to be durable. They also don’t cost a lot, and don’t necessarily require table-cloths to look good. A bonus is that they roll into place. What they do is encourage people to sit, and linger, because the people at a round table can actually talk to one another. At long, banquet tables, we can speak only to the person on either side of us—and pity the poor guy at the end. Round tables facilitate group interaction.
Don’t get rid of the old eight-foot banquet tables entirely, unless they needed to be replaced long ago because they are ugly and dangerous. (They make long ones with the white plastic tops, too.) We need long tables sometimes—for example, for discussion groups of more than eight, when we like to sit around the outer edges of a square of tables and have view of one another. That arrangement almost makes a big round table.
A key is to plan when to use which, and to set up the room for the occasion. I visited a congregation that had a rectangle of long tables with chairs around the outside, seating perhaps 20 people. Other chairs lined the walls of the room. Only half the people at coffee hour were able to sit at the tables, which had been arranged for the forum which gathered earlier. The rest had to sit all spread out in an environment as welcoming and conducive to interaction as Junior High Prom. It would take just five minutes for two people to break apart the rectangle and add several round tables to the mix so that everyone could be accommodated for the next—and critically important—event : post-Eucharist hospitality.
Come on, the church tables haven’t been new since 1957. It’s time to update! And when you do, think ROUND.
Donald Vinson
Canon for Congregational Development
Tending the Vine
TENDING THE VINE
A Few Words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
From Koinonia, May, 2008
Would you be willing to do just one thing to help grow your church?
If a congregation were to choose one step to make their congregation more welcoming to newcomers, the best choice would probably be NAMETAGS -- a freshly-made, single-use nametag for every church gathering.
A simple nametag makes a huge shift in the way a congregation presents itself to a newcomer. No longer is it a private club run for the comfort and benefit of the established members. Now it is a gathering of equals, all of whom can address one another by name, without distinction between ‘belongers’ and ‘visitors.’
But fight the impulse to make permanent nametags for members, hanging on a rack in the parish hall. First, people won’t actually put them on, so there they’ll hang. Second, they only serve to accentuate the un-belonging of the visitor, who doesn’t have one, and won’t, until someone deliberately has one made for her, which could take weeks. Single use ones level the playing field. There is no distinction between member and non-member. Make them fresh, as people arrive.
Yes, there will be some curmudgeons who won’t agree to wear one. Let them alone, no need to alienate them. In time, they’ll ask for one. Here’s a tip, though: let upper-elementary children be the ‘nametag czars.’ They will love to make the tags, and even the grouchiest curmudgeon will have trouble turning them down.
This one step alone will make a difference, over time, in the ability of the congregation to attract and retain new members. The experience might also lead church members to ask themselves a vital further question: What else can we do to make our church events less the exclusivist gatherings of insiders in the know, and more like celebrations of the risen Christ, designed to draw others to the light of His love?
A Few Words on Congregational Development from Canon Donald Vinson
From Koinonia, May, 2008
Would you be willing to do just one thing to help grow your church?
If a congregation were to choose one step to make their congregation more welcoming to newcomers, the best choice would probably be NAMETAGS -- a freshly-made, single-use nametag for every church gathering.
A simple nametag makes a huge shift in the way a congregation presents itself to a newcomer. No longer is it a private club run for the comfort and benefit of the established members. Now it is a gathering of equals, all of whom can address one another by name, without distinction between ‘belongers’ and ‘visitors.’
But fight the impulse to make permanent nametags for members, hanging on a rack in the parish hall. First, people won’t actually put them on, so there they’ll hang. Second, they only serve to accentuate the un-belonging of the visitor, who doesn’t have one, and won’t, until someone deliberately has one made for her, which could take weeks. Single use ones level the playing field. There is no distinction between member and non-member. Make them fresh, as people arrive.
Yes, there will be some curmudgeons who won’t agree to wear one. Let them alone, no need to alienate them. In time, they’ll ask for one. Here’s a tip, though: let upper-elementary children be the ‘nametag czars.’ They will love to make the tags, and even the grouchiest curmudgeon will have trouble turning them down.
This one step alone will make a difference, over time, in the ability of the congregation to attract and retain new members. The experience might also lead church members to ask themselves a vital further question: What else can we do to make our church events less the exclusivist gatherings of insiders in the know, and more like celebrations of the risen Christ, designed to draw others to the light of His love?
Volley # 22
Volley # 22: GEOCACHING
Zion Church in Charles Town has a geocache. It’s easy to do, it’s essentially free, and it brings interesting people to the church property where they are susceptible to receiving further information about your church. It also identifies the church as cool and awesome.
Here’s how it works. You hide an ammo box, which is water-tight, containing some small mementoes, and you list your cache by posting its coordinates. Geocachers, which are often parents and their children, use their GPS devices to locate the coordinates and find the cache. They take one item from your cache, and they leave behind a replacement as a gift from them. They sign a form in the box to indicate that they have been there.
Now, here is where we have a leg up on secular geocachers: we can bless the items we put in our cache, and include with them a small message about that prayer offered as blessing for these anonymous geocachers. With all our signage, we ensure that they are aware of our presence and our worship opportunities.
Check out www.geocaching.com for complete information on how to get started.
Zion Church in Charles Town has a geocache. It’s easy to do, it’s essentially free, and it brings interesting people to the church property where they are susceptible to receiving further information about your church. It also identifies the church as cool and awesome.
Here’s how it works. You hide an ammo box, which is water-tight, containing some small mementoes, and you list your cache by posting its coordinates. Geocachers, which are often parents and their children, use their GPS devices to locate the coordinates and find the cache. They take one item from your cache, and they leave behind a replacement as a gift from them. They sign a form in the box to indicate that they have been there.
Now, here is where we have a leg up on secular geocachers: we can bless the items we put in our cache, and include with them a small message about that prayer offered as blessing for these anonymous geocachers. With all our signage, we ensure that they are aware of our presence and our worship opportunities.
Check out www.geocaching.com for complete information on how to get started.
Volley # 21
Volley # 21: BUZZ
People talk. We talk at work, in social settings, in shopping centers, over meals. We talk on phones and chat on internet. And what do we talk about? Whatever pops into our minds that piques our interest.
Being talked about is a good thing! It means you are doing something interesting. Conversely, if no one talks about you, perhaps not much is going on.
How can we get a buzz going about our congregation? We can do something different and interesting, and help the conversation get going by doing some talking ourselves. They’re going to talk anyway—why not have them talking about us?
People talk. We talk at work, in social settings, in shopping centers, over meals. We talk on phones and chat on internet. And what do we talk about? Whatever pops into our minds that piques our interest.
Being talked about is a good thing! It means you are doing something interesting. Conversely, if no one talks about you, perhaps not much is going on.
How can we get a buzz going about our congregation? We can do something different and interesting, and help the conversation get going by doing some talking ourselves. They’re going to talk anyway—why not have them talking about us?
Volley # 21
Volley # 21: BUZZ
People talk. We talk at work, in social settings, in shopping centers, over meals. We talk on phones and chat on internet. And what do we talk about? Whatever pops into our minds that piques our interest.
Being talked about is a good thing! It means you are doing something interesting. Conversely, if no one talks about you, perhaps not much is going on.
How can we get a buzz going about our congregation? We can do something different and interesting, and help the conversation get going by doing some talking ourselves. They’re going to talk anyway—why not have them talking about us?
