Each Sunday we hear a little more of the news as the lessons of the church year take us through the story again. None of us can guess what part of that story will become good news for the people who hear it, but we know from our experience that it happens. The members of All Saints are bringing people to the place where they can hear that transforming story. We in the church are like John the Baptist. People may flock to see us, but we need to tell them that we aren't the end of their search.
Congregations are like foods.
Some are packed with energy. Others are attractive to look at and palatable. Others are, shall we say, an acquired taste. Gary Dorsey, author of Congregation, the Journey Back to Church, describes a New England congregation that would match many we know. The grounds could have used some maintenance, the hymns dragged, members always sat in the same pew and the announcements mentioned groups that no outsider would recognize.