So, how do you do it?

[Fr. Steve]

How do you draw people to a missional Continuing Anglican Church. Take, for example, Fr. David's church. Or even Fr. Greg's church. What do you do to get into the community and draw people in? What do you do individually to draw people in?

We have a setting that can draw people, if they understand what they are looking at. Some people are turned off by the traditional language of our service, but others are drawn to it. What can we do to draw both the people drawn to the traditional language, and those who are repulsed by it?

[The Rev Christopher Seddon]

How did Jesus draw people to him? By actions as well as words....
We are so good at talking the talk...lok at the myriad of Websites, Blogs and so on...we find so much time to talk, wrie and read, and yet so little time going to visit a lonely person, take a needy person out for a meal, take someone to the sops and buy them some new clothes, simply be with them....

Ghandi said "Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it." What then do we DO? He was amazed by the lack of any actions by so many who called themselves followers of Jesus Christ.

It is surely time to stop and listen..be quiet before God...and then make soem serious decisions about DOING before browsing and surfing the Internet, DOING before reading the latest "Christian" book, DOING ...and then, just maybe, some people will see us as a little different and want to spend time with us and that then can move into worship...

[Fr. Greg]

Fr. Christopher:

You have really hit the nail on the head. Archbishop Reber recently stated that, for every hour we spend on the internet reading/writing Blogs, etc., we should spend two hours reading Scripture and in Prayer. I believe that is an excellent starting point for a foundation from which we move forward and out into the world to DO the very ministry, the very tangible kinds of loving, compassionate, and merciful ministry that you speak of. Thoughts? Ideas?

Fr. Greg

[Fr. David]

At Trinity we are doing a Scouting Program. Here's the letter that is going to go out to Scout groups:
Dear Scout Leader:

Did you know that the Girl Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America have available a religious awards program? It is not given by the BSA or GSA, but by your own church body. Religious awards are bestowed upon a Scout by a church’s National Scouting Committee, and can be thought of as a Religious Badge of Honor.

Around the United States numerous local congregations have stepped forward in an attempt to help Scouts earn their Religious Emblem Award. The Scouts do not need to be members of these sponsoring congregations. The Scouts, if they desire, can have their Religious Emblem Awards presented in their home church.

Trinity Anglican Church is planning on having a series of “children’s retreats” to assist Scouts in obtaining their Religious Emblem Award. These will be short Saturday afternoon sessions that will be Bible based and fun for all ages. Parents are welcome to come and participate with their children while they earn their Religious Emblem Award. The only cost involved is a nominal fee for the medal itself. Trinity Anglican Church is purchasing the workbooks. Trinity Anglican Church is planning a Scout Sunday and is happy to award these medals to any Scout during this service. Trinity Church will also be happy to work with a Scout’s home church in making sure the Scout receives their medal wherever they wish.

If you belong to a national church body that is not a Protestant or Independent Christian Church but are interested in obtaining a religious award appropriate for your denomination please contact me at [e-mail] and I will be more than happy to assist you.

May God Bless and Keep You,


Fr. David Straw
Trinity Anglican Church
www.tacuec.org

This program usually "packs them in." Consider this: For every child coming at least two parents (possibly more family members) usually do. This is positive in so many ways. If one looks into how scouting has been influenced by Anglicanism (both Boy and Girl scouting) it's very appropriate for us to have this program for all Christians.

[Fr. Greg]

Fr. David:

Many thanks for posting your letter and suggestions here for the Scouting Programme. I am going to seriously looking into this for our parish here. It would be great if maybe we could do a Scout Sunday this Spring. And...you're right! Getting young folks into the parish will bring the parents too, and potentially others as well. This is definitely an opportunity for outreach that get people into the Church. Do you have any thoughts on how the Church might get out into the community to do something similar? Scout Chaplain? Other ideas???

Fr. Greg

[Bishop Wes Nolden]

I volunteered as a fire chaplain and it was a marvelous opportunity to minister to firefighters and others in my local community. It takes a bit of time, though. However, it's well worth the effort. Fr. David and I grab at just about any opportunity to work in the Evansville community. Just our presence is important, but we are always confronted with the opportunity for ministry. We've found it's the little things that bring people to us.
Bishop Nolden

[Mark B.]

In the south...food.

Have a fish fry at the church. Include those bouncer
toys the kids like, face painting, petting zoo, games
etc. Some where that families can come that is safe
and fun. Where they, hopefully, will not see or hear
anything rude or vulgar. Hand out invitations to the
neighbors. Those with in a few blocks. Stick up a yard
sign. Most of these the baptist hold did not charge
for the food. At the invite, a ticket per plate. See why later.

When the people come to have fun, the congregation should
be there to serve them and have fun also. With each plate of
food hand out info on the church and offer a tour of the church.

One thing. They expect the pastor/priest to do this as it is
his job. The laity doing the greeting and tours will have more
impact. Just with follow ups. Everyone expects the priest to
call. So have laity do it. Baptist surveys show that the laity
is usually three times more effective than the priest in getting
return visits.

How do you get their info? On the ticket you give them, make it
two parts, with number and name and address. You keep the name and
address and match it to the person when they come.

Caution, do not be overt in treating this as a recruiting program. People
will see through it very quickly and the church will actually be harmed.
Keep the infor on the people. Include them, even if they go to another church,
in opportunities to worship or serve with the church. Let them know what you
are doing. And invite them to join. When they come, have laity sit with them
to guide them through the prayer book. Or have a new comers handout with the
service in a bulletin format so they do not have to flip pages. What ever you
can do to make it easier.

My 2 cent...ok 5 cents worth.

Mark