A question in the January/February issue of Gather magazine’s Bible study by Julie Kanarr still intrigues me. The two-part question in Session One asked, “What is your experience of being invited to churches or religious communities? What is your story of becoming part of your faith community?”
What keeps me reflecting on this Bible study is how my group shared about the second part of that question.
During Bible study, we asked, “What brought you to Lord of Love [Lutheran Church], and why do you stay?” That evening, five of us were in attendance. We were missing a few due to work obligations or winter travel.
Reasons for staying
One shared that after she moved to Omaha from another state, her cousin told Lord of Love’s then pastor to call her and make sure she’s going to church. So, he did. When she came to the church, one of the ladies introduced her to everyone there.
When one in our group moved to Omaha, she said she didn’t want to spend a long time finding a church. She looked in the phone book for ELCA churches and attended two every Sunday. When she visited Lord of Love and saw how welcoming they were, she made it her new church home.
Another said she lived in the apartments across the street from the church. When she visited, the congregation welcomed her.
One’s mom was going to have open-heart surgery, and she called her mom’s pastor two weeks before the surgery. He told her the day of her mom’s surgery was his day off and asked her to let him know how the operation turned out. At the time, her mother was dating a member of Lord of Love, and he came to sit with her. So did her brother and Lord of Love’s pastor. They had a good time praying together and telling jokes and stories.
After, there was little question about which church she and her mom would attend.
Looking for a church home, I opened the Yellow Pages but decided you can’t find a church in the phone book. I called a pastor I knew from a town about 50 miles away and asked him to recommend a church. He knew the pastor at Lord of Love and suggested I go there.
Someone greeted us
Each of our stories had one thing in common: Someone greeted us and invited us to take part in the congregation once we got there.
We were invited to join the choir, or attend an event, or participate in some other way. It was the come-and-join-us attitude of the congregation that made us feel welcomed.
We all had a variety of reasons of why we have remained members–all of us more than 20 years. My Bible study group of friends is one of the main reasons I stay there. That, and the handbell choir.
People need a sense of belonging, of knowing we are welcomed and a part of something bigger than us.
What brought you to your church? Why did you decide to take part in Women of the ELCA? Why do you stay? How can you welcome and invite others to join your church and to participate in Women of the ELCA and other ministries?
Gwen Edwards is a member of Lord of Love Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and a former executive board member.
My congregation (where I was Christian Ed staff) voted to leave ELCA. The people who wanted to remain ELCA decided to start a new congregation. I tried to stay with them as a member because, to me, they were my family. I felt “welcomed” but not necessarily wanted or included. I found myself at a smaller congregation who has not only been welcoming, but encouraging and accepting of my involvement. Needless to say, I became a new member at the smaller congregation today. Welcoming is only the first step. Actually being included needs to follow.
I’m a member, (as well as a charter member) of Lord of Love, and know exactly what Gwen is talking about. These people are my family, my support, my prayer warriors. In the past two years I lost my husband of 52 years, and had some significant health issues as recently as a year ago, God definitely used them to be His arms here on earth. I give Him thanks for blessing me with these wonderful frfends.
Ruth thank you for sharing!
So nice to read this by a great gal that many of us were privileged to meet at a Womens retreat and Assembly a few years ago. It was at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp located in Crystal Falls, MI and a part of the Northern Great Lakes Synodical Womens Group in the Upper Peninsula of MI.
Well said Gwen.Hope you were Welcomed well by us Lutheran Women Yoopers and Northern Wisconsin women. She was loved by all of us that September/October and I know we invited her back. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so well. God’s Blessings always.
Orice, thank you for the kind words. Northern Great Lakes SWO was my very first and truly enjoyed it. Having lived in the UP for a few years growing up was like coming home.