Comments for Episcopal Arkansas

Comment on Top Ten: Ways to Welcome the Stranger by Juliana Mannon

Juliana Mannon — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:24:58 +0000

Discussion points –
#5 – Focus on the Worshiper – Share a prayer book with a visitor (it’s easier for us to find the passages) or find each page and lay it beside a visitor for them to pick up and read if they want to.
#6 – Make Connections – Establish a regularly advertised and easily accessible prayer list. Ensure that life events are attended by regular calls and visits (illness, death (with grief counseling options in hand), births, etc. It is helpful to bring food; bring cereal and milk or a frozen dinner to heat in the oven if you do not cook. Visit or call even if you have no food. Newcomers will notice how we treat each other.
#7 – Include Children and Youth – This is arguably one of the most controversial challenges facing our church. The bullets only addressed how to store them during service.
#8 – Offer Transformative Worship – Bullet number one states, “make your music first rate. If the music cannot be good, omit it.” Who determines what is good? We listen with human ears, but God listens to our hearts. Which type of listening are we supporting? What level of participation are we encouraging? I understand and enjoy that service is a reverential experience prescribed by our liturgy and practices. Like the finger pointing toward God, we need to be careful not to worship the finger.
#9 – Celebrate Together After Church – Another point of controversy. Should only coffee and donuts be served so to accommodate those who eat out after church? or should a dinner be served to accommodate the live alone fixed income elderly and families?
Although some of these comments may seem to address daily congregational life more than newcomers specifically, it’s fruits of the spirit and the newcomer will sniff the fruit.

Comment on Top Ten: Ways to Welcome the Stranger by Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:55:16 +0000

I need to write this anonymously because this remains an unresolved issue with our church. While we have a greeters committee and we are remodeling to make our church appear more open, there seems to be a clique issue. Those who have been long time members will associate with their friends, who also have been long time members at both the weekly church services as well as special events and potlucks. Rarely do I see visitors and newcomers welcomed by parishoners. Fathers Jesse and Michael, though, are always going out of their way to make newcomers and visitors feel at home, but there is only so much that they can do. I hope and pray that there will be a change of heart among the parishoners of St. Mark’s, otherwise, things will not change.

Comment on Top Ten: Ways to Welcome the Stranger by Susan Hiller

Susan Hiller — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:15:26 +0000

Since I “worship regularly with” rather than “officially belong to” St. Margaret’s because of affiliation with another church in Colorado, I have been the recipient of gracious acts of welcome and hospitality from the priest and all members of the congregation with whom I have come in contact. My “status” has been embraced to the point that each time that I am able to worship there, I feel comfortable and contented. The sermons, the music, the camraderie, and the Communion all feed me, and I am grateful.