Dear Friends,
I would like to commend to you ‘Back to Church Sunday’, being offered for the first time in this Diocese on September 13. This is a Church of England initiative that has been taken up by a number of dioceses after a presentation to General Synod last year. The concept is simple: there are people who have been part of the Church’s life and now, for whatever reason, are not. They may have drifted away, they may have left more intentionally, they may just have got out of the habit of regular worship. They may be looking for a path back. Or just curious or questioning.
And so we offer this no-strings-attached, no-further-expectations invitation to someone we know: Come, join me in going back to church.
The task of evangelism can seem daunting, but those who have had some previous contact at least share with us a language: liturgy and the story of faith. ‘Back to Church Sunday’ offers us an opportunity to be part of the task of evangelism in the most simple fashion: as we are, with people we already know. The ‘as we are’ motif is important. The idea is that we invite one person to one service on what will be one ordinary Sunday: family, friends, neighbours.
We are hoping to build up the life of this parish, but in the integrity of who we are at S. Michael’s. We are also invited to look at ourselves through others’ eyes: How hospitable are we? What do we do to help visitors find their way (through liturgy, to morning tea, to make connections they need)? Are we child and family friendly? Will those who will join us find a Christ-centred community? Big questions, and part of what makes this venture valuable, regardless of any increase in numbers in the Sundays following September 13. Please do support this initiative, and give it some prayerful thought. Who can you invite?
Today is my last Sunday with you (Fr Peter returns Sunday next), and so I would like to thank you. Thank you for the privilege and joy of sharing these weeks with you. Thank you for your hospitality and friendship. Thank you for your support and kindness, particularly in recent days.
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Peace of the Son of Peace to you.
May God bless you all.
Fr Tim Hurd
From the People’s Warden…
Today is the last Sunday that Fr Tim Hurd will be with us as acting Parish Priest at S. Michael’s, and we will be farewelling him at a special morning tea in the hall this morning.
Thank you, Tim, for your care of this parish, for your preaching and leadership, your enthusiasm and readiness to help in so many ways, your considerable IT skills with computers, your great voice, and all the other gifts that have made your time here so good for us. We have really appreciated having you with us and feel that you have become part of our community. We wish you well for your time in Fiji and will be remembering you in our prayers. Come and see us again whenever you can!
Claire Anstice
