There is lots going on at the moment - First Communion classes start soon; housegroup is meeting fortnightly on Wednesday evenings, looking at the life and travels of St Paul; Mothers' Union are holding a bingo evening and an Autumn dance in October; Harvest Festival on 7 October .....
On Sunday 30 September we will be taking part in 'Back to Church Sunday', and we will start giving out invitations this week. If you used to go to church but haven't been for some time, why not come along to the 10am service to see what we get up to?! (No obligation and no awkward questions, we promise.) I'm reliably informed there will be balloons outside to help you find us!
7 comments:
I have removed a 'spam' comment from this post - genuine comments are, of course, welcome!
I like the idea of the balloons and the idea of a 'back to Church' Sunday. I dont think they are running it in Wales so I dont have to seriously consider it for the moment.
Oh and one other other thing re 'Back to Church' Sunday - I dont, with all due respect, recommend the ritual of 'Giving the Peace'. If I were to turn up at a Service after a long abscence this rather cloying innovation would certainly turn me off. I dont know if you go in for it at St Laurance but the Church looks rather new and you dont seem to be using the good old King James version so there is a possibilty that you might.
As in most churches, we are invited to greet our neighbours in church after the prayers, although there is no compulsion! Although the style of the building is modern, I would describe the style of worship here as traditional, in the sense that if someone were to return after a long absence there would probably be a lot they would be familiar with.
in most churches ....
- thats a little worrying to me.
I wouldn't mind if it were an eccentricity confined to one or two but 'most'
In our village Church they stay after the service for coffee and biscuits - now I can handle that kind of social interaction but when I encountered this 'Giving the peace' for the first (and only time) at St Boniface in Bonchurch Isle of Wight I felt totally trapped and a poor little chap of 11 or 12 who kept leaping into my field of vision offering his hand, as I endeavoured to fix my eyes on anything but a peacegiver, eventually got the message from the utter horror in my eyes and wilted into the background as if he had come face to face with the devil himself.
A modern building is good though - I am all in favour of that.
People also get the message if you pick up your hymn book and start 'studying' the next hymn (holding offering envelope in other hand if necessary)! Although each congregation will approach this in their own way, and therefore a visitor may find it slightly different from their own church or previous experience, I do hope no-one feels trapped. We do invite everyone to coffee afterwards, and this gives the opportunity to find out we're quite a friendly bunch really!
Of course, we do welcome feedback and I would encourage any visitors to speak to one of the clergy, especially if they are unhappy about anything, or communicate with us via email or through this site.
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