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Breaking Out of the Holy Club
For people who are new to worship (who might be just feeling their way to a relationship with God) our most treasured traditions can feel like strange sporting code that only the players understand.
The Rt Revd Kate Wilmot, Assistant Bishop
I have a vivid recollection of sitting in church sometime in the early 90s. It was the 8.00am service in the middle of winter. The lovely historic church with its inadequate bar heaters felt like a roofed outdoor space and the congregation were wearing heavy jackets, gloves and even beanies. I lived out of town so had travelled 18kms to get there. The sermon started and the priest (whom I respected) said ‘we are not the Holy Club.’
I felt a heavy sense of indignation.
In houses all around, people were having a leisurely breakfast, a hot cup of tea or even sleeping through the cold morning. How could the Rector possibly complain about the regulars who got themselves to early worship? Wasn’t this an obligation for all people?
In the decades since, I’ve reflected on that priest’s words, and now I have a better sense of what he meant.
It’s natural for faithful Christian people to feel that the worship of God is the most important thing we do and it’s understandable, when worship means a lot to us – to believe it will mean a lot to other people if only they are exposed to it.
For people who are new to worship (who might be just feeling their way to a relationship with God) our most treasured traditions can feel like strange sporting code that only the players understand.
Attending worship you’re not used to can be like standing at a concert where the fans are delirious about a musical genre you’ve never experienced and haven’t quite understood.
Being a stranger (or even a ‘visitor’) in a congregation can be like turning up friendless to someone else’s family reunion.
I know that many people in many congregations are sensitive to these things and work hard to be inclusive and responsive to people who are exploring what it means to be worshippers.
Because we are not the Holy Club (and all the time are trying to show that) the things we do that are missional matter for the assistance and care they give but also because they make immediate sense to people who are exploring who we are and what we do.
We show who we are in the way we respond to needs – not just in the way we worship.
Will people in our wider community value the existence of our Op Shop or Church Café? Probably yes.
Will they respect the fact that we provide food for the homeless? That we support veterans?
That we help immigrants with English or collect and distribute new stationery for school kids or run workshops on how to cook meals on a budget? Yes, yes and yes.
These things are comprehensible to our neighbours, friends and workmates as well as to all of us who are at worship every week.
Observing these missional activities (even becoming involved in some way) helps people to know us as followers of Christ and to reflect on the Gospel that we work to proclaim.
There are many great missional efforts going forward in our churches, agencies and schools and endless opportunities for us to take part or develop something new and to support these things by our prayers and resources.
May God continue to bless our missional endeavours.