‘Numbers at Shimley had slipped a bit by the time I left, I
think people were just bored with me’, said Derek, the retired hospital
chaplain who comes to say Mattins with us every now and again, recalling his
days as a parish priest thirty years ago.
‘Perhaps that’s what’s happening here’, I suggested with a
certain degree of ruefulness, calling attention to the gentle slide in
attendance at Swanvale Halt over the last two years after five of gently rising
support since I arrived. Derek clearly decided it was time to be supportive.
‘It seems to me that what you’re providing here as a church
is a traditional model of doing things which is about thoughtful preaching,
well-prepared liturgy, working with people pastorally, and faithful, dedicated
prayer, and it’s good. It’s doing things properly, about consistency and
faithfulness. It’s not exciting, it’s often dull, it’s hard work. But it’s what
will keep the Church going when all the flummery has gone, and in the end it
doesn’t matter how many people are there. That’s not what’s important.’
Your faithful questioning is beautiful.
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