Invited, as guests, into the corridors of secular culture
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Members from St. George's choir join Errinrung LTC staff and residents in dedicating their new Chapel space with singing and prayer
GROWING BEYOND THE DOORS
By Rev. Canon Grayhame Bowcott
IN TODAY'S post-Christendom society, at a time when free parking passes for visiting clergy at hospitals, customary invites for church leaders to community events, and religious ceremonies in public spaces are being scrutinized or discontinued entirely, it is a gift and a blessing whenever faith communities are invited to partner with secular groups or institutions.
Where these special privileges were once part and parcel of the colonial vestiges of authority that the Church enjoyed in the past (whether justly or unjustly), today connections and partnership with non-faith groups is a privilege that is often only earned through transparency, service to others, and the hard-earned cultivation of trust in our neighbourhoods and communities.
Last month, I was caught off guard by a request that was made of our church by a local Retirement and Long-Term Care facility. The person on the other end of the phone had a specific request: they were asking for the priest, members of our church choir, and any supporting team members to come and visit them. But not for an ordinary pastoral visit! This time, they were asking for something extraordinary: “Will you come and help us to dedicate a new chapel space for our residents?”
For the last several years, St. George’s in Clarksburg has expanded its outreach ministries to include a monthly choral eucharist service that our clergy, Director of Music and choristers initiated at our local LTC home. There is something special to be said about sharing both the gifts of music and prayer with a community of residents, most of whom have very little, or no, connection to our church. These services have grown in attendance and in appreciation by the residents and staff at this care home. The cultivation of these new relationships has led to numerous LTC residents requesting pastoral visits, end-of-life care, and often funeral services.
While our relationship to this institution is informal (and voluntary), often the staff comment that members from our St. George’s leadership team have felt like chaplains to both residents and staff. This comment is a badge of honour that we wear with pride because it reveals the caring relationship that we have sought, over the years, to foster.
In preparation for the Chapel Dedication ceremony, it was refreshing to hear how a secular care institution deeply valued the contributions of our Anglican, Christian faith tradition, namely, our willingness to respond to the needs of their residents with prayer, visitation, the offering of worship services, and the gift of faith-inspired singing. While space within this particular LTC facility is at a premium, their valuing of our monthly worship services led to the prioritization of a Chapel space to be able to offer more spiritual care resources to their residents.
When asked what sort of language, ritual and actions the leadership of the LTC facility were looking for in a Dedication ceremony, we were somewhat surprised to hear them say: “Come and be yourself. Your Anglican congregation and its members are known, as friends, to us. Please offer a blessing that represents who you are and how you have been caring for our residents.”
And that’s exactly what we did! In a time when many clergy and church leaders are being requested to be spiritually ambiguous, often with the intention of being inclusive and open for people of all faith (or none), this particular dedication ceremony was unabashedly rooted in our Anglican, Christian tradition while also asking God’s blessing upon their Chapel space to be a place of welcome and peace for all their residents, regardless of their faith beliefs or practices.
In reflection on this celebration, I can see God’s handiwork in the way that our faith community is being led to increase the number of connections that we have with non-church groups in our neighbourhood. The more we are willing to meet the needs of non-members, wherever they are found, the more we are blessed by being welcomed into the hospitality of others. My hope in sharing this story with you this month, is that perhaps it may inspire other Anglicans to imagine new places of connection and partnership beyond our familiar faith relationships and routines, and to also experience the gift of being invited, as guests, into the corridors of secular culture.
Rev. Canon Dr. Grayhame Bowcott is passionate about fostering congregational relationships and sharing our Anglican vocation with others. He serves as Rector of St. George’s, The Parish of The Blue Mountains, and as Program Director for the Licentiate in Theology program at Huron University.