Alan's reflection Easter Sunday 12th April

Krakow Methodist Church

I have been known to suggest that every regular churchgoer should be given five pounds and asked to go to a bookmaker and place a bet on a horse. For most, this would be a new, strange and perhaps intimidating experience, though I’ve known at least one churchgoer for whom this would be quite normal! I flippantly make this suggestion to emphasise just how intimidating it may be for any new comer to our churches to experience the worship which is so familiar to the rest of the congregation.

My own version of this experience was to attend Easter Sunday worship at the Methodist Church in Krakow, my knowledge of Polish being effectively nil. However, once the service started and with the help of a Polish hymn book and service sheet it soon became clear what was happening even if the words were unintelligible. How frustrating to recognise the hymn tune and not be able to recall the first line of the English version!

What is so important in strange surroundings is to have a sense of welcome. In this simple yet beautiful church tucked away in a side street and set apart from the grandeur of the many Catholic churches in the city, the welcome was as warm as I’ve found in any Methodist church. Hospitality and welcome is not exclusive to Methodist communities but in my experience we certainly make a good job of it. I’ve said to my churches many times and will continue to remind them: visitors will remember your welcome long after they have forgotten my sermon.

Quotes from Saint Francis of Assisi; “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.”

“While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.”

“If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.”