People talk. We talk at work, in social settings, in shopping centers, over meals. We talk on phones and chat on internet. And what do we talk about? Whatever pops into our minds that piques our interest.
Being talked about is a good thing! It means you are doing something interesting. Conversely, if no one talks about you, perhaps not much is going on.
How can we get a buzz going about our congregation? We can do something different and interesting, and help the conversation get going by doing some talking ourselves. They’re going to talk anyway—why not have them talking about us?
Volley # 20
Volley # 20: Whose House Is It?
Our church interiors are unmistakably Christian houses of worship. Their windows, art, and appointments convey religious references on many levels. But how about our parish halls and meeting rooms, many of which are used regularly by non-church groups? Would someone with no church connection recognize those spaces as having any religious significance or holiness about them at all? Do they look like just any secular meeting room?
We could be wasting valuable evangelical opportunities, or at least a chance to proclaim our identity in the community. Check out your spaces. Is there a cross, an icon, or some devotional artwork or statement in each one of them, to signify that these are places intended for God’s work?
How about an invitation to further and deeper relationship? Almost every Episcopal congregation welcomes twelve-step groups, which have a “spiritual,” but not a religious or sectarian purpose. We carefully respect the “anonymous” tradition of these groups, and they appreciate that. Still, if no invitation is ever issued, it would be easy for participants to assume that they are not really welcome at St. Swithin’s, since no one has ever said that they are welcome.
Maybe a framed, attractive note of invitation would be in order for each meeting room. A second one explaining something about the room or building itself might be helpful, too.
St. Catherine’s-on-the-Creek Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
To Ebenezer Crabhatchet Hall.
We also cordially and sincerely invite you
to worship on Sundays
at 8:00 or 10:30 A. M.
Sunday School for children and adults is at 9:30.
Our church interiors are unmistakably Christian houses of worship. Their windows, art, and appointments convey religious references on many levels. But how about our parish halls and meeting rooms, many of which are used regularly by non-church groups? Would someone with no church connection recognize those spaces as having any religious significance or holiness about them at all? Do they look like just any secular meeting room?
We could be wasting valuable evangelical opportunities, or at least a chance to proclaim our identity in the community. Check out your spaces. Is there a cross, an icon, or some devotional artwork or statement in each one of them, to signify that these are places intended for God’s work?
How about an invitation to further and deeper relationship? Almost every Episcopal congregation welcomes twelve-step groups, which have a “spiritual,” but not a religious or sectarian purpose. We carefully respect the “anonymous” tradition of these groups, and they appreciate that. Still, if no invitation is ever issued, it would be easy for participants to assume that they are not really welcome at St. Swithin’s, since no one has ever said that they are welcome.
Maybe a framed, attractive note of invitation would be in order for each meeting room. A second one explaining something about the room or building itself might be helpful, too.
St. Catherine’s-on-the-Creek Episcopal Church Welcomes You!
To Ebenezer Crabhatchet Hall.
We also cordially and sincerely invite you
to worship on Sundays
at 8:00 or 10:30 A. M.
Sunday School for children and adults is at 9:30.
Volley # 19
Volley # 19: ENTERING THE KINGDOM
If we want to invite people into God’s house, why do we have such solid, heavy doors to keep them out? The Victorian Gothic adopted by so many Episcopal churches during the early 20th century may look impressive, but it isn’t very inviting. We even have some buildings in which one or all of the front doors don’t even have operative knobs to open from outside! Let’s go out and look at our entrances from the perspective of the un-churched person. Do they adequately represent Christ’s open invitation to the Kingdom of God?
• Most churches lock their doors except during worship (and sometimes, even then.) Is there a way to leave the church open for private prayer, at least during weekdays when staff are present?
• Are all doors in good operating condition? Is any door handicapped-accessible (and so marked)?
• Can the doors be left open, with climate control handled by inner doors, during temperate weather, so that passers-by can see that the church can be visited? At least prior to Sunday worship?
• Andy Weeks of The Magnetic Church recommends painting the church doors red. If it is at all architecturally appropriate, why not? Attract attention to the front entrance (and the one people actually use, too), with color, and a meaningful color at that.
• But why not hang a framed explanation nearby? “The red color of church doors is an ancient promise of SANCTUARY—refuge from the harsh claims of the world and society.” You might also add a few words of welcome, the promise of a peaceful and tranquil environment inside, and the hours the church is open to the public for private devotions.
• Does the “real” entrance, the one members use that is most accessible from parking or Sunday School, have a sign on it identifying it as an entrance to the church?
These measures are simple, easy, and guaranteed to keep vestries fussing over minutiae for months—that is, unless they can be persuaded to agree to just stop it! And get on with the real business of the church, which has to do with reaching out to people, not guarding crumbling edifices. (Oops. Did I send that out to the whole diocese?)
If we want to invite people into God’s house, why do we have such solid, heavy doors to keep them out? The Victorian Gothic adopted by so many Episcopal churches during the early 20th century may look impressive, but it isn’t very inviting. We even have some buildings in which one or all of the front doors don’t even have operative knobs to open from outside! Let’s go out and look at our entrances from the perspective of the un-churched person. Do they adequately represent Christ’s open invitation to the Kingdom of God?
• Most churches lock their doors except during worship (and sometimes, even then.) Is there a way to leave the church open for private prayer, at least during weekdays when staff are present?
• Are all doors in good operating condition? Is any door handicapped-accessible (and so marked)?
• Can the doors be left open, with climate control handled by inner doors, during temperate weather, so that passers-by can see that the church can be visited? At least prior to Sunday worship?
• Andy Weeks of The Magnetic Church recommends painting the church doors red. If it is at all architecturally appropriate, why not? Attract attention to the front entrance (and the one people actually use, too), with color, and a meaningful color at that.
• But why not hang a framed explanation nearby? “The red color of church doors is an ancient promise of SANCTUARY—refuge from the harsh claims of the world and society.” You might also add a few words of welcome, the promise of a peaceful and tranquil environment inside, and the hours the church is open to the public for private devotions.
• Does the “real” entrance, the one members use that is most accessible from parking or Sunday School, have a sign on it identifying it as an entrance to the church?
These measures are simple, easy, and guaranteed to keep vestries fussing over minutiae for months—that is, unless they can be persuaded to agree to just stop it! And get on with the real business of the church, which has to do with reaching out to people, not guarding crumbling edifices. (Oops. Did I send that out to the whole diocese?)
Volley # 18
Volley # 18: TEMPORARY SIGNS
I’ve been preaching about signs for a while now. I hope we have our permanent signs in great shape, well-designed, well-maintained, and highly visible. But how about the use of temporary signs? They can help us in several ways. First, they show that something special is going on. Second, they have flexibility. Since they are different, they attract notice from passers-by. They can be particularly colorful, seasonal, and eye-catching. In places where zoning is restrictive of signs, temporary signs are often exempt. To get attention, a congregation gets big bang for its buck in temporary signs.
Temporary signs can be strung across the front of a church building, or they can hang from a steeple. They can be in the form of banners, or decorated with flags and streamers. They can be “A” shapes, and support themselves on sidewalk or lawn. They can reiterate regular worship times, announce extra seasonal worship, or tout special events. (One source for content, in a place where there is foot traffic, might be the excellent posters produced by The Church Ad Campaign.) They can be attached to trailers or box trucks. They can be attached to church vans and even church members’ vans and cars!
Think of the possibilities! And the beauty of it is, they’re temporary!
