[Magdalen] Sharing the JOY!

[Roger Stokes]

People differ and the jourmey they have been on before entering the 
church door will differ from one person to the next, especially for the 
adults.  There is a lot to be said for arrnaging a visit to any 
newcomers to gently find out where they are coming from.  "It's been 
good to see you at church the past weeks.  Churches differ so feel free 
to ask if there's anything you don't understand or haven't seen before." 
offers an open invitation for them to ask and/or share as they want.

Roger

On 27/07/2015 15:28, Jim Guthrie wrote:
>> I think we would cover that with Confirmation,
>
> Most parishes are simply happy to have new members. As for Baptism and 
> Confirmation, the rule is "Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell."  They're welcome at 
> Communion without any pesky questions. At some point, clergy during a 
> pastoral visit might bring the conversation around to such niceties, 
> but when newcomers show up, who'd be boorish enough to pester them?
>
>> IMO people coming from other denominations should always
>> be encouraged to attend confirmation classes. Otherwise
>> they make Trouble.
>
> I suspect if you put newcomers or relative newcomers in a room, say 
> with teenagers for Confirmation class, the newcomers will run away as 
> fast as they can.
>
> I think the conversation interesting -- all of us know what ought to 
> be done, but concede acceptance of things left undone.
>
> Cheers,
> Jim
>