The great repair job
Why rebuilding our church post-pandemic is like repairing a precious ornament without all the original pieces
Sunday, 1 August 2021 was a red-letter day for our church. It was the first time we held our worship service outside in the church garden. Some of those who had been reluctant to attend indoor services were happy to sit in the open air, including the young families we’d missed so much. Passers-by stopped and chatted. And above all, we could sing.
There was something else noticeable, too. About a quarter of those present were newcomers. We are used to welcoming around one or two new people into our church per month, so it was as if we...
At the same time, of course, we have lost people. During the pandemic some have died and others have moved away. Others have still not found the confidence to return to church in person or have...
Much work to do
Back in June I broke an ornament at home that we had inherited from my late mother-in-law. Fortunately, I was able to repair it to something like its original condition. Inspired by this and...