I’ve been preaching about signs for a while now. I hope we have our permanent signs in great shape, well-designed, well-maintained, and highly visible. But how about the use of temporary signs? They can help us in several ways. First, they show that something special is going on. Second, they have flexibility. Since they are different, they attract notice from passers-by. They can be particularly colorful, seasonal, and eye-catching. In places where zoning is restrictive of signs, temporary signs are often exempt. To get attention, a congregation gets big bang for its buck in temporary signs.
Temporary signs can be strung across the front of a church building, or they can hang from a steeple. They can be in the form of banners, or decorated with flags and streamers. They can be “A” shapes, and support themselves on sidewalk or lawn. They can reiterate regular worship times, announce extra seasonal worship, or tout special events. (One source for content, in a place where there is foot traffic, might be the excellent posters produced by The Church Ad Campaign.) They can be attached to trailers or box trucks. They can be attached to church vans and even church members’ vans and cars!
Think of the possibilities! And the beauty of it is, they’re temporary!
Volley # 17
Volley # 17: STYRO-PHOBIA
I have it—the fear and dread of Styrofoam. The cups bend and break. They are so light, they tip and spill almost all by themselves. They make me cringe if they touch my teeth. On top of that, we’re told they last forever in landfills.
As an alternative, cardboard disposable cups are just not satisfactory, despite being more renewable. They do nothing to shield the hand from the heat of the contents. And, of course, they go to the landfill. In places with no dishwashers, those Solo cups—plastic holders with disposable plastic inserts, might be a reasonable choice. At least part is re-usable.
For most, though, surely there is no improving on the traditional china or ceramic cup or mug. The church cabinets are full of them. Why not use them?
With a few words of kindly direction, people can be trained to put their mug into the dishwasher before they depart. I’ve observed that guests catch on instantly, and they like to follow suit—it makes them feel more accepted and at home.
And let the squeak of Styrofoam never more be heard in the land.
I have it—the fear and dread of Styrofoam. The cups bend and break. They are so light, they tip and spill almost all by themselves. They make me cringe if they touch my teeth. On top of that, we’re told they last forever in landfills.
As an alternative, cardboard disposable cups are just not satisfactory, despite being more renewable. They do nothing to shield the hand from the heat of the contents. And, of course, they go to the landfill. In places with no dishwashers, those Solo cups—plastic holders with disposable plastic inserts, might be a reasonable choice. At least part is re-usable.
For most, though, surely there is no improving on the traditional china or ceramic cup or mug. The church cabinets are full of them. Why not use them?
With a few words of kindly direction, people can be trained to put their mug into the dishwasher before they depart. I’ve observed that guests catch on instantly, and they like to follow suit—it makes them feel more accepted and at home.
And let the squeak of Styrofoam never more be heard in the land.
Volley # 16
Volley # 16: NEVER CALL THEM VISITORS
We should never have visitors in our congregations. We should have guests.
Visitors show up, wanted or unwanted. They leave, perhaps never to return. They may not even be welcome, or made welcome. (The Jehovah’s Witness at your door is a visitor!)
Guests, on the other hand, are valued, and we make them know it. We move our vehicle to give them the best parking space. We vacate our preferred seat or room for them. We make sure everything is clean and neat. We prepare special treats for them, and we make sure they experience our home at its best. If they don’t get to return to us, it won’t be because we didn’t give it our best shot!
Let’s make our vocabulary say what we mean. We welcome and receive guests, not visitors.
We should never have visitors in our congregations. We should have guests.
Visitors show up, wanted or unwanted. They leave, perhaps never to return. They may not even be welcome, or made welcome. (The Jehovah’s Witness at your door is a visitor!)
Guests, on the other hand, are valued, and we make them know it. We move our vehicle to give them the best parking space. We vacate our preferred seat or room for them. We make sure everything is clean and neat. We prepare special treats for them, and we make sure they experience our home at its best. If they don’t get to return to us, it won’t be because we didn’t give it our best shot!
Let’s make our vocabulary say what we mean. We welcome and receive guests, not visitors.
Volley # 15
Volley # 15: HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW?
If I’ve never been to worship in a congregation, how do I know when worship is? How do I know where to park? How do I know if there is Sunday School, or something for my children? How do I know which door to enter?
It takes multiple efforts to convey these ideas.
• Is the telephone answering message friendly, clear, and free of Episcopalese jargon? Some people suggest a female voice, since the one making the call is likely to be female.
• Is the key information, like service time, given quickly?
• Is the main entrance clearly marked as such? Entrance to children’s classes and nursery?
• How about the entrance members actually use instead of the front door?
• Is parking identified? Special, convenient parking for guests?
• Is someone stationed outside the church to welcome and direct guests?
• Are there trained greeters who have a knack for making people feel welcome and comfortable?
Some of these items just require an attractive, well-placed sign to remedy. Some require trained volunteers. All are easy and quick to deal with. Together, they identify your congregation as one that has its mind on the needs of others, not just its own members.
If I’ve never been to worship in a congregation, how do I know when worship is? How do I know where to park? How do I know if there is Sunday School, or something for my children? How do I know which door to enter?
It takes multiple efforts to convey these ideas.
• Is the telephone answering message friendly, clear, and free of Episcopalese jargon? Some people suggest a female voice, since the one making the call is likely to be female.
• Is the key information, like service time, given quickly?
• Is the main entrance clearly marked as such? Entrance to children’s classes and nursery?
• How about the entrance members actually use instead of the front door?
• Is parking identified? Special, convenient parking for guests?
• Is someone stationed outside the church to welcome and direct guests?
• Are there trained greeters who have a knack for making people feel welcome and comfortable?
Some of these items just require an attractive, well-placed sign to remedy. Some require trained volunteers. All are easy and quick to deal with. Together, they identify your congregation as one that has its mind on the needs of others, not just its own members.
Volley #14
Volley #14: WHAT MAKES A CHURCH?
In a gathering of congregation leaders recently, I was struck by the list of assets that were claimed, even by small and struggling congregations. An historic building. Service projects. Activities. Regular Sunday clergy supply. An endowment sufficient to keep the above happening until the last dog dies.
I was struck also by how difficult it is to state the most obvious one, in fact a defining feature of church: people. We Queens of Denial have some facing up to do in this area. We need to recognize honestly that none of the top list makes a congregation. People do.
In a gathering of congregation leaders recently, I was struck by the list of assets that were claimed, even by small and struggling congregations. An historic building. Service projects. Activities. Regular Sunday clergy supply. An endowment sufficient to keep the above happening until the last dog dies.
I was struck also by how difficult it is to state the most obvious one, in fact a defining feature of church: people. We Queens of Denial have some facing up to do in this area. We need to recognize honestly that none of the top list makes a congregation. People do.
Volley #13
Volley #13: THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE
Clergy and regular church members know one another well, and we have plenty we need and want to talk about after worship. If there are guests or infrequent attenders present, though, those people need some clergy attention, and it needs to be quick, because they tend not to linger long.
Let’s teach our regulars to give us FIVE MINUTES following Sunday worship to seek out and have a brief interchange (it doesn’t take much, because we don’t want to overwhelm people) with those we want to get better acquainted with, before the regulars get their turn. After all, they have the whole coffee hour to share their news.
That five minutes can make a big difference to the guest. It can provide time to make an appointment for a later, fuller visit, and it lets them know they matter to the clergy, which is all-important in the medium-size congregation.
Clergy and regular church members know one another well, and we have plenty we need and want to talk about after worship. If there are guests or infrequent attenders present, though, those people need some clergy attention, and it needs to be quick, because they tend not to linger long.
