A Nice Note

Our church newsletter is sent to the synod office, where it is read by either the bishop or one of his staff.  This article, was read by one of his assistants.

Assistant replied to me via e-mail: 

Thank you very much for your ponderings in the Nov-Dec newsletter. I appreciate the topic and your honesty in addressing it. It reminded me of one of my former pastors who often said that he found that simple table prayer, "Come, Lord Jesus" to be very frightening and encouraged people to think about what they were praying for and whether or not it's what they really wanted! Though he really was more hopeful than frightened -- he liked to surprise people with his words and keep them thinking. Likewise, your final paragraph was very hopeful, too. 

 

It was also very nice to read something that goes beyond the usual "it's Thanksgiving again...or Advent again..." kind of message. Thank you for using the newsletter to share the Gospel!

 

I'm sure I'm not the only pastor who wonders if anyone (let alone colleagues) bothers to read the newsletter.  Our average worship attendance numbers far fewer than the population of the households which receive the mailing.  It often feels like a waste of time, energy, money, and trees.  I suspect that more than a few people on our mailing list toss the newsletter into the trash, without even opening it.

 

Our congregation receives newsletters from several others.  My own practice is to skim the pastor's article, check the calendar for events that might need to be publicized here as well, and toss them into the recycling bin.  We post a few of them, specifically the ones from local congregations, along with the one that comes from a pastor who spent his childhood and youth as a member here.  Still, no one here reads them carefully.

Despite these facts, it has always been my practice to write articles which included proclamation of the Gospel and it felt good to have that effort affirmed.