Do we do that?
Yesterday I listened to a sermon from a couple of weeks ago, given by a minister in Sydney’s Southwest. He mentioned that a few of the ladies in his parish were nagging him. And then he explained their concern. I was a bit uncomfortable being given the choice to continue to hear the sermon. What was their complaint? What was his response? Why was I being forced to hear this controversial moment in a parish about which I knew so little? I’ll get back to that in a moment.
Last week I attended another funeral of a friend. It was held in Kiama, about 2 hours south of Sydney, at least that’s how long it took me to travel there on the train. The service was beautiful and simple, pointed and peaceful. It was everything the widower and his heaven-bound wife would have wanted. Over afternoon tea in the hall, I met a man named Steve who helped lead the singing during the service. He told me that he regularly knocks on doors in his neighbourhood, and it has a purpose.
What might surprise you in this retelling is that both of these congregations are Anglican, that is, part of the historic Church of England. Some call it the broad, historically rooted, national, sometimes conflicted, and culturally significant Christian institution that blends tradition with diversity. It’s a mainline denomination and some would say in its decline in England and here in Australia, it is evidencing the deterioration of what some see as a morally backward, boring, and pompous leftover of generations past.
Why is this surprising? Because the pastor from St Marks Anglican, Sadleir was asked by five ladies from the parish for Bibles and Gospel tracts to distribute as they go door-knocking in their neighbourhood. The ladies nagged Pastor Dave until he agreed that he would supply those religious items for them.
Steve down Kiama way is door-knocking with the same purpose, albeit in a different community. He also is hoping to speak with people about Jesus and the Gospel. Wow, in only a few days I encounter outreach being accomplished by Anglicans; I wonder how many Americans listening to me just now are surprised by this revelation.
Look, wherever you are, this is prime time to share with mates the possibility of the Gospel. We have carols in the Domain, in the Myer Bowl, in the parks and in the car parks, carols everywhere, on the television and in the shopping centres. Carols are abounding. I wonder if anyone has a list of the lyrics of sacred songs that could be handed out to neighbours at this time? Or maybe your congregation is hosting a carols event and you could pass that around when you are out and about in your evening stroll? Letter boxing is legal here in Oz, (but don’t put it in the boxes that say “No junk mail” or “No advertising material.” We want good feelings when people think of the Gospel of Life.
Let’s use this time of year, whether Yeshua was born on 25 December or not, to proclaim the Good News (The Gospel), far and wide, amen?
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