What is in Kelvin's Head?

25 Questions for people who want to make churches grow

30/05/2015
1. Do you have a decent church website?
2. Is it up to date?
3. Is it responsive – ie does it work on mobile phones?
4. Does your own online profile feature your ideas and hopes and dreams other than a desire for people to turn up to church?
5. Do you know what you are doing with twitter and facebook?
6. Who could you learn more about social media from?
7. Do you have a compelling reason why people should come to your church other than where it is or what denomination it belongs to?
8. Can everyone in the church tell you in one sentence what that compelling reason is?
9. What is your beginners’ course like?
10. What comes after the beginners’ course?
11. Do people like the preaching?
12. Do people enjoy the music?
13. Have you dealt with conflicts from the past?
14. Are the people friendly?
15. Do you have any new groups starting soon?
16. Do you talk about making the world a better place?
17. How will people experience joy if they come to your congregation?
18. If someone from your past turned up unexpectedly at worship how would it make you feel?
19. How do you identify newcomers and what do you offer them?
20. What problems will arise if you do grow and how will you deal with them?
21. Do claims that you welcome everyone stop you working at welcoming those who traditionally find it hard to find a home in church?
22. Do you use language that is inclusive of everyone?
23. How do you know?
24. Is there any identifiable group of people that you can’t explicitly say are welcome because of how an individual or group in the congregation will react?
25. Do you want to grow or not?
church growth

20 responses to “But when is Harvest? Please, please, when is it?”

Sue

06/10/2010

Knitted food patterns…
http://www.knitfish.com/12/

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Elizabeth

06/10/2010

I really appreciated the Lammastide sermon and service. But I’m not sure if I said so at the time – probably not!

I’m reminded how important it is to share appreciation as well as (more than!) criticism. Perhaps a new year’s resolution in the making.

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Jimmy

07/10/2010

Harvest.

Autumn is here
and there is no harvest
The trees have leaves but no fruit
The wheat has ears but no grain
and if you should return
I wouldn’t know
how to begin to explain

I would offer you a gift
but of all the things I own
all I have is my sin
all I have that’s mine alone

Spare me – I pray
another year or two
if you will extend your hand
I will fill a harvest basket for you

I have laboured in these fields
among this bracken, broom and whin
and a lifetime to understand
all you wanted was my sin.

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PamB

07/10/2010

Ah, the Grauniad! No – I only see that when I’m in a primary school staff-room, and never had the time to open it.
But cute pattern – might be the next addition to the Choir dog collection.

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Scott from the States

09/10/2010

Over here in the U.S. we have our national Thanksgiving Day (when very few actually go to church) designated to celebrate the harvest, peace and an end to civil strife, and general thanksgiving. Perhaps the UK needs to take a page from the U.S. and Canada and just make it an official government holiday!

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Sarah from Virginia

10/10/2010

But what I was taught in school was that the first Thanksgiving was held in imitation of the traditional Harvest celebrations back home in England. Perhaps these were not actual church services? Anyhow I’m now confused!

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Tim

11/10/2010

Incidentally, from a sample of 13 comments made on my photo of a harvest display in church, I deduce people’s expectations include:
a) it’s long-life products, tinned or pasta, that one brings
b) giving them to old dears who don’t really need them
c) it’s something relegated to childhood memories

Up to you where you draw the churchy/non-churchy line amongst that lot. Maybe it means there’s a *lot* of scope for a message of mission (to folks who normally exist outside the door) and ethics?

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