At the end of this month, the church I have attended for my whole life will partially amalgamate with some others in the area so this Easter has been the last as the Earlwood community and we will soon become Sydney Inner West.
We have had years of uncertainty as the congregation shrunk, finances inevitably suffered, we had rumours of closure, have been left without a minister for a time and then had a rotation of temporary and part -time ministers.
The current plan is to amalgamate the Sunday services but to continue with existing weekday activities in their existing locations. As a plan to make the current church communities financially viable it makes very little sense but as a plan to soften up four congregations for total and permanent closure, well at least it is being done gently.
The whole process has come with resistance and grief and I am sure there is more of that to come but I have tried hard to approach it all with the attitude that God knows what He is doing and won't allow broken hearts to hurt for too long. Secular life says that when one door closes another opens and a faith community should be good at affirming that but of course, as a group of ordinary human beings there is discomfort with change.
As I read my Easter posts from past years there is one which resonates today, it simply says
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10
At this moment my life is abundant; the weather is autumn perfection, my children are all at home and happy and we have canine joy in the house again
Having an abundant life - and recognising it as such are true gifts.
ReplyDeleteI hope the amalgamation goes better than anyone expected.
Hugs.
About the time I pressed publish on this post Harry stole a large number of Easter eggs from a bedroom so things are a little less abundant!
DeleteLuckily he is a large dog so a lethal dose of chocolate is also large.
Thank you for your well wishes, I'm sure I won't be upbeat for the whole transition
Yes not an easy process to bring different congregations together as one, because everyone worships in a different way, but I hope it goes better than people are expecting, and as long as you are worshiping the same God all the other differences can be worked through.
ReplyDeleteWe have had combined worship which went well, I think it is going to be hard for a lot of people to adapt to a new church community
DeleteSorry to hear your citadel is closing Kylie. It sounds as if it has been an extension of your home - somewhere you feel very comfortable. Sydney Inner Vest sounds like a coarse undergarment.
ReplyDeleteThe first week of Sydney Inner West will be next sunday, the 30th so we shall see what it's like but yes, right now it's a pretty rough process
DeleteI don't think I have known of a single person who is a member of the Salvation Army church. I have no vocabulary with which to refer to members, buildings, or the beliefs. How ignorant I feel!
ReplyDeleteI dont have the vocabulary for other churches (well, i know generic things but that's all)
DeleteSo, we are even!
We originally used a lot of military type terminology, in keeping with being an army but the 20 years or so there has been a huge trend to soften all of that and blend in with other churches.
We are protestant and don't have communion
P.S. I love those extra long dog noses. They're something I miss in cats, and not even something I always had in dogs since I favored schnauzers. Still, I think that noses which are reminiscent of old car hoods are darn attractive.
ReplyDeletei was never a fan of the mean looking extra long noses but give me a dog and I will love it as though it was the most beautiful thing on earth. This fella is no different
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