Over a thousand page views!

It occurred to me while listening yet another scintillating sermon from The Minister that I should find out if anyone is reading my Bonhoeffer in the City blog! Well, wasn't I in for a surprise...

It would appear over a thousand people have viewed this blog! The actual figure is 1,147! Quite frankly, I'm astounded! 

When I started this blog, I hadn't thought about stats and how many people would read about the adventures of Matt the Elder. At the very least I thought a couple of hundered hits during the first year.

However, I am delighted that so many people are reading it. It's interesting to see the most viewed pages. Here are the top three:

3, My First Elder's Meeting: part 2

2, City Church... Comforting your buttocks...

1, "A delicious play on words, Minister!"

Anyway, thank for reading this blog. It's as much about my being an elder as it is about sharing what a brilliant place City Church is!

Please do pay us a visit at City Church. You would be most welcome. And who knows, you may even get to meet the author of this blog!

Wish best wishes,
Matt the Elder

Some Christians are gay...

Matt the Elder on Canal Street

Apologies for being quiet of late. It's been a very hectic month. However, I'm back and ready to return to regular bloggin'

Last weekend I was at Manchester Pride. Those of you who follow my real life persona on Facebook and Twitter will know how much I love Manchester Pride! It's my favourite weekend of the year and I pretty much countdown to the Big Weekend from January. 

I've been attending for the last 13 years. My partner and I love the atmosphere; full of fun and good times! Everyone is there to have a good time and celebrate all things lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender! It's also a very safe place, what with the fantastic security team, door staff and St John's Ambulance looking after everyone. 

Can you tell I LOVE MANCHESTER PRIDE? 

Co-op advert on Canal Street

Anyway, this year we marched with The Co-operative in the Manchester Pride Parade. We marched with banners and gave away ice lollies and flags. It was an incredible experience. The route was packed with onlookers cheering us on! 

I do most of my business at The Co-op because they have such strong values and one of those values is about celebrating and respecting diversity. I'm proud to shop and bank with them!

We also passed a group of religious protesters. They always make a peaceful protest and every year they have the same placards with the same anti-gay Biblical quotations. Every float gives them a big cheer and wave as they pass them! It always makes me smile.

Jesus saves all... 

Compare that to a gay Christian group who marched with a giant puppet Jesus wearing a rainbow sash! It was wonderful to see such a bold statement being made at a pride event. Being gay and Christian is totally compatible - and don't let anyone tell you otherwise! 

I loved the t-shirts that the Christian group wore; "Some Christians are gay... Get over it!" Indeed!

I've mentioned previously that City Church is very supporting of the LGBT community - which is why I am a member. This weekend they have a stall at Cardiff Mardi Gras which will be staffed by volunteers who want to show what a welcoming and diverse church community we are. 

If you are visiting Cardiff Mardi Gras please do pop along and say hello! 

Does your church attend gay pride events? How do you welcome the LGBT community to your church community? Please do share your comments below.

Until next time.

With best wishes,
Matt the Elder

Ps: Don't forget to 'LIKE' us on Facebook!

Someone's been reading m'blog!

Just Text Giving now available at City Church

Do you remember a previous post where I shared five things churches could do to engage with visitors? Well, it would seem the Minister has been keeping a sharp eye on m'blog because he has adopted one of my ideas!

As you can see from the picture, it was the idea of setting up a Just Text Giving service for City Church. I noticed that Fowey Church were advertising their Just Text Giving service. I thought it was a marvellous idea especially as I had no cash on me in which to donate to the church. And when I spotted their advert I immediately donated money via text. 

It is very easy to use. To donate to City Church simply text CURC00, leave a space and then add the amount you would like to donate. £2, £5, £10, for example. You send that message to 70070. 

I couldn't wait to try it out so I sent a text to 70070 with CURC00 £5 in the message. And it worked! Within seconds I got a reply thanking me for my donation and a link to gift aid my donation. All very straightforward. 

I'm delighted that the Minister set this up based on reading my blog. It really made my day knowing that I've helped City Church to strengthen their fundraising efforts. 

Has your church had success with Just Text Giving? What other ways do you engage with your visitors? Please do share in the comments below.

Until next time.

With best wishes,
Matt the Elder

Ps: Feel free to 'Like' City Church on Facebook!

