For those of you who have been reading my newsletter articles for some time now, you probably know I enjoy writing them. Unbridled by feeling the need to compose a serious doctrinal statement or expound theologically upon a pressing issue in the church or present the gospel in a compelling way, I pretty much write these newsletter articles from my heart. I sit and ponder what’s going on with me as your rector and what’s going on with you as the church and then, I don’t know, somehow the words just flow. It is relational writing with the hope that something I say will be meaningful to you and helps guide you in your spiritual journey.
But here’s what’s different about writing this article. I know it is going to a wider audience. The words that I write are not just to you, the people I know and love and serve, but to strangers. With our new website (www.stjamesclinton.org) up and going, this monthly newsletter article will be part of it. And while that’s certainly not a bad thing, it is different.
The faces of the readers are unknown. Their names are unknown. And I know nothing about them. So I wonder, what will a person who finds our website think about St James Church? What kind of impression do we make as a church? Clearly we are the quaint little yellow church on Williams Street in Clinton but are we inclusive, open and welcoming to all? Clearly there are lots of things happening at St. James but do we reach out to others here and around the world? Clearly we are a faith community who worships regularly but are we a people who are growing in our faith? As a church our mission is to welcome all, reach out to others, and grow in faith. Will our website cause others to want to come here to church? And if they come, will they feel welcome?
Recently the last page of our guest registry here at the church was filled and we had to start a new one. But before putting the old registry away for safe keeping, I began flipping through it. The first entry recorded is dated August 1, 1986. Robin Putnam is the first name entered. He or she indicates they are from New Hartford but do not have a church home. I do not know if this person ever came back to St. James or ever found a church home but there are other names recorded in the registry of persons who, in the past twenty years, were here for the first time and I know did come back…Brian Collett, Randy & Jan Wilson, Terry Neil, Bob Redfield, Steve & Judy Sweet, Sue & John Hecklau, Marcia Williams, John & Barbara Soggs, The Havlovic Family, Todd, Nancy, Anna & Jenny Rayne, Steve Ellingson & Jennifer DeWerth, and Alan Lee. All these people came for the first time and keep coming back!
And so in closing, if you’re reading this on the website and have never been to St. James, please come. The first time is the hardest, but please know that you are welcome. And if you are reading this in the newsletter you receive at home, the way I see it, through our new website, we have a wonderful opportunity to welcome any and all who come to St. James as a result of it. Do you remember when you walked into this church for the first time?