Good Shepherd is a young congregation. I’m not speaking of our individual ages, but of the fact that most of us have made our commitment to this parish within the last few years. What made each of us visit a second time … and a third … until Good Shepherd was indisputably our spiritual home?
I won’t presume to speak for others, but only for myself. This week, in a fit of household filing, I came across the leaflet for the Sunday of my first visit to the “new” Good Shepherd. On a frigid February morning in 2022, my late husband and I were ready to return to church post-COVID, and intrigued by the possibility of renaissance at a revered parish that we knew had experienced trauma. We expected that the liturgy, music, and preaching would serve our worship. But what surprised us was a sense of ease here. We felt we had arrived among friends who had been waiting for us.
At that time Good Shepherd’s attendance was quite small, but the welcome was large and warm. What our new Priest in Charge has astutely identified as Good Shepherd’s charism for hospitality was evident even then. John and I felt embraced, but not seized upon. We understood that this community wanted to know us, and wanted to give of themselves, the better to worship God alongside us. Embedded in their welcome was a sense of hope. Something new was happening among this young congregation, and we were invited to join in that renewal.
This is the experience I hope we still offer to all who arrive at our doors. And since, as People’s Warden, I have the “newcomers” label attached to my role here, it’s heartening for me to see how many parishioners have taken on a simple habit of welcome. Every Sunday I witness how you notice a new face and smile, the warmth of your greetings at the Peace to friends and strangers alike, how you approach new visitors after the postlude with interest, kindness, and respect.
This has been more important than ever in our time of transition. When there is a full-time priest, it can be easy to leave the “work” of welcoming newcomers to the person wearing the cassock. In recent months, we haven’t had this luxury, and I don’t believe it is in our DNA, anyway. As we prepare to bring a new Priest in Charge into our midst, I pray that each of us will intentionally embrace the ministry of welcome. Continue to notice new faces, or recent visitors who have returned. Seek them out at coffee hour. Learn their stories. Introduce them to others. Invite them in. Appreciate their gifts. And enjoy how they contribute to the continuing renewal of our young congregation.
“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7)
In the peace of God,
Melinda Burrows
People’s Warden