Why 'The Church'?
In today's world, there's a vast array of choices in almost everything. There is a huge amount of diversity on offer from where we shop, to where we eat. From how we earn our living to how we spend our leisure time. The list goes on... This choice and diversity is something that should be celebrated - unless you are like me, and having spent 40 minutes trying to decide what you want, you then changing your mind as soon as you place your order! We are all different, and what one person likes, another may not, and the Church is no different.
The Church is a diverse institution, offering a great deal of choice to people. It has many and diverse forms of expression to offer. There are the more familiar Churches - the Church of England, the Roman Catholics and the Methodists and there are many other expressions of Church in our local area - New Life, Kings Church, Glanford Community Church. The area's Orthodox Priest lives in Brigg and works in the Vale school.
Each of these churches is united by our central faith in God, who became fully human in order that we might become fully divine and who has sent us His Holy Spirit to help us grow in His image. Yet each of these churches is different - we understand the implications of our faith differently, we hold different teachings and doctrines, and we express our faith in different ways. Some of our differences are subtle, others massive.
And the reasons for not going to Church can be as diverse as the Churches themselves! Don't like the priest; too many or not enough hymns; don't like the style of worship; service times are inconvenient; never been before; Old Mrs. So-and so upset me 30 years ago the last time I went! The list goes on ...
The Gospel Imprint pamphlet Should I Go Back to Church (available in the Parish Church or at www.gospelimprint.com) makes the point that how we understand the Church can affect whether we attend. It points out the need for regular doses of God's love, which we receive through the sacraments of the Church (The Eucharist, Marriage, Baptism or Christening, Confirmation, Confession, Anointing the Sick and dying, etc.) Perhaps you sense God's gentle stirring in your soul? Perhaps you used to attend, but stopped for some reason? Perhaps you just sometimes wonder what it's all about.
I urge you to come along to a service, try a few different churches and experience the diversity if it helps. It may be that you will find a Church that suits your needs at this time and in which you can find God's grace, for He, and the congregations, are waiting to welcome you with open arms. With my prayers and every blessing,
Fr Owain