Let’s teach our regulars to give us FIVE MINUTES following Sunday worship to seek out and have a brief interchange (it doesn’t take much, because we don’t want to overwhelm people) with those we want to get better acquainted with, before the regulars get their turn. After all, they have the whole coffee hour to share their news.
That five minutes can make a big difference to the guest. It can provide time to make an appointment for a later, fuller visit, and it lets them know they matter to the clergy, which is all-important in the medium-size congregation.
Volley #12
Volley #12: MY NEW HEROES
When I joined the bishop’s staff last September, for the first time in over 30 years, I had no church congregation that I had, or even wanted, to attend. The one congregation where I knew and liked the people was now unavailable to me and Linda, and there wasn’t another one where we really felt at home. Knowing and liking the clergy, and maybe a handful of others, was not enough. We had no church that was “our” church. And for the first time in decades, Sunday morning came, and I didn’t really want to go to church!
Fortunately, that feeling has not lasted, and there are now a number of congregations where we enjoy worshiping. I’m grateful for having that experience, though. It enabled me to realize something of what Sunday morning is like for normal, un-churched people.
Shocking News Flash! It is A LOT easier to read the newspaper in bed with coffee and croissants than it is to get up, roust and terrorize the children, dress to impress, and drive to church. So I have a set of new heroes: those people who, despite not having a church congregation in which they are comfortable and familiar, habitual members, nevertheless arise and go anyway. It takes determination, resolve, inner resources, and even courage to do it.
Consequently, we who do it every Sunday, and thereby find it easier through habit, should put aside every hint of superiority that they are not up to our standard of commitment and consistency. We should doff our hats to these brave pioneers. We should do everything in our power to welcome and honor their heroic efforts. Because, as I can now testify from recent experience—it ain’t easy being a stranger in church!
When I joined the bishop’s staff last September, for the first time in over 30 years, I had no church congregation that I had, or even wanted, to attend. The one congregation where I knew and liked the people was now unavailable to me and Linda, and there wasn’t another one where we really felt at home. Knowing and liking the clergy, and maybe a handful of others, was not enough. We had no church that was “our” church. And for the first time in decades, Sunday morning came, and I didn’t really want to go to church!
Fortunately, that feeling has not lasted, and there are now a number of congregations where we enjoy worshiping. I’m grateful for having that experience, though. It enabled me to realize something of what Sunday morning is like for normal, un-churched people.
Shocking News Flash! It is A LOT easier to read the newspaper in bed with coffee and croissants than it is to get up, roust and terrorize the children, dress to impress, and drive to church. So I have a set of new heroes: those people who, despite not having a church congregation in which they are comfortable and familiar, habitual members, nevertheless arise and go anyway. It takes determination, resolve, inner resources, and even courage to do it.
Consequently, we who do it every Sunday, and thereby find it easier through habit, should put aside every hint of superiority that they are not up to our standard of commitment and consistency. We should doff our hats to these brave pioneers. We should do everything in our power to welcome and honor their heroic efforts. Because, as I can now testify from recent experience—it ain’t easy being a stranger in church!
Volley #11
Volley # 11 IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU
Suggestion: Go through all church publications, brochures, web-sites, even pew cards, that are intended for newcomers. Count the instances of “we,” “us,” and “our,” and the number of “you” and “your.” Now consider: if we are aiming at other people, how come we put the emphasis on us?
When people encounter our congregation for the first or second time, they may not be wanting to know how happy we are with ourselves. They may be wanting to know what we have to offer them!
Instead of “At St. Mort’s WE are a friendly and welcoming congregation,” try “At St. Mort’s YOU will meet a friendly congregation that looks forward to welcoming YOU.” Of course, making such statements reflect reality is desirable, too.
Suggestion: Go through all church publications, brochures, web-sites, even pew cards, that are intended for newcomers. Count the instances of “we,” “us,” and “our,” and the number of “you” and “your.” Now consider: if we are aiming at other people, how come we put the emphasis on us?
When people encounter our congregation for the first or second time, they may not be wanting to know how happy we are with ourselves. They may be wanting to know what we have to offer them!
Instead of “At St. Mort’s WE are a friendly and welcoming congregation,” try “At St. Mort’s YOU will meet a friendly congregation that looks forward to welcoming YOU.” Of course, making such statements reflect reality is desirable, too.
Volley #10
Volley #10: TEN SPECIAL SUNDAYS
All church leaders hope and pray that attendance on Sundays will be high, that members will be faithful and regular in participating in worship. But outside of a sense of duty, which is not one of our stronger motivations nowadays, why should they? If what will happen in church this Sunday is essentially the same as what happened last Sunday, haven’t they already “been there and done that?”
Yet, it is to be hoped the sermon will be different this week than last. The lessons will be different, as will the hymns. The sacrament of Eucharist will be a different experience, and equip the congregation for a different week, though the same event. The inner rings of the congregation membership understand that. But how about the less committed and formed members? The question is, how can we make it FEEL different? How can we help people understand that they would have missed something deeply meaningful and valuable to them if they had decided to sleep in or mow the grass that morning?
The pressure is on!
• Sermons must be clear and insightful, memorable and attention-getting, even enjoyable and entertaining-—every week.
• The liturgy must be presented in a dynamic, lively manner. Each server, lector, acolyte, and usher must be focused on the job at hand as if it were the most important thing going for them that morning—because it is.
• Music must be inspiring, appropriate, and expertly presented. If it is performed by a choir, that choir must be well-rehearsed and competent (otherwise, it is far better not to have one, tradition notwithstanding). If it is to be sung by the congregation, it must be music that congregation is capable and desirous of singing, not what the clergy and music director happen to like.
Let jokes about falling asleep in church cease to be repeated—because they no longer seem realistic.
Here’s a suggestion from “Start Up! Start Over!” to help make this happen: select TEN Sundays spread through the year to designate as “special Sundays,” at which something surprising and spectacular happens. Let it be something appropriate to the day, yet completely unexpected, the wilder the better. Prepare and rehearse all concerned, because pulling it off well is of crucial importance. Then, say your prayers, and let ‘er rip! There is a wide array of possible choices to work with, but here is a short list of suggestions: colorful banners, flags, and streamers; dancers, tumblers, jugglers, clowns, magicians, animals; costumes, dramas, unusual vestments and hangings; sound effects like gongs, bells, and electronic media; scents like incense or flowers; special music, musicians, and instruments; special lighting, processions and props. There are so many possibilities. Just make it holy, use it to help bring the focus to an appropriate and meaningful point, and use it to make worship refreshing, fun, and memorable.
Make those absentees sorry they missed it.
Can’t manage ten Sundays per year? OK, choose FIVE. But do something!
All church leaders hope and pray that attendance on Sundays will be high, that members will be faithful and regular in participating in worship. But outside of a sense of duty, which is not one of our stronger motivations nowadays, why should they? If what will happen in church this Sunday is essentially the same as what happened last Sunday, haven’t they already “been there and done that?”
Yet, it is to be hoped the sermon will be different this week than last. The lessons will be different, as will the hymns. The sacrament of Eucharist will be a different experience, and equip the congregation for a different week, though the same event. The inner rings of the congregation membership understand that. But how about the less committed and formed members? The question is, how can we make it FEEL different? How can we help people understand that they would have missed something deeply meaningful and valuable to them if they had decided to sleep in or mow the grass that morning?
