HELLO!

If you missed today’s service, led by Bethe, here is the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2__--n0U8KE

This morning I received this email from our Gordon MacBurnie. We have missed Gordon. He has been absent from our Sunday services, choir practices and faith studies for some time. Gordon’s self-aware humble reflections, his humour and his curiosity about life, faith and others, are a refreshing offering to our church. And when absent, we feel it. As you can tell from Gordon’s words (used with permission, he missed us too. “As much as I would like to sing in church on August 30^th, I must decline as I am having back pain which makes it difficult to stand for any length of time. I hope to return to the choir in September. I miss being a part of Woodlawn United Church and I want to get back as soon as I am able. My children and friends wanted to hear me sing "You will never walk alone" and I am sorry to disappoint. Maybe at some time in the future. My first goal is to return to Woodlawn where I belong and feel at home.” 

This email reminds me how important it is to stay in touch with people when they suddenly disappear from our midst. I have a practice, which I began 36 years ago, of monthly going through the church directory (not The Membership Roll as The Directory includes non-members who are active). We are blessed to have Joan Mikkelsen keep that Directory up to date, she sends me new editions regularly. If a name jumps out at me because I have not seen them in church, I will email or call them. Sometimes the person has been away visiting family or traveling. Sometimes the person, like Gordon, is unwell and appreciates the call. And on some rare occasions, the person has discerned the United Church is not for them and has found another denomination that speaks to their theology. Of course, in going over the list there are names of people who have stopped attending church who I miss. Bethe will occasionally ask me about someone, and I realize I passed over that name without noticing their absence. I am not perfect. What helps me keep track of these absences are others in the church who ask me about people they have not seen in church. I always follow up. If someone has been absent who you have seen in church, please let me know. One mitigating factor can be Sundays when the church is very full, it is harder to see faces then.

I know I miss noticing when people are absent, and I know people are bothered when no one from a church reaches out to ask how they are. But we are not perfect, and all I ask of those who are disappointed is to consider, “When you noticed someone was absent did YOU call them?” It is not only the minister’s role to notice, to call, to follow up. As a church, it is a collective responsbility. As the Gospel reminds us, when one is missing, we leave the ninety-nine and go looking. Peace, Kevin

PS I suggest when Gordon does return, he dress like Elvis at his comeback concert in Las Vegas and sing…"You will never walk alone".