Together on the Journey: A Weekly Blog from Fr. Andrew Sheldon
Some years ago, I came across a list of reasons that your church ‘just might make it’. I have come back to those reasons – and added and edited and reflected – and have what I would call ‘indicators of an effective church’. I thought I would take the next number of weeks to reflect on those indicators, which strikes me as a useful exercise for a parish in an interim time. These will be in no particular order, but I will begin with a timely indicator given the nature of the upcoming weekend.
Gratitude is expressed early and often.
It is Thanksgiving weekend and, in many homes, people will gather around tables and present a litany of things they are thankful for. Gratitude will be expressed and then in far too many cases forgotten until being repeated this time next year. But for us, a Christian’s gratitude is very much at the heart of things, and especially gratitude towards God and God’s many gifts to us. Indeed, for centuries Anglicans have begun Morning Prayer with the words, “let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving”. In the Book of Common Prayer, what we now call The Eucharistic Prayer is called The Great Thanksgiving. And, of course, scripture is replete with reminders that the default position for the people of God is gratitude. The Psalmist: “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify God with thanksgiving. St Paul counsels that prayer is always framed in gratitude: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
But our gratitude is not just directed upwards. If St George’s is to be a church that just might make it, then gratitude needs to flow outwards as well. Alfred North Whitehead has written that “no one who achieves success does so without acknowledging the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude”. All the success we as a church achieve is the result of the collaborative efforts of others – indeed, the collaborative efforts of people who are mostly volunteers. When I reflect on this, I am enormously grateful for the time and talent and treasure that so many pour into our ministry to this congregation and to this community. And I encourage you to be a people who show gratitude to each other. Be it a note, or a phone call, or a conversation at church, find ways to say thank you to those who keep this place going.
And have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Andrew +