September 2010 - Vol. 32. No. 9

The Rector writes:

Dear Friends
I often meet people who believe in God, and who try to live according to the teachings of Jesus, but who rarely attend church services. These people have their children baptised and do their best to bring them up in the Christian faith. They would never dream of not coming into church for life’s significant events such as weddings and funerals. Some of them enjoy church services on the occasions when they do attend, such as Christmas, Easter and Harvest, but they lead busy lives and other things take a higher priority than regular church attendance. There are some who intend to come more often, but never quite get around to it. Some feel closer to God outside, and a response to God is awakened in them when they are enjoying the wonders of nature. That’s understandable because, after all, the natural world is God’s creation. Buildings – even church buildings constructed to the glory of God and made holy by the prayers of countless generations – are still buildings made by human beings.

However, church buildings were put there because believers need a place to meet. Yes, we can pray and praise God anywhere, any time. I have had as many meaningful encounters with God outside the church walls as within. Even so, I believe that there is something about collective worship and prayer that adds up to more than the sum total of all our personal devotions. Private prayers and corporate worship complement each other. We need time and space to be alone with God, and time to be together. It’s about belonging. Through baptism, we are brought into the family of the Church. Families that function best are those which meet together and keep in contact. Within a family we learn the meaning of love and we offer and receive support as we journey together through life. The Church family needs to meet to grow together in the knowledge and love of God, and to offer mutual support, as well as to pray for the world in all its need, and to reach out in loving service to the community. God doesn’t intend us to go it alone, and there is so much that we can do better together.

We hear about declining church attendances, and some of our rural congregations are very small. A few committed people work hard to keep our small village churches open. If other parishioners want their church to be there for their weddings, baptisms and funerals, and to remain as a focus for the Christian faith in their village, I would urge them to re-think their priorities before it is too late. However, if someone reading this decides to resume, or to begin, church attendance, I pray that this will not be a mere duty, but that you will find it a joy and that God will bless you .

With my love and prayers

Glynis Hetherington