The pressure is on!
• Sermons must be clear and insightful, memorable and attention-getting, even enjoyable and entertaining-—every week.
• The liturgy must be presented in a dynamic, lively manner. Each server, lector, acolyte, and usher must be focused on the job at hand as if it were the most important thing going for them that morning—because it is.
• Music must be inspiring, appropriate, and expertly presented. If it is performed by a choir, that choir must be well-rehearsed and competent (otherwise, it is far better not to have one, tradition notwithstanding). If it is to be sung by the congregation, it must be music that congregation is capable and desirous of singing, not what the clergy and music director happen to like.
Let jokes about falling asleep in church cease to be repeated—because they no longer seem realistic.
Here’s a suggestion from “Start Up! Start Over!” to help make this happen: select TEN Sundays spread through the year to designate as “special Sundays,” at which something surprising and spectacular happens. Let it be something appropriate to the day, yet completely unexpected, the wilder the better. Prepare and rehearse all concerned, because pulling it off well is of crucial importance. Then, say your prayers, and let ‘er rip! There is a wide array of possible choices to work with, but here is a short list of suggestions: colorful banners, flags, and streamers; dancers, tumblers, jugglers, clowns, magicians, animals; costumes, dramas, unusual vestments and hangings; sound effects like gongs, bells, and electronic media; scents like incense or flowers; special music, musicians, and instruments; special lighting, processions and props. There are so many possibilities. Just make it holy, use it to help bring the focus to an appropriate and meaningful point, and use it to make worship refreshing, fun, and memorable.
Make those absentees sorry they missed it.
Can’t manage ten Sundays per year? OK, choose FIVE. But do something!
Volley #9
Volley # 9 “God’s Little Acre”
The Diocese of West Virginia has some amazing churches. Most exude holiness, having been sanctified by the prayers of generations. Yet church buildings can be forbidding to someone who has never been inside. Some are brick or stone, in castle-era designs. Most have obscured windows and heavy, closed doors, often with a flight of steps leading up to them.
We need to do what we can to soften our exteriors, and to guide people to the entrance. Landscaping can be crucial. It may seem like a luxury, but actually one of the most practical things a congregation can do is to have a talented professional make a landscape plan for the property. Such a plan can be implemented over time, and members can take pride and interest in doing the work themselves, or sponsoring a segment.
A neatly kept, attractively planted property gives off subliminal messages, like: “This church is loved,” and “We’re a vital and functional congregation.” Those are things a prospective new member will find comforting.
Having a place on the local garden tour is not such a bad thing for publicity, either!
The Diocese of West Virginia has some amazing churches. Most exude holiness, having been sanctified by the prayers of generations. Yet church buildings can be forbidding to someone who has never been inside. Some are brick or stone, in castle-era designs. Most have obscured windows and heavy, closed doors, often with a flight of steps leading up to them.
We need to do what we can to soften our exteriors, and to guide people to the entrance. Landscaping can be crucial. It may seem like a luxury, but actually one of the most practical things a congregation can do is to have a talented professional make a landscape plan for the property. Such a plan can be implemented over time, and members can take pride and interest in doing the work themselves, or sponsoring a segment.
A neatly kept, attractively planted property gives off subliminal messages, like: “This church is loved,” and “We’re a vital and functional congregation.” Those are things a prospective new member will find comforting.
Having a place on the local garden tour is not such a bad thing for publicity, either!
Volley #8
Volley #8 V. I. P. Parking
Many of our churches have limited parking. Long-time members have figured out ways around that problem—they have found favorite places where they can count on a parking space for church. Guests and newcomers often have no such resources. They need special consideration to reward them for having the gumption to get up on a Sunday morning with the resolve to attend worship.
Why not designate a space or two close to the entrance, perhaps right next to the handicapped spaces, as guest parking? That lets them know right away that they are welcome and valued here, and that it is not just a club for the initiates.
One way to gain such a space is by removing the old “Reserved for Rector” sign. That was a nice gesture of appreciation for the priest. However, unless she has to rush in from leading worship moments earlier at another congregation, the priest is likely to be among the first to arrive, while choice spaces are still plentiful. That special designation may be unnecessary, and it may send an unintended message—that this is a clergy-centered and clergy-dominated congregation.
The Episcopal Church welcomes…whom?
Many of our churches have limited parking. Long-time members have figured out ways around that problem—they have found favorite places where they can count on a parking space for church. Guests and newcomers often have no such resources. They need special consideration to reward them for having the gumption to get up on a Sunday morning with the resolve to attend worship.
Why not designate a space or two close to the entrance, perhaps right next to the handicapped spaces, as guest parking? That lets them know right away that they are welcome and valued here, and that it is not just a club for the initiates.
One way to gain such a space is by removing the old “Reserved for Rector” sign. That was a nice gesture of appreciation for the priest. However, unless she has to rush in from leading worship moments earlier at another congregation, the priest is likely to be among the first to arrive, while choice spaces are still plentiful. That special designation may be unnecessary, and it may send an unintended message—that this is a clergy-centered and clergy-dominated congregation.
The Episcopal Church welcomes…whom?
Volley #7
Volley #7 ANOUNCEMENTS 101
Typical Sunday announcements at St. Wilbur in the Wildwood:
“I hope everyone will come to coffee hour after Eucharist in Wizzenheifer Hall.”
“All those youth interested in EYF, please meet with Mr. and Mrs. Hampton in the Narthex.”
“Training for new Acolytes will begin at the Chancel following the Postlude.”
“Don’t forget, we have meetings of EFM, ECW, Inquirers, and Vestry coming up this week.”
All of the above are perfectly informative—to anyone who already knows all about this congregation, its people, layout, and events. But what about those who are present for the first time, or who are relatively new in the congregation? What is Eucharist? Where is Wizzenheifer Hall? What do EYF, ECW, EFM, Inquirers, and Vestry mean? Am I invited? Who are the Hamptons? Where are the Narthex and the Chancel? Who is eligible for youth or acolyte groups? Announcements can be welcoming and inclusive, or they can serve to emphasize how uninformed and out-of-the-loop a newcomer is.
The perpetrators of these veiled statements may not be conscious at all of the hidden messages they contain. The result, however, is to keep the power of information in the hands of those who control communication in the group, and dole it out to those they choose to include. What is needed to break this unconscious screening process is mostly awareness of it, and the decision to welcome all who desire to be welcomed, and let the newcomer and the congregation discover one another.
I’m not sure announcements in church are useful in the first place. They seem to matter enormously to Wardens and Vestries, but my experience is that people don’t listen to them anyway, and if someone, clergy or lay, is allowed to drone on past the very low tolerance of the congregation, announcements can be an occasion for sin to the congregation, with the negative thoughts and comments they inspire. My personal preference would be to have a brief welcome and invitation announcement prior to worship, and expanded announcements at the coffee hour, where you reach the people who really want to know what is going on. They’ve been given in writing to everyone, after all. In any case, it behooves the one making announcements to remember: Be prepared. Be clear. Be brief. Be seated.
Typical Sunday announcements at St. Wilbur in the Wildwood:
“I hope everyone will come to coffee hour after Eucharist in Wizzenheifer Hall.”
“All those youth interested in EYF, please meet with Mr. and Mrs. Hampton in the Narthex.”
“Training for new Acolytes will begin at the Chancel following the Postlude.”
“Don’t forget, we have meetings of EFM, ECW, Inquirers, and Vestry coming up this week.”
