Don's Blog

Hi all.
Looking out my office window from time to time brings to light the myriad of people who are part of our city life. Some are obviously workers, the black suit brigade, steady gaze, medium pace, ipod and white earphones. Others, slower in their pace, a map in hand, looking up and down checking their bearings, tourists visiting our fair city.
Then, particularly at this time of the year, the families, usually mother and children, sometimes grandparent and children, heading off to the movies, stopping at McDonalds for a treat.

The people I notice the most, and have done so ever since I moved into this office, are those who suffer a mental disability, obvious by their demeanour and clothes. I usually see them three or four times a day. Always alone, heads bowed, focusing on the footpath in front of them. Some shuffle, others just walk up and down, some sit on the bus seats, but don’t catch the bus. Some dishevelled in appearance, sometimes stopping and asking for money, others counting their money to see if they have enough for a coffee or burger.

It’s hard not to worry about these folk. Yes we do have facilities nearby where they can get warmth, a meal, a shower, even company but they seem to choose the street. The people and the activity of the city seem more safe that a conversation or a building.

It seems to me that these are the ‘poor’ of our city and even though we do provide services, particularly through UnitingCare West, there still seems to be a need. As I see them, I offer a prayer and I invite you to pray with me. Somehow, in our asking for a blessing we may find the way to offer it in a real way.

Thanks for reading
Don

Don's Blog

Hi all.

An article, “Fishing Nets for Safety Nets”, subtitled, “Remodelling Church to connect with the Unchurched”, by David Male, an Anglican Priest, has challenged my thinking this week about what we offer as a Church.

He says,

“Are we ….. creating new Christian communities that are connecting with people way out of the churches normal orbit and enabling them to be come fully functioning disciples of Christ’

Male argues that a huge change has created new generations who have very little contact with church. He quotes from research, conducted in England, which I think would have similarities here.

“The Tearfund report comments that,… “66% of the adult population are closed to attending church…. and this… “presents a major challenge to the churches. Most of them(the 66%) are unreceptive and closed to attending church: church-going is simply not on their agenda.”

He goes on to say,

“As leaders we need to understand that people are not sitting in their houses thinking ‘if only our local church would make their services more contemporary/ relevant / with better preaching/child friendly we will go’. We are simply not on their agendas at all.”

I wondered what would make coming to church, connecting with us, a possibility?

David Male offers a positive comment here through a question. ….maybe God is calling us into a new missionary period?

He refers to Alan Roxburgh who writes to help local leaders and their churches find solutions to issues . Roxburgh suggests five steps.

1. Awareness of what is happening in culture and society and its impact on the church.

2. An understanding of why this is happening.

3. An evaluation of what we are already doing in church and how it matches up to what needs to be done.

4. Experimentation at the edges. Don’t change everything overnight, but maybe pick one area you can change now.

5. Commitment. Out of this successful experiment, the church can move forward into a new future.

As we continue to think about Wesley’s place and our connection with the city it seems to me that we are doing some of these things and we are invited to do more.

If you would like to see David Male’s full article, I have placed it on our Web page at: http://www.perthunitingchurch.com.au/viewStory/Wesley

All good food for thought!!

Thanks for reading

Don