Open the door

If your church door is shut during the act of worship then you are a social club, not a church.

I was halfway through my sermon when I noticed her quietly come in.  Through the glass partition that separated the sanctuary from the lobby, I could see her quietly sit down.  My supervisor, sitting in the pews went out to talk to her.  I don't know the full story about why she wanted the bible, but she left, clutching her bible close as she let the building.

Then we were just coming to the end of the final hymn when someone else came in.  He was needing help from the foodbank, but according to him, he couldn't get into the church that dispenses food parcels because the doors were locked.

There are three churches that I can name, three churches that perhaps I should name, who routinely bolt the doors when the act of worship starts.  There will be more out there, who just don't appreciate that the people we should be helping might not be able to be there sharp at 11am  Today's lectionary reading included Mark 10:43-44. So how can we be servant of all, if the doors are closed to all but those on the inside?

All it takes is an elder or two to keep an eye on the lobby and to welcome people in.  It should be part of their duty, to be welcoming to all, regardless of the time they turn up.  Make it obvious that when worship is on, people can still get in.

I finish my probation at the end of October, so I have time on my hands to go visiting churches.  On behalf of all those who need our help and can't get in, I'm coming to bang on doors.

Matthew 7:7