Officially Matt the Elder

There's no going back...

With the laying on of hands, my transformation into Matt the Elder was made complete. I even have a certificate to prove it!

Let's start at the beginning... Picture the scene. Cardiff was basking in glorious sunshine. The people of Cardiff were smiling and happy and there was not a cloud in the sky. Yet, unbeknown to many a momentous event was about to take place at City Church...

It may have felt like an ordinary Sunday service but half way through a crack team of elite Elders stepped forward  for their ordination and induction. These brave few stood in front of their congregation, the very people who elected them, and pledged their allegiance to serving City Church. 

Our instruction was simple. Come forward when the offering is brought forward. We were to take a seat in the front row. Easy.  Alas,  someone missed their cue? 

It was me! 

The Minister's Wife had one job...

I was faffing with my camera phone as I had asked the Minister's Wife to take a few snaps of the ordination. Whoops!

As you can see, somehow the Minister's Wife managed to alter my camera setting to 'record' and filmed her walk back to her seat. 

Note to self: do not ask the Minister's Wife to take any more photos!

Ordination and induction

Back to the service... The ordination and induction consists of seven elements:

• Introduction
• Statement of Purpose
• The Nature, Faith and Order of the United Reformed Church
• Affirmations
• Ordination
• Induction
• Declaration of Induction

The Affirmations that we were asked to make were as follows. The Elder's said the bold type.

Do you accept this statement and confess again your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
                                   I do.

In dependence on God’s grace do you reaffirm your trust in Jesus Christ as saviour and Lord and your promise to follow him and to seek to do and to bear his will all the days of your life?
                                   I do.

Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God’s people?
                                   I do.

Do you accept the office of elder of the United Reformed Church in this congregation and do you promise to perform its duties faithfully?
                                   I do.

As I was the only person who has never been an elder before, I had to kneel at the alter step while the Minister and two current elders laid hands on me.

This was a completely new - and strange - experience! To be honest, the laying of hands felt a bit pentecostal and I was half expecting a Gospel choir to start singing the Bon Jovi classic Lay Your Hands on Me! Sadly, that didn't happen. 

If only the ordination was this sexy...

I did, however, feel for the three people who were laying hands on me. Little did they know that 45 minutes earlier I was sweating it out at Pilates Bootcamp and then cycled to church. There are, sadly, no showers at City Church and while I had run a comb through my tousled locks, I did have a sweaty head. Apologies guys!

And with that I was handed a certificate which made my Eldership official!

It was a wonderful experience. I really felt part of something special and with most of the church community watching I felt a great sense of responsibility to serve them as best I can. What an absolute privilege!

What's your experiences of laying on of hands? Have you been ordained and inducted? What were your experiences. Please do share in the comments below.

Until next time...

With best wishes,
Matt the Elder

5 things your church can do to welcome visitors

"Thou shalt not steal ideas from other churches..."

Previously, I blogged about my recent holiday to Cornwall. I also mentioned that as I visited a number of churches on my hiking route I picked up a few ideas of how they welcomed visitors. I thought I would share with you my top five favourite ideas.

1. Welcome cards on pews

 I spotted these at St Andrew's in Tywardraeth. They were perched on the end of each pew and on one side was a welcome message and on the other was two short prayers and contact details of the Parish Priest.

I particularly liked the comment about not worrying if you've not visited before and don't know what to do! How reassuring - we've all been in those situations!

The welcome cards were delightful. I sat down, rested my weary feet and quietly said the prayers. Although no one else was in the church (apart from the Big Fella) I felt very welcome. In fact, after I read the card I had a big smile on my face.

It's the little things that leave a lasting impression.

2. A Visitor's Guide

Granted, this is not a new idea. Lots of places have visitors guides but I'm not aware that City Church has ever produced one. I often pick one up as a memento of my visit to a particular church.

3. An introduction to Christianity

I spotted this at Fowey Parish Church. A very engaging introduction to Jesus and Christianity.

This display placed opposite the main door and was very eye-catching. I loved the illustrations and commentary. A really nice touch, I thought.

4. Contemplative tour of the church

 Fowey Parish Church have clearly thought long and hard about what makes a church a tourist attraction. Here's another idea from them, a contemplative tour of the church. Each panel gives an explanation about aspects of the church, a Bible quote and a prayer. 