All of the above are perfectly informative—to anyone who already knows all about this congregation, its people, layout, and events. But what about those who are present for the first time, or who are relatively new in the congregation? What is Eucharist? Where is Wizzenheifer Hall? What do EYF, ECW, EFM, Inquirers, and Vestry mean? Am I invited? Who are the Hamptons? Where are the Narthex and the Chancel? Who is eligible for youth or acolyte groups? Announcements can be welcoming and inclusive, or they can serve to emphasize how uninformed and out-of-the-loop a newcomer is.
The perpetrators of these veiled statements may not be conscious at all of the hidden messages they contain. The result, however, is to keep the power of information in the hands of those who control communication in the group, and dole it out to those they choose to include. What is needed to break this unconscious screening process is mostly awareness of it, and the decision to welcome all who desire to be welcomed, and let the newcomer and the congregation discover one another.
I’m not sure announcements in church are useful in the first place. They seem to matter enormously to Wardens and Vestries, but my experience is that people don’t listen to them anyway, and if someone, clergy or lay, is allowed to drone on past the very low tolerance of the congregation, announcements can be an occasion for sin to the congregation, with the negative thoughts and comments they inspire. My personal preference would be to have a brief welcome and invitation announcement prior to worship, and expanded announcements at the coffee hour, where you reach the people who really want to know what is going on. They’ve been given in writing to everyone, after all. In any case, it behooves the one making announcements to remember: Be prepared. Be clear. Be brief. Be seated.
Volley #6
Volley #6 NOT ALL ABOUT MONEY
We hear people say that they “stopped going to that church, because all they ever heard was about money.” Must not have been an Episcopal congregation—we’re afraid ever to mention money! But the impression that many have is that if they go to church, they’ll be asked to open their wallet right away.
How about this announcement in the bulletin, or even spoken: “If you are our guest today, please don’t feel that you have to make a contribution at the offering time. Please let this time of worship be our gift to you.”
Anything that reduces the stress and uncertainty about a first visit to a church has to be a helpful thing.
We hear people say that they “stopped going to that church, because all they ever heard was about money.” Must not have been an Episcopal congregation—we’re afraid ever to mention money! But the impression that many have is that if they go to church, they’ll be asked to open their wallet right away.
How about this announcement in the bulletin, or even spoken: “If you are our guest today, please don’t feel that you have to make a contribution at the offering time. Please let this time of worship be our gift to you.”
Anything that reduces the stress and uncertainty about a first visit to a church has to be a helpful thing.
Volley #5
Volley # 5: The Great Banquet
In this instance, I don’t mean the Heavenly Banquet. I mean the one we put on at church every time there is a gathering of any kind. We have, I think, three motivations. First, the pragmatic one: “feed them, and they will come.” We believe, and have some evidence in support, that people will attend if they know they will be fed, with little or no cost or effort of their own. Second, the theological one: what we serve at church is somehow emblematic of the heavenly food of the Kingdom. Therefore, it should be our best, our “party” food, normally reserved for special occasions; but then, any gathering in God’s house is a special occasion. Third, there is the sinful one: Perhaps we like to show off a little. And then, perhaps we like to indulge a little in that perennial favorite among the Deadly Seven, Gluttony.
I call your attention to the word Deadly. It is my contention that we are killing ourselves with our church dinners, receptions, and refreshments. Oh, I know, I’m historically the chief offender. But it is ironic that the better one’s attendance at church events, the worse it is for one’s physical health. And whose attendance is pushing 100%? The clergy, that’s who. We are killing off the clergy, and the most active lay people in our congregations, by constantly serving them foods at church that our doctors have forbidden us to eat at home.
What foods, you ask? Toss a Hot Cross Bun at the serving table, I respond, and see what you hit. Doughnuts will kill nearly anybody. But constant cookies (and we know how to bake some irresistible ones), “celebratory” cakes (we can celebrate anything), a parade of brownies, and dinners with a mayonnaise theme all qualify. Could we invent a healthier celebration food?
In all seriousness, we ought to consider:
• The epidemic of diabetes is frightening, and growing.
• We are the fattest state in the union.
• Hypertension and related disorders are prevalent.
• We are an older and aging church population.
• Our children and grandchildren learn from what they see us doing.
• Aren’t health care costs high enough already?
To return to the three motivations cited above: First, I believe they will come if we serve attractive, fresh, naturally tasty and healthy food, too. Second, theologically speaking, shouldn’t we be all about health and wholeness rather than decadence and indulgence? Thirdly, isn’t facing and resisting sin what we are into? We can still compete over who has the prettiest and most interesting dish of healthy fare. I don’t know if one can over-eat salad greens, but we could try.
Now, I know there is nothing we can do about Aunt Madge and her potluck penchant for heart-stopping covered dishes. Perhaps just a spoonful would satisfy both her and our urge to splurge. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had the choice of mounding up the rest of our plate with colorful, fresh vegetables, and delectable fruits, served with non-lethal dressings or sauces?
That’s heaven, too.
In this instance, I don’t mean the Heavenly Banquet. I mean the one we put on at church every time there is a gathering of any kind. We have, I think, three motivations. First, the pragmatic one: “feed them, and they will come.” We believe, and have some evidence in support, that people will attend if they know they will be fed, with little or no cost or effort of their own. Second, the theological one: what we serve at church is somehow emblematic of the heavenly food of the Kingdom. Therefore, it should be our best, our “party” food, normally reserved for special occasions; but then, any gathering in God’s house is a special occasion. Third, there is the sinful one: Perhaps we like to show off a little. And then, perhaps we like to indulge a little in that perennial favorite among the Deadly Seven, Gluttony.
I call your attention to the word Deadly. It is my contention that we are killing ourselves with our church dinners, receptions, and refreshments. Oh, I know, I’m historically the chief offender. But it is ironic that the better one’s attendance at church events, the worse it is for one’s physical health. And whose attendance is pushing 100%? The clergy, that’s who. We are killing off the clergy, and the most active lay people in our congregations, by constantly serving them foods at church that our doctors have forbidden us to eat at home.
What foods, you ask? Toss a Hot Cross Bun at the serving table, I respond, and see what you hit. Doughnuts will kill nearly anybody. But constant cookies (and we know how to bake some irresistible ones), “celebratory” cakes (we can celebrate anything), a parade of brownies, and dinners with a mayonnaise theme all qualify. Could we invent a healthier celebration food?
In all seriousness, we ought to consider:
• The epidemic of diabetes is frightening, and growing.
• We are the fattest state in the union.
• Hypertension and related disorders are prevalent.
• We are an older and aging church population.
• Our children and grandchildren learn from what they see us doing.
• Aren’t health care costs high enough already?
To return to the three motivations cited above: First, I believe they will come if we serve attractive, fresh, naturally tasty and healthy food, too. Second, theologically speaking, shouldn’t we be all about health and wholeness rather than decadence and indulgence? Thirdly, isn’t facing and resisting sin what we are into? We can still compete over who has the prettiest and most interesting dish of healthy fare. I don’t know if one can over-eat salad greens, but we could try.
Now, I know there is nothing we can do about Aunt Madge and her potluck penchant for heart-stopping covered dishes. Perhaps just a spoonful would satisfy both her and our urge to splurge. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had the choice of mounding up the rest of our plate with colorful, fresh vegetables, and delectable fruits, served with non-lethal dressings or sauces?
That’s heaven, too.
