While on the Leading Your Church Into Growth conference, opsss sorry course, Tim told us of something which had been happening in the Peterbourgh Diocese for some time, and what this year got some degree of column news inches. Shining passers-bys shoes as a modern day equivalent of washing feet. I pondered for a moment thinking there is something in that, the more I pondered it the more I realised that it wasn’t the right thing for St Mark’s and for East Kilbride. As the course went on and it was mentioned again in passing and then alluded to a couple of times more I knew there was something in the concept trying to grab my attention but it wasn’t to do with shoe shining, the seed had been firmly planted. It wasn’t until a back home again a couple of days later that it suddenly started germinate and sprout. Which brings me onto Easter Sunday.
After we had sung Alleluia’s, peeked in the empty tomb, the children had gone hunting for their eggs, and smell of lilies had totally filled our nostrils. A group of people prayed in the church while another group of the congregation head outside to spread the Good News, the plan was simple hand out Easter Eggs saying ‘Happy Easter, Christ has risen!’ to those passing by the church. But as is the way with simple plans they sometimes don’t work as anticipated. There is usually a steady stream of people passing the church, but not yesterday, yesterday it was but a trickle. So as we are only 5 minutes walk from one of the shopping centre car parks we thought, Jesus would have gone were the people were, so off we headed light snow fluttering around us. We were greeted with smiles, Happy Easter’s, surprise and a few questions, those who went out were invigorated and discovered that mission isn’t that scary after all, the congregation as a whole was buzzing with the fact that we were spreading the Good News, not only that Christ was alive but that St Mark’s was too.
There are a few lessons to learn for next year, firstly start off in the car park, secondly get some of the people to wear St Mark’s t-shirts so that people know were we are from, and thirdly buy a lot more eggs!!!
