Is this common

[Nafe]

I am feeling quite warm about my newish Church, and not sure if this is normal but I haven't attended for 3 straight weeks due to some major things happening and this morning, I received an email from the Ministers wife making sure everything is ok, offering any assistance and to call if I am having issues and how much they and the Church misses myself and my Children attending.

Is this normal for a Church to do this? Its the first time I have come across this and to be honest, It makes be truely believe I have found a real home at this Church.

Cheers

 

[Albion]

I am feeling quite warm about my newish Church, and not sure if this is normal but I haven't attended for 3 straight weeks due to some major things happening and this morning, I received an email from the Ministers wife making sure everything is ok, offering any assistance and to call if I am having issues and how much they and the Church misses myself and my Children attending.

Is this normal for a Church to do this? Its the first time I have come across this and to be honest, It makes be truely believe I have found a real home at this Church.

Cheers

Some churches would do something like that; others would not. Some people find the practice to be harrassment and offensive; others find it to be indicative of caring and a real sense of family that they appreciate.

 

[HalupkiMonster]

It isn't as normal as it aught to be, in my opinion. Don't you love that? I mean, some people don't like this sort of thing. I get this type of attention at my Church, and it really helps me feel at home and more and more like part of the parish family.

 

[mark46]

I have not experienced this is a Catholic or Anglican church. It is common among Baptist and non-denominational churches.

I am feeling quite warm about my newish Church, and not sure if this is normal but I haven't attended for 3 straight weeks due to some major things happening and this morning, I received an email from the Ministers wife making sure everything is ok, offering any assistance and to call if I am having issues and how much they and the Church misses myself and my Children attending.

Is this normal for a Church to do this? Its the first time I have come across this and to be honest, It makes be truely believe I have found a real home at this Church.

Cheers

 

[Rurik]

I am feeling quite warm about my newish Church, and not sure if this is normal but I haven't attended for 3 straight weeks due to some major things happening and this morning, I received an email from the Ministers wife making sure everything is ok, offering any assistance and to call if I am having issues and how much they and the Church misses myself and my Children attending.

Is this normal for a Church to do this? Its the first time I have come across this and to be honest, It makes be truely believe I have found a real home at this Church.

Cheers

As Americananglican said "It is not normal but it should be" given the church you have been going to ( I assume it is still the evangelical plant) I am not surprised. How to go about doing this successfully is a bit of a topic at the moment.

 

[LewsTherin]

Our parish does this. If you they don't see you around for a while, a month maybe, and if no one knows why, then they'll try to contact you. I think it's nice.

 

[Albion]

Our parish does this. If you they don't see you around for a while, a month maybe, and if no one knows why, then they'll try to contact you. I think it's nice.

I agree. It matters how often they do this and whether or not there are recriminations attached. Some denominations are known for guilt-tripping their people if they so much as miss a single Sunday. Others are concerned enough just to check in occasionally to see if everything is OK. In this case, it was a string of Sundays and he is a new member. The concern on the part of the church is reasonable.

 

[Pittsburgh Christian]

Yeah, we do this sometimes. My church is VERY friendly! We went to a few churches when we first moved in the area I live, but nobody even talked to us there. But we felt right at home at our church the first week, and now have been going there for 12 years.

 

[Sean611]

I am feeling quite warm about my newish Church, and not sure if this is normal but I haven't attended for 3 straight weeks due to some major things happening and this morning, I received an email from the Ministers wife making sure everything is ok, offering any assistance and to call if I am having issues and how much they and the Church misses myself and my Children attending.

Is this normal for a Church to do this? Its the first time I have come across this and to be honest, It makes be truely believe I have found a real home at this Church.

Cheers

I'm not sure how common it is, but my parish will do this if you are gone for a little while, no guilt-tripping, just legitimate concern.

 

[Nafe]

Thanks for all the replies.

There was definately no guilt tripping that I picked up in the email. It was a more how are you going, hope everything is ok, We miss seeing you and the kids and if there is a problem, we are here to help.

I thought it was lovely.

It is an evangelical style church and everyone is super friendly and makes me feel right at home and accepted which is really what I think Church is about, somewhere to worship, be comfortable and share your Journey with God.

Cheers all for your thoughts and replies.

 

[Dewi Sant]

I am pleased to have read this thread as I have been considering whether this could be a good thing to try here at an anglo-catholic church.

We have several families and individuals who come and go and one is never certain whether contact should be made or whether it would drive them further away.

 

[MKJ]

I am pleased to have read this thread as I have been considering whether this could be a good thing to try here at an anglo-catholic church.

We have several families and individuals who come and go and one is never certain whether contact should be made or whether it would drive them further away.

I think as long as you are delicate it can be a good thing to do. Some people have had bad experiences with being hounded by congregations after only visiting, so you would not want to worry people that way.

Some parishes I have seen have a pew card that people can fill out with personal info like their email address or phone number for contact from the church. THat can be a nice way to see who to keep track of as those who fill them out would presumably be interested in further contact.

 

[Albion]

I think as long as you are delicate it can be a good thing to do.

Agreed. I admit that, after I've visited some church where I've been quizzed about my background, introduced to various members of the congregation, spoken with the rector, perhaps also been given a small gift, and there is a possibility of me coming back...I was disappointed never to hear anything again from them. OTOH, I once moved to a different city and later received a letter informing me that I hadn't been seen recently, and that I should know that regular reception of the sacraments is a requirement for membership. That did not endear me to my former parish.

 

[MKJ]

Agreed. I admit that, after I've visited some church where I've been quizzed about my background, introduced to various members of the congregation, spoken with the rector, perhaps also been given a small gift, and there is a possibility of me coming back...I was disappointed never to hear anything again from them. OTOH, I once moved to a different city and later received a letter informing me that I hadn't been seen recently, and that I should know that regular reception of the sacraments is a requirement for membership. That did not endear me to my former parish.

I have heard of people getting letters like that which reminded them that they should be keeping up on their offerings!

 

[elahmine]

If you have missed a few weeks and you attend regularly it is common in my home church. I mean if your a member that misses church a lot and always have done so the priest doesn't want you to feel harassed, so he won't email every time you've missed Also, if you've only come once or twice he probably wouldn't email you, but if you're like me and you go to mass twice a week every week and are extremely involved in the church, then if you miss a couple Sundays, my priest legitimately worries about you.