Slideshow image

Welcome to my Neighbourhood

Do you remember the Mr. Rogers kids TV show? He would sing “welcome to my neighbourhood” as part of his introduction song. His grandfatherly looks and mellow voice kept children watching his show for many years. So what was it about his neighbourhood that made his program so inviting?

The last post reflected on how God used a place to develop and challenge my faith. I have been ruminating on this idea for the last few weeks and I have come to realize further ways that place is important for the life of faith. 

Commuter Christians

There is a forgotten term in Christian-speak that draws out the idea I want to focus on - that term is “parish”. The term “parish” designates a certain territory or area. The Anglican, Lutheran, and some Methodist and Presbyterian denominations use the term to designate a smaller area within a Diocese. These are terms that would be similar to provinces and municipalities from the perspective of the government. But what connection is there between a Parish and my theological understanding of place?

The connection I see is this: churches within a city or highly populated area that try to appeal to a certain type of person will end up pulling people from all over, even from other churches. However, a church that functions as a parish is focussed on the people who live within its unique community. This means that the Parish church focusses on the people and needs that are around it. The poor and the rich, and the healthy and hurting alike receive the attention of the local body of believers.

Who is my Neighbour?

But why is this  important for my personal faith? On a much smaller scale, my neighbours in my apartment, my local mechanic, and my produce merchant are part of my parish. I do not need to travel across the entire city of Vancouver to minister to someone. Part of my reflection on applying my faith to  my community has been to realize that the success of a church does not depend on how many people end up coming to the service after an outreach event. The success of a church comes from how faithful it is in allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and shape it as it serves the community of people it is in. I believe that long-distance ministry is important, but I would like to focus on the local for now.

Too often, success is measured in “units”. In the context of evangelism, the “units” would be converts to Christianity. But what if success is not about how many people where converted to Christianity by my efforts, but were simply blessed, while being informed that I was serving in the name of Christ? 

My greatest desire is that non-believers would come to know and to love Christ. Don’t think this means otherwise. To me, thinking in terms of  a parish means that the place God has put me is important for how He is shaping me, but it is also important for how I am to serve those in that area. 

My church is a 10 minute drive away, where my wife and I meet with other couples in a home for teaching, prayer and fellowship. My parish, however, does not look much like a church at all. My parish is centred around a 70’s era three-story apartment. Some of the members of the parish do not know me or the other members, but that doesn’t stop us from being part of this parish congregation.

Who is your neighbour?

Don’t think you live where you do by accident. I have developed relationships with a few people in my apartment and one of those couples is elderly and going through health problems. Our casual conversations have become opportunities of sharing deeply troubling concerns and heartfelt prayers to Jesus for health and healing. Another conversation at the coin-operated laundry machines led to a neighbour joining the Parish Bible study on Wednesday evenings. 

I think Mr.Rogers opened up his show with a “welcome to my neighbourhood” because he was welcoming the Child TV audience to experience what life was like in the make-believe of Mr. Rogers’ world. His welcome was not to his own home, but to his neighbourhood, which included the people and places around him. It meant a community of people and ideas. Is this not what a Parish is getting at?

 I am sure you are already identifying what your parish consists of. I think some constructive questions to ask of your area is whether there are other believers in your parish? How can you collaborate to serve your Parish with them? If you are the only Christian you know of, what role has God given you in your Parish? I hope these questions will start a conversation as you grapple with where God has “place-d” you.