Volley #4
Volley # 4: No Sign of an Episcopal Church in Town
Check out your church property: is the main sign identifying the church building (where worship actually occurs), placed to be noticed, or placed NOT to be? We Episcopalians are past masters at hiding ourselves from people who don’t already know us. Contrary to all logic, we have some churches in this diocese with signs that are discretely located so that they will not be seen until the church has already been found and the car stopped!
Sure, the church sign looks great tucked into that inset of the church building, placed at parallel to the church wall, or perhaps even attached flat against the church wall. That means it is perfectly readable—to someone who has already located the building, parked the car, gotten out, and found the main entrance. But the newcomer who has no idea where the Episcopal church in town is located has passed by and is now checking out the larger “Methobapterian” church down the street, which has a large, lighted, readable sign right out on the church lawn facing traffic.
Let’s drag those church signs out and place them in view of the people who need to see them! The little swinging metal signs we are ordering are great for directing people toward the church from the edge of town and from intersections leading to us, but they are not intended to be the main church sign. And here are some additional points:
• Light the main sign if at all possible. People pass by on Saturday night, too, and we do have evening events. (Solar-energy spotlights are available.)
• Choose a simple, easy-to-read lettering, and stick to it. Banish Gothic Texts! No one can read them!
• Include “Episcopal” in the church name. That is who we are.
• Make the worship times large enough to be seen from a moving vehicle.
• Don’t bother with the name of the rector, unless he is famous, or perhaps if she is a woman (which might attract the inquisitive). Otherwise, it isn’t “first view” information.
• Include the congregation’s web address. A majority of first-time visitors now check out the website first, before they ever attend worship.
• Don’t use jargon like “Eucharist” or “Rector.” Once inside, people begin to learn our terminology, but the sign out front is not the place to hit them with it.
• Do include brief parking directions, such as “Parking in the Rear.”
I don’t know if we’ll ever get to the point where the attendant at every Seven-Eleven knows that there is an Episcopal congregation in town, and where it is. Maybe we could get to the point, though, where most people looking for us don’t have to stop at the Seven-Eleven to ask.
Check out your church property: is the main sign identifying the church building (where worship actually occurs), placed to be noticed, or placed NOT to be? We Episcopalians are past masters at hiding ourselves from people who don’t already know us. Contrary to all logic, we have some churches in this diocese with signs that are discretely located so that they will not be seen until the church has already been found and the car stopped!
Sure, the church sign looks great tucked into that inset of the church building, placed at parallel to the church wall, or perhaps even attached flat against the church wall. That means it is perfectly readable—to someone who has already located the building, parked the car, gotten out, and found the main entrance. But the newcomer who has no idea where the Episcopal church in town is located has passed by and is now checking out the larger “Methobapterian” church down the street, which has a large, lighted, readable sign right out on the church lawn facing traffic.
Let’s drag those church signs out and place them in view of the people who need to see them! The little swinging metal signs we are ordering are great for directing people toward the church from the edge of town and from intersections leading to us, but they are not intended to be the main church sign. And here are some additional points:
• Light the main sign if at all possible. People pass by on Saturday night, too, and we do have evening events. (Solar-energy spotlights are available.)
• Choose a simple, easy-to-read lettering, and stick to it. Banish Gothic Texts! No one can read them!
• Include “Episcopal” in the church name. That is who we are.
• Make the worship times large enough to be seen from a moving vehicle.
• Don’t bother with the name of the rector, unless he is famous, or perhaps if she is a woman (which might attract the inquisitive). Otherwise, it isn’t “first view” information.
• Include the congregation’s web address. A majority of first-time visitors now check out the website first, before they ever attend worship.
• Don’t use jargon like “Eucharist” or “Rector.” Once inside, people begin to learn our terminology, but the sign out front is not the place to hit them with it.
• Do include brief parking directions, such as “Parking in the Rear.”
I don’t know if we’ll ever get to the point where the attendant at every Seven-Eleven knows that there is an Episcopal congregation in town, and where it is. Maybe we could get to the point, though, where most people looking for us don’t have to stop at the Seven-Eleven to ask.
Volley #3
Volley # 3 Tidiness
Last summer, my Congregational Development training group visited a downtown, urban parish church. It’s been there for decades, serving a neighborhood that has risen and fallen, and is rising again. Members come from a pretty wide territory. Many are older folk, but there is a mix of younger adults, and some children. The main activity of the congregation outside of Sunday worship is running a large, well –known food pantry from their premises (lower level). The congregation is not in hard times, but it is not heavily endowed or in high clover, either (there is an assistant priest, but she will serve only three years, because that is when the funding for her position runs out).
So what struck me about this rather traditional Episcopal church? It was IMMACULATE! Sure, they’d been warned we were coming, but not early enough to have done a complete overhaul on the entire premises. This place was simply well organized and very carefully tended. For example:
• The worship space gleamed. Floors were polished, along with pews and everything brass. Stained glass glowed with cleanliness. Art, equipment, and devotional objects were placed precisely where they needed to be, to support, but never distract from, the main event. Nothing seemed to be hung or placed just because someone liked it, or it had been given as a memorial. Nothing was being “stored” in plain view. Everything had a reason to be exactly where it was—and that reason fostered prayer and the worship of God.
• The landscaping was equally intentional. No garden kitch whatsoever. Just carefully chosen shrubs and flowers, flawlessly trimmed and mulched, without a weed in sight.
• Each bulletin board (and there weren’t many), had a purpose, but just one purpose. Each was colorful, attractive, and informative. None was a catch-all for all imaginable news. Every one was current.
• The hall was set up for the meeting that was taking place. No paraphernalia remaining from a previous meeting, or needed for the next one, was visible.
The upshot of all this was that I was totally impressed. I’ve visited dozens of Episcopal churches, rich and poor, big and small, high and low—but I had never seen one so well-maintained and so, well—LOVED—as this one. The conditions said that staff and people in this place really cared about their church, took some pride in it and the impression it made. They beamed with big smiles while they talked about their worship, their fellowship, and their food program. Yet clearly, they took their ministry seriously.
Nobody lectured us on this meticulousness. In fact, no one mentioned it at all. They didn’t need to, and I took away a great and valuable lesson, just by noticing.
If I were looking for a church in that city, that one would make my short list immediately.
Last summer, my Congregational Development training group visited a downtown, urban parish church. It’s been there for decades, serving a neighborhood that has risen and fallen, and is rising again. Members come from a pretty wide territory. Many are older folk, but there is a mix of younger adults, and some children. The main activity of the congregation outside of Sunday worship is running a large, well –known food pantry from their premises (lower level). The congregation is not in hard times, but it is not heavily endowed or in high clover, either (there is an assistant priest, but she will serve only three years, because that is when the funding for her position runs out).
So what struck me about this rather traditional Episcopal church? It was IMMACULATE! Sure, they’d been warned we were coming, but not early enough to have done a complete overhaul on the entire premises. This place was simply well organized and very carefully tended. For example:
• The worship space gleamed. Floors were polished, along with pews and everything brass. Stained glass glowed with cleanliness. Art, equipment, and devotional objects were placed precisely where they needed to be, to support, but never distract from, the main event. Nothing seemed to be hung or placed just because someone liked it, or it had been given as a memorial. Nothing was being “stored” in plain view. Everything had a reason to be exactly where it was—and that reason fostered prayer and the worship of God.
• The landscaping was equally intentional. No garden kitch whatsoever. Just carefully chosen shrubs and flowers, flawlessly trimmed and mulched, without a weed in sight.
