Today I visited my new 'home' church for the first time. I chose it because my friend Helen did a placement there and enjoyed it, and because some friends with children go there so Abby has playmates. It was interesting coming to a new church because I am naturally very shy but a confident church goer!
First thoughts: Rev. Tanya is away at the moment so Rev Tom Hood is Locum. No worries, I like Tom and it gives me a chance to check out the Church when the cat's away. We (William and I) were a bit early (go me) so the Church was about half full. Mainly older people, which makes sense because the Sunday school doesn't run in the holidays. The services in January are also at 8am rather than 7 & 9am. The welcomers did their job, with a smile and prayer book, hymn book and pew sheet. Of course, if I wasn't already familiar with how these work I would have been totally at sea. Sitting with William no one approached me or made eye contact. Massive fail! I suspect that maybe other young families would have approached me (or at least acknowledged my existence?) but as it was I was invisible. And this was before I was breastfeeding!
The service was good. Standard stuff. When Wills got fussy I stood down the back with him and during the hymn a woman came to me with an open hymn book and pointed to where we were. Excellent. The sermon was great, about living the life rather than just thinking about it. I like the way Tom preaches, although I'm not sure some of the congregation quite got the point. He was talking about the good old days, when everything was simpler and better. Everyone went to Church (although actually many people didn't) and read the Bible. Well, some people did, most people didn't of course. But that's not the point! It was before all those refugees, queue jumpers, started taking our jobs and food. Mind you, Abraham was a refugee and a cue jumper, from Iran in fact... I liked the way he started off with the comfortable platitudes and moved into the disquieting truths.
The greeting of peace was a bit disappointing. Some people actually walked past me without giving the peace, or even making eye contact! Very poor. When I basically forced one woman to acknowledge me, she shook my hand without catching my eye. So of course she shook the hand that was holding William and woke him up. Yeah... no.
After Church, at morning tea, one gentleman was kind enough to check that I had food and a drink, and ask about William. Then we left.
The thing is, I know that as a Church we are very bad at new things. That includes new people. I know that when I've been coming for a few weeks and some of the newness wears off they will be lovely. And when Rev Tanya gets back she'll kick some Spirit into them. Rev Tom was great, made a point of coming to talk to us etc., but he's not their priest and they know it. But if I didn't know all this, I sure as heck wouldn't be going back.
The question is, do I give Rev Tanya the feedback or would that be rude?
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