Learning to Be at Home

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

Last week, I talked about how to be a member of Grace Church. This week, I want to ask an even more basic question: how do you know what’s going on here?

 

Many of the people who walk in our doors have never been to an Episcopal Church before. They don’t know what a Collect is, where to find the Narthex, or what to do with those red books in the pews.

 

The truth is, even people who have been here a long time don’t always know about these things, either.

 

Our salvation does not hinge on the ability to identify a thurible. But our connection with God is interwoven with our connection to one another. We draw close to Christ in an environment where we feel loved, secure, and at home. Those feelings are tied up with understanding and a sense of competency.

 

Or, to put it another way, no one feels close to Jesus when they are confused and slightly embarrassed.

 

One of the “golden threads” identified in our vision process is “institutional knowledge and communication.” As a parish, we need to be better about communicating with one another. Some of us have insider knowledge and language. Can we be generous, compassionate, and sensitive about how we share those things with others?

 

On Sunday at noon, the clergy will offer a Newcomer Class from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in the Saint Mark Room. It is meant for people new to Grace Church to learn the basics of our parish—our history, mission, values, and practices—but it is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the things we do and why we do them. We probably won’t cover every piece of Episcopal jargon, but we’ll be led by the curiosity and questions of the class.

 

I hope to see you Sunday. And I hope to hear your questions this Sunday, and every other week, too.

 

Yours in Christ,
Anne+