Why in God’s Name Would I Invite Someone to Church?

As you may know, my younger son, Chris,* has started his gap year WWOOFing (working on organic farms) in Japan. He is having an amazing cross-cultural experience, and interestingly is staying on a farm for another week with a Christian family with whom he is attending church. At 18, Chris is getting to have his first independent conversations about religion not only with his hosts, but with his fellow workers, who include a Muslim student from Malaysia. In a message this morning, Chris wrote that he was having longer, interesting talks with his hosts, who identified as evangelical Christians who “do not support abortion and I think not gay marriage and people.”

I am thankful that Chris was raised at Plymouth in an environment where he was encouraged by the whole community to think through his faith and to ask questions not only of other people, but of himself. I’m grateful that he counts as friends LGBTQ folks in our congregation: people who have loved him and nurtured his faith. I appreciate that we have raised Chris in a congregation where he has learned the value of intergenerational community, where he has learned that he is not the center of the universe. And I’m grateful for his experiences in Sunday school, youth group, confirmation, and at camp at La Foret, and on mission trips. Thank you all for helping to shape Chris and who he is becoming! Truly, it does take a village, and you have given Chris and our family a tremendous gift!
 
This coming Sunday is Friends & Family Sunday, when you are encouraged to invite a friend or family member to worship: someone who needs the gift of Plymouth. I know that many of us are uncomfortable speaking with friends and colleagues about our faith — even some of us who have advanced degrees in theology — but it’s time to work to get over it, because the stakes are too high. This community, our nation, and God’s world need progressive congregations like Plymouth, and they will die without your participation.

I can hear you asking now, “Why in God’s name would I invite someone to Plymouth?” So, here are some answers:

1. Many families in Fort Collins need an amazing faith-formation program for their kids. Don’t they deserve what Chris had?
2. We need to be a visible, vocal presence for progressive faith in Fort Collins. Of 43 people demonstrating for sane gun laws at Sen. Cory Gardner’s office in August, half were from Plymouth!
3. People have no idea that a church can offer a safe welcome to LGBTQ folks…not a church where we will simply be tolerated or tokened, but truly welcomed!
4. Many Christians, particularly of the evangelical or Roman Catholic variety, are ready to give up on the church and God…because they don’t know a church like Plymouth exists.
5. Each of us has received the gift of Plymouth — relationship to God, community, love, making a difference in the world, giving and receiving care during crises, the list goes on — we cannot horde our gifts or hide our lamp under a bushel.
6. We all want to make a positive impact in the world, and Plymouth is one of the most effective ways of creating change in our community.
7. We are deeply rooted in the Christian faith and tradition, but we have the flexibility to listen to the still-speaking God and to adapt. Our tradition is 2,000 years old; our thinking is not.
8. In our culture, it is hard to find a place to ask meaningful questions about the deepest parts of life: why we are here, who we are called to be in the world, what God is drawing us toward. Plymouth encourages that!
9. There are amazing people in our community who know something is missing in their lives. What if it’s something as important as a relationship with God? You can help.
10. You know that you want one of those nifty Plymouth pint glasses…you and your guest next Sunday will receive one!

 
So, invite a neighbor, a colleague, a family member to experience the gift of Plymouth. You can do it! I’ll see you (and your guests!) at all three services on Sunday!
Peace,

* Chris approved my sharing this…I know better than to use family stories without permission!

Author

The Rev. Hal Chorpenning has been Plymouth's senior minister since 2002. Before that, he was associate conference minister with the Connecticut Conference of the UCC. A grant from the Lilly Endowment enabled him to study Celtic Christianity in the UK and Ireland. Prior to ordained ministry, Hal had a business in corporate communications. Read more about Hal.