As I have meditatied on the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for this week, one idea has stayed stuck.
Though this weeks reading is anchored in time and place (Luke 15:vs 1-2), it is still worthy of a message of the word that brings it to the attention of today.
I have written in the past about the compexities of families, this year my thoughts turned more to the metaphor of the church as parent. It, The Church, has children that have left, my own included, who are doing life their way, and not the way of the church, they are not attending regular sunday services, they are not attending, church socials or prayer or study groups, but they are on their own mission with God. Like the father in the second parable of today’s readings (Luke 15: 11b-32), the parable often refered to as the Prodigal son, the Church has let it’s children go, but unlike the open armed welcome of the father when they return, often these children of the church are treated as guests or outsiders, when they turn up for Feast Day’s (Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas for example), not as a valued part of the familiy/community, not as lost prodigee, to be celebrated and valued.
I am a little afraid, that as we return to face to face worship that those left on line for what ever reason, be it for health and safety, for convenience, for disabilty, for travel, hospitalisation or nursing home admission, will also be treated as no longer members of the Church. I have already been told in my own home congregation, that unless you physically attend you are not a part of the community.
Until The Church is welcoming to all, like the father has embrassed his son as son, the Church looses. It looses vibrancy, it looses questioning, it looses genuine engagement, in short it losses growth.
If we fail to look for the missing ones like the Shepherd in one of the two adjoining parables to this weeks Gospel reading( Luke 15:4-11a), and just tend the members of congregation that stay, what are we tending? traditionalism. The parable of the father with two sons, does not tell us what happens long term, did practices change? did they stay the same?
I’m just asking the question. What have we lost in our churches today?
Blessings
Wendy L.
I am writing this on Wurundjeri land and wish to pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.
WELCOME: Everyone is welcome here.
You can do this by setting up a candle, then add the things that remind YOU of God, a Cross, a Bible that everyone likes to read from, a special object, even something from one of the readings.
If able to worship in the Church buildings pack a special backpack, as well as filling, it with your Covid Safe equipment, add the books or materials required to help your young ones relate to today’s readings.
For adults and older students, you might like to use a journal with which to record anything that grabs your attention during the service. This could be a special, bound book or use your ipad or iphone. You could write a precis of the message (traditional words or pictures), draw, keep a record of emotions and hymns that you did or did not like. You could use a template like this free 
CONGREGATIONAL USE: Though parents are the best at sharing their faith with their children. If you are a small congregation where children are a very small, or rare part of your congregational life, please feel free to make these suggestions available to your congregation. I am very happy for you to copy and paste ideas from here into your own Order of Service or for you to supply a link to this page. An acknoledgement though is always appreciated.
Light or turn on 6 Candles (one for each Sunday in Lent) Blow out (or turn off) 4 Candles 
PRAY: Use heart shaped post-it notes and as you write a person or an activity you can do out of love, pray for the activity or person. 
The Cross in My Backyard 