Reverend Ref +

SAY WHAT???

Like every other parish, we are trying to draw people into our midst. The first point of our mission statement is to "Invite." Like my last sermon pointed out, we aren't in the business of clubbing people over the head and dragging them into the nave by their hair. We are working at inviting people to join us. And I'm working at changing the mindset of my parishioners that it is their job to do the inviting.

It's a slow process.

But I also know that I have some share in that business of inviting. With that in mind, I hijacked a term I heard in Chicago -- Theology on Tap. In Chicago, this was a specific church program that took place in various bars throughout the city. Out here, it just means that I go hang out in the various bars in Sheridan and Virginia City talking with whomever will talk. Sometimes about church, sometimes about fishing, sometimes about cribbage and sometimes about snake hunting. The point is (I think and I hope) that people will see me willing to be in places not normally associated with clergy, and that might get some of them into church, at least for curiosity's sake.

And now, St. Paul's has decided that we want to try a Thursday night Eucharist. This was mainly done for the parishioners who have shops in Virginia City and need to be open on Sundays so that they can enjoy the finer things in life -- like food. The thought was that an evening service after most places have closed would be a way to include my regular parishioners as well as maybe draw in some new people.

I was asked last night at the vestry meeting how I envisioned this service. "This will not be a full-fledged Sunday service. It'll be low key and I'll draw the readings and a short homily from Lesser Feasts and Fasts."

Have I mentioned that even the majority of the vestry members aren't fully aware of the ins-and-outs of the Episcopal Church? "The what?"

I explained LFF and how that would work into the Thursday night Eucharist. And then, in my own wacked out style, I mentioned that this service would highlight "the Dude or Dudette of the day."

So now I give you "Thursday Night Dude/Dudette of the Day at St. Paul's."

The Vicar has a screw loose somewhere.