Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:43     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:OP please don't ask anyone this question in person.

I'm an every week Episcopalian (sometime twice a week) and I love the big crowds at Christmas and Easter. People have lots of reasons for not being there all the time. It's really none of my business, and I assume most people don't find the meaning in worship/faith that I do...

But maybe today someone felt welcomed, comforted, joyful, or found meaning in the service and were surprised. Maybe someone experienced the presence of God. It's our job as regulars to welcome and try to make those who aren't there all the time comfortable, with no expectation that they'll become pledging members and certainly no interrogation as to the reason they stay home 50 weeks of the year.


OP here -- to clarify -- I have no problem at all with folks dropping in -- or not -- as the spirit moves them. My question was intended more as market research, rather than an interrogation. Sorry if that wasn't clear. I'm trying to figure out what those of us who are regulars can do to make people feel more welcome and to find "meaning in worship/faith" as you-- and I --do.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:41     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So, our church was packed this morning -- the flowers were lovely, the sermon inspiring, music beautiful. Maybe you were there -- maybe it was the first time in a while. It was so great to have you with us. Now, will you come back next Sunday? Why or why not?


No, I only go on easter and Christmas for the special music. Like many others responding here -- I'm not at all inclined to make it a weekly habit.

The sermon at the church I went to was aimed at children, saying how special it was that Jesus died for their sins, and like Jesus, they too can live forever, because they believe in him.

I know this is the standard Christian story, but it sounds just like another children's fairy tale when you don't hear it every Sunday. I wondered how many of those kids would still believe it when they were adults.


I know you don't mean it this way, but I find this line to be offensive.

It's not the "standard Christian story." It is the central and only reason for the Christian faith.

Since we regulars are being so careful not to offend our twice-yearly visitors, please remember when you do visit that people there believe and live this faith.


So riddle me this one, Batman:

Jimmy and Timmy are two little boys who go to church, and both agree they both believe in Jesus and that Jesus died for their sins. The boys are excited to live "forever" because when you're six, life is sweet.

And then Jimmy gets killed in a car accident. Or gets cancer and dies. So now he's dead. And Timmy is supposed to think .... what? That Jimmy lied to him about believing in Jesus, or that the whole "if you believe you live forever" thing is crap?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:38     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:No, we just go on Easter and Christmas to shut up our parents. We don't believe in the religion and are not happy being there.


This is how I feel. I just don’t believe in any the whole death/resurrection or virgin birth stuff. I think religion was invented because people need that comfort and meaning in their life and are scared of death. I like the tradition and community but I just feel like a fraud in church. I go because I don’t it would be WWIII with my parents.


Right? We all know Mary was raped. Also, how intelligent could Jesus have POSSIBLY been? He was an uneducated carpenter raised by a teen mom. Nobody's ever said he had a particularly high IQ. So we're just supposed to believe he was hella woke? At most he died at 33. I just don't buy any of it. And the idea of dying for other people's sins? I mean come on. We don't even agree on what is and what is not a sin. And one person dying for another person's sin does NOT absolve the first person of committing said sin.

I go to church once or twice a year to avoid a fight, but damn if i don't sit there rolling my eyes at this stuff. Love thy neighbor, but only if they follow your way of living? Nope.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:36     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:So, our church was packed this morning -- the flowers were lovely, the sermon inspiring, music beautiful. Maybe you were there -- maybe it was the first time in a while. It was so great to have you with us. Now, will you come back next Sunday? Why or why not?


No, I only go on easter and Christmas for the special music. Like many others responding here -- I'm not at all inclined to make it a weekly habit.

The sermon at the church I went to was aimed at children, saying how special it was that Jesus died for their sins, and like Jesus, they too can live forever, because they believe in him.

I know this is the standard Christian story, but it sounds just like another children's fairy tale when you don't hear it every Sunday. I wondered how many of those kids would still believe it when they were adults.


I know you don't mean it this way, but I find this line to be offensive.

It's not the "standard Christian story." It is the central and only reason for the Christian faith.

Since we regulars are being so careful not to offend our twice-yearly visitors, please remember when you do visit that people there believe and live this faith.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:34     Subject: Re:If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
No. Christmas and Easter for me. DH goes almost every week though. Our kids used to but now they are old enough to make their own choices and have chosen not to attend regularly (for thoughtful reasons, not because they are lazy).
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:34     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:OP please don't ask anyone this question in person.

