CONFIRM MY HEART'S DESIRE

Welcome! You'll find here occasional writings, a few rants, and hopefully some insights too, about Christian discipleship, the Episcopal Church, and on faith community's life (at least from my viewpoint) at the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, Massachusetts, where I am blessed to serve as the rector. At the Epiphany we understand ourselves to be "a welcoming Episcopal community, united in God, called to seek and serve Christ in all persons, and to transform the world with love and generosity."
Why this title, "confirm my heart's desire"?
The title comes from a line in Charles Wesley's hymn, O Thou Who Camest from Above. You can read the text and listen to a schmaltzy-sounding version of the tune here. The hymn is not widely known, except in England, but with persistence on my part, and with the persuasion of other musicians, priests, and hymn-nerds, it's gaining, slowly, additional admirers.




17 August 2012

Welcome



The Gospel for today is from John 4:43-54.

The Galileans welcomed Jesus. They welcomed him.

At the Parish of the Epiphany we've had a welcoming team working really hard for over two years. We've redesigned things, organized events, delivered flowers, held inquirer's classes, and just about everything else evangelism experts suggest. No question we've been successful, but integrating those visitors and newcomers, well, that's been a much bigger challenge.

In the olden days the rector used to ring the doorbell of those who visited or who were new to the area. Now, we "shop for a new church" and the sign of a good and successful rector is the presence of a welcoming team whose ministry is to welcome and assimilate newcomers.

Really?

As I approach middle-age I'm discovering that some of the old-fashioned techniques of parochial ministry might need to be applied anew in 2012. I have never rung the doorbell of a newcomer. But maybe I should.

In a conversation with one leader I mentioned that I was thinking about doing this. She was stunned to learn that I don't: "trust me, if you or Audrey show up at the door, get to know them, invite them to serve in some way, they'll feel welcomed, and they'll get involved!"

The Galileans welcomed Jesus, true enough. But they welcomed him because they had "seen all that Jesus had done." I haven't seen everything that Jesus has done in your life, but I've seen it in mine. How can I do anything else but to welcome him, and by extension, to welcome others?


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1 comment:

  1. Anonymous1:25 PM

    Only twice in my entire life have I received a pastoral call from my rector. In my case, it is certain that this pastoral visit changed my relationship with POE from very tentative to (now) very involved. It told me that somebody cared enough to come over to my house to see me.

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