• Each bulletin board (and there weren’t many), had a purpose, but just one purpose. Each was colorful, attractive, and informative. None was a catch-all for all imaginable news. Every one was current.
• The hall was set up for the meeting that was taking place. No paraphernalia remaining from a previous meeting, or needed for the next one, was visible.
The upshot of all this was that I was totally impressed. I’ve visited dozens of Episcopal churches, rich and poor, big and small, high and low—but I had never seen one so well-maintained and so, well—LOVED—as this one. The conditions said that staff and people in this place really cared about their church, took some pride in it and the impression it made. They beamed with big smiles while they talked about their worship, their fellowship, and their food program. Yet clearly, they took their ministry seriously.
Nobody lectured us on this meticulousness. In fact, no one mentioned it at all. They didn’t need to, and I took away a great and valuable lesson, just by noticing.
If I were looking for a church in that city, that one would make my short list immediately.
Volley #2
A Volley from the Canon: Tea, too!
I’m not prejudiced—some of my best friends are tea-drinkers!
My comments last week on coffee at coffee hour led a few to believe I was going to ignore the tea lobby entirely. Not so! As a matter of fact, they have historically suffered the most at the hands of the coffee-drinking American mainstream.
It isn’t very welcoming to be handed a Lipton tea-bag and a Styrofoam cup of cold water and told “the microwave’s over there” when you ask innocently if there is any tea. (I’ll save Styrofoam itself for another day.)
It’s really a snap to provide excellent, satisfying hot tea in very short order and with very little trouble. First, it’s essential to provide a selection of several good-quality teas, caffeinated and de-caffeinated, regular tea and herbals. They can often be found in an attractive wooden box (Sam’s Club again), but arranging an assortment in a basket or on a tray could be nice, too. Then comes the crucial ingredient—boiling water. The Brits have this knocked. They use high-speed electric boiling kettles, and good ones are now available in the U. S. (try Target). You flip the switch when tea is called for, and voila, you have boiling water in about one minute or less. There are also hot water dispensers on some Bunn-type coffee makers, and as attachments to sinks, as well.
Maybe fresh lemon slices are too much to ask at a church coffee hour. But a nice ceramic mug is welcome, and for true Anglophiles, the same little creamers provided for coffee can work great in teas, too.
We never know which seemingly small detail makes all the difference for someone we’d like to welcome to our church. It all becomes worthwhile when one person goes home from worship smiling, and thinking, “Hey, this Episcopal Church welcomes me!”
I’m not prejudiced—some of my best friends are tea-drinkers!
My comments last week on coffee at coffee hour led a few to believe I was going to ignore the tea lobby entirely. Not so! As a matter of fact, they have historically suffered the most at the hands of the coffee-drinking American mainstream.
It isn’t very welcoming to be handed a Lipton tea-bag and a Styrofoam cup of cold water and told “the microwave’s over there” when you ask innocently if there is any tea. (I’ll save Styrofoam itself for another day.)
It’s really a snap to provide excellent, satisfying hot tea in very short order and with very little trouble. First, it’s essential to provide a selection of several good-quality teas, caffeinated and de-caffeinated, regular tea and herbals. They can often be found in an attractive wooden box (Sam’s Club again), but arranging an assortment in a basket or on a tray could be nice, too. Then comes the crucial ingredient—boiling water. The Brits have this knocked. They use high-speed electric boiling kettles, and good ones are now available in the U. S. (try Target). You flip the switch when tea is called for, and voila, you have boiling water in about one minute or less. There are also hot water dispensers on some Bunn-type coffee makers, and as attachments to sinks, as well.
Maybe fresh lemon slices are too much to ask at a church coffee hour. But a nice ceramic mug is welcome, and for true Anglophiles, the same little creamers provided for coffee can work great in teas, too.
We never know which seemingly small detail makes all the difference for someone we’d like to welcome to our church. It all becomes worthwhile when one person goes home from worship smiling, and thinking, “Hey, this Episcopal Church welcomes me!”
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Volley #1
A Volley from the Canon: Radicalizing Hospitality
Coffee Hour, that sacred mystery of the Episcopal Church, is the best shot we have at getting maximum familiarity with newcomers (and extracting from them maximum information for use in follow-up), and it is our final opportunity to make a positive impression on their first visit with the congregation. Therefore—we serve them the cheapest coffee available on sale at the discount store, stale from residing in the church pantry in that huge, bargain-size can, perked up in a 120-cup aluminum percolator, circa 1959. Then, we cap the offense with injury, for some, by offering that noxious non-dairy powder to “lighten” the brew.
Or that’s the way it USED to be. Now, more and more congregations are catching on to the higher standards for coffee service that are sweeping our nation, and especially our younger population. I’m not suggesting that we attempt a full-scale coffee bar. Regular and decaf are quite enough, if they are of good quality. That means avoiding anything too extreme, like a French or Italian Roast, but selecting a nice, bright, full-flavored roast that would appeal to most people. And while we’re at it, choosing a “fair trade” coffee (like “the Bishop’s Blend,” which benefits Episcopal Relief and Development,) [http://www.er-d.org/waystogive_63273_ENG_HTM.htm] and making that connection known, is a great idea.
But don’t forget the cream! People who don’t drink coffee (or who drink it black) have no idea how important dairy creamer is to those who lighten their coffee. It used to be “too much trouble” for most congregations to bring in a carton of half-and-half (or even milk) for coffee hour. Now, there is no excuse. Little individual servings of half-and-half with a long shelf-life and needing no refrigeration are available at a number of retail outlets, including Sam’s Club.
Still too much trouble? Are people just too darn picky? If we can ignore these important details, we should consider—the Holy Apostolic First Century Bible Full Gospel Community Temple down the street will be happy to respond, and probably already does.
Coffee Hour, that sacred mystery of the Episcopal Church, is the best shot we have at getting maximum familiarity with newcomers (and extracting from them maximum information for use in follow-up), and it is our final opportunity to make a positive impression on their first visit with the congregation. Therefore—we serve them the cheapest coffee available on sale at the discount store, stale from residing in the church pantry in that huge, bargain-size can, perked up in a 120-cup aluminum percolator, circa 1959. Then, we cap the offense with injury, for some, by offering that noxious non-dairy powder to “lighten” the brew.
Or that’s the way it USED to be. Now, more and more congregations are catching on to the higher standards for coffee service that are sweeping our nation, and especially our younger population. I’m not suggesting that we attempt a full-scale coffee bar. Regular and decaf are quite enough, if they are of good quality. That means avoiding anything too extreme, like a French or Italian Roast, but selecting a nice, bright, full-flavored roast that would appeal to most people. And while we’re at it, choosing a “fair trade” coffee (like “the Bishop’s Blend,” which benefits Episcopal Relief and Development,) [http://www.er-d.org/waystogive_63273_ENG_HTM.htm] and making that connection known, is a great idea.
But don’t forget the cream! People who don’t drink coffee (or who drink it black) have no idea how important dairy creamer is to those who lighten their coffee. It used to be “too much trouble” for most congregations to bring in a carton of half-and-half (or even milk) for coffee hour. Now, there is no excuse. Little individual servings of half-and-half with a long shelf-life and needing no refrigeration are available at a number of retail outlets, including Sam’s Club.
Still too much trouble? Are people just too darn picky? If we can ignore these important details, we should consider—the Holy Apostolic First Century Bible Full Gospel Community Temple down the street will be happy to respond, and probably already does.
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