I'm an every week Episcopalian (sometime twice a week) and I love the big crowds at Christmas and Easter. People have lots of reasons for not being there all the time. It's really none of my business, and I assume most people don't find the meaning in worship/faith that I do...

But maybe today someone felt welcomed, comforted, joyful, or found meaning in the service and were surprised. Maybe someone experienced the presence of God. It's our job as regulars to welcome and try to make those who aren't there all the time comfortable, with no expectation that they'll become pledging members and certainly no interrogation as to the reason they stay home 50 weeks of the year.


I always make room for the Easter/Christmas drop ins, including having my teens get up and offer seats to those who are older or have little kids on those Masses that are standing room only. I try to be as welcoming as possible to them so they leave with a positive experience and will maybe someday return to the church.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:33     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:OP please don't ask anyone this question in person.

I'm an every week Episcopalian (sometime twice a week) and I love the big crowds at Christmas and Easter. People have lots of reasons for not being there all the time. It's really none of my business, and I assume most people don't find the meaning in worship/faith that I do...

But maybe today someone felt welcomed, comforted, joyful, or found meaning in the service and were surprised. Maybe someone experienced the presence of God. It's our job as regulars to welcome and try to make those who aren't there all the time comfortable, with no expectation that they'll become pledging members and certainly no interrogation as to the reason they stay home 50 weeks of the year.


Good advice, Thank you.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:31     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:So, our church was packed this morning -- the flowers were lovely, the sermon inspiring, music beautiful. Maybe you were there -- maybe it was the first time in a while. It was so great to have you with us. Now, will you come back next Sunday? Why or why not?


No, I only go on easter and Christmas for the special music. Like many others responding here -- I'm not at all inclined to make it a weekly habit.

The sermon at the church I went to was aimed at children, saying how special it was that Jesus died for their sins, and like Jesus, they too can live forever, because they believe in him.

I know this is the standard Christian story, but it sounds just like another children's fairy tale when you don't hear it every Sunday. I wondered how many of those kids would still believe it when they were adults.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:13     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
OP please don't ask anyone this question in person.

I'm an every week Episcopalian (sometime twice a week) and I love the big crowds at Christmas and Easter. People have lots of reasons for not being there all the time. It's really none of my business, and I assume most people don't find the meaning in worship/faith that I do...

But maybe today someone felt welcomed, comforted, joyful, or found meaning in the service and were surprised. Maybe someone experienced the presence of God. It's our job as regulars to welcome and try to make those who aren't there all the time comfortable, with no expectation that they'll become pledging members and certainly no interrogation as to the reason they stay home 50 weeks of the year.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:03     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Mass was 90 minutes today (not the usual 50) and full of fire and brimstone (and the priest thanked me for choosing life when he saw my mewborn). I hope to return when the kids are a bit bigger but today was not as a good an advertisement as it could have been.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 17:01     Subject: Re:If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
I didn't go but my 12 yr old ran down the road to Sunday School as usual and my husband went an hour later to the adult service. He wanted me to go, but I am not ok right now, emotionally. I sat at home and listened to some of my favorite Christian songs, though.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 15:55     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
When I have dipped a toe back into my childhood religion, the major reason for not going back was dealing with interrogative questions like this.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 15:52     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
Anonymous wrote:No, we just go on Easter and Christmas to shut up our parents. We don't believe in the religion and are not happy being there.


This is how I feel. I just don’t believe in any the whole death/resurrection or virgin birth stuff. I think religion was invented because people need that comfort and meaning in their life and are scared of death. I like the tradition and community but I just feel like a fraud in church. I go because I don’t it would be WWIII with my parents.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 15:41     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
No, we just go on Easter and Christmas to shut up our parents. We don't believe in the religion and are not happy being there.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2018 15:34     Subject: If you went to church this morning for the first time in a while, will you come back next Sunday?
So, our church was packed this morning -- the flowers were lovely, the sermon inspiring, music beautiful. Maybe you were there -- maybe it was the first time in a while. It was so great to have you with us. Now, will you come back next Sunday? Why or why not?