The butterflies are back

While it is a bit early to be talking spring and new life talk, the mornings are getting lighter and it is warming slowly.However we have seen a lot of new beginnings in the last few weeks and best of all the butterflies are back. They reappeared just in time for the incumbent to hold up the bill for heating during the stewardship sermon. It seemed to me a brief and subtle "thank you Father" for keeping me warm.

These tiny vulnerable creatures have survived a cold winter and have started out a new year strong and new born from their cocoons. They will flutter around our Church for the best part of the year taking advantage of our hospitality, heating and flowers. They are our guests, without us they would die.

Once upon a time these butterflies must have journeyed into our Church, either through the door independently or on some flowers. Now they have made a home here. We all have a journey that led us to faith and ultimately through the doors of a Church. When we came we received that welcome, hospitality and for us biscuits (we don't find flowers so yummy). Welcome is not just important, it is vital,  Chances are that there is a reason why that new person stumbled through your doors this morning. They are looking for somewhere safe, warm, welcome and hospitable. They are looking to find Christ in everyone they meet. This does not mean they are looking for perfection, it means they are looking for a touch of humanity.

Much like our first days at nursery, school, university, college and work, our first time in a Church is a bold new step. Unlike the others which we ultimately have to do, we choose Church. Something calls us in. Be it reconciliation,  consolation or questions needing answers. Ultimately these are just reasons for finding our faith in God. They are the foot through the door moments. They are the moments when we can bring Christ into peoples lives, so like the butterflies they keep coming back.

If we get it right, it means we can bring new people and families to faith. If we get right they will keep coming back so they can learn about the Holy Trinity and it's place in our lives. If we get it right they in turn will turn to others and encourage many more through our doors. We should not concern ourselves with bums on seats, numbers, statistics and adaptations to our Church to encourage people in. If we bring Christ into peoples lives through love, hope, faith and charity, they will come to us.