It was all very well thought out and we spend about 40 minutes following the tour.

5. Just Giving - text a donation

Another idea from Fowey Parish Church. Not everyone has change on them but most people will have a mobile phone. Just Text Giving is a quick and easy way of donating without rummaging for loose change. Brilliantly simple!






What do you think of these ideas? Have you had any success in your church adopting these or similar ideas? What works for you? Have you spotted other ideas? Please do share in the comments below.

With best wishes,
Matt the Elder

A visit to Ewenny Priory in the Vale of Glamorgan

Gorgeous screen glass at Ewenny Priory

I just wanted to share with you a couple of pictures from a recent visit to Ewenny Priory in the Vale of Glamorgan. I was hiking in the area and took a detour to the church. I've visited many, many times as this is the area where I grew up. I still love visiting. It's so peaceful and tranquil. 

Anyway, in 2006 a glass screen was installed which separates the parish church from the monastic section which is looked after by Cadw. Swansea based glass artist Alexander Beleschenko was commissioned to design the screen. It represents the resurrection of Christ.

Isn't it wonderful?

If you haven't visited the area I'd recommend you do so. It's a great place for walking and close by is Ewenny Pottery and Ogmore Castle. 

Below are a few snaps I took while on my hike. 

Corn fields at Corntown

A selection of Ewenny pottery

With best wishes,

Matt the Elder

Charming churches in Du Maurier Country

Matt the Elder's Cornish Adventure

Last week myself and the Big Fella packed our walking boots & the tent and headed off to Cornwall. Cor, what a scorcher! God must be looking favourably upon me to bless my camping and hiking holiday with such wonderful weather! Perhaps God is a fan of m'blog?

I hadn't intended to write about my holiday as it had nothing to do with my being an elder at City Church. However, half way through the holiday I realised that every walk myself and the Big Fella planned involved a detour to a local church. In fact, when I mentioned this to the Big Fella he reminded me that pretty much all our holidays take in numerous churches and synagogues.

And so I thought I would share with you some of the churches we visited during our hiking holiday in Cornwall.

Daphne Du Maurier Country

One of my favourite authors is Daphne Du Maurier. Rebecca, Jamaica Inn and Frenchman's Creek are some of my favourite novels. We often spend a week or so in Cornwall and more often than not we spend it in Polruan, just across the estuary from Fowey - where Du Maurier lived and which served as an inspiration for many of her Cornish novels. It is a beautiful area and one we consider to be our second home.  

We walked every day and averaged about 8-9 miles of coastal and countryside trails. So, without further ado, here are some of the churches we visited.

St Julitta, Lanteglos

Walking from Polruan to Pont we decided to take a short diversion to visit Lanteglos, the church where Du Maurier was married. It proved to be the perfect spot for lunch. The churchyard was beautiful and clearly a haven for wildlife. Inside, the church was an oasis of calm and the cool temperature was a much needed respite from the heatwave outside!

A view from across the churchyard

Looking ahead to the alter

Taken from above

This robin was not shy!

Churchyard

A monk's tomb

St John, Bodinnick

We have been to Bodinnick many, many times but we had never spotted this delightful little church. It's right at the end of the Hall Walk path and just up from the Ship Inn. A wonderful discovery!

A hidden gem

A view of the alter

Close-up of the alter

St Andrew, Tywardraeth

We stopped at St Andrew's church in Tywardraeth after completing The House on the Strand walk. It was one of the hottest days and we were flagging! We couldn't wait for half a Cornish cider at the nearest pub but delayed the pleasure so we could visit St Andrew's.

The impressive St Andrew's

Looking towards the alter

A view from behind

St Ildierna, Lansallos

That we actually visited this church is in itself a miracle. Throughout most of the walk St Ildierna was always in our sights, getting closer and closer each step. Until, that is, we dipped into a valley and took a wrong turn. Of course, being the one holding a map this was all my fault! I'll admit, harsh words were exchanged but eventually we found the church. 

Again, a delightful church and one that offered us hot and frustrated hikers a moment to regroup and thank God that we are fortunate to be able to take holidays and walk such distances together.

"It's just over that hill!"

A view of the alter

Beautiful wood carvings

A view from our picnic spot

Unruly parishioners... beware!

Fowey Parish Church

No visit to Fowey is complete without a visit to the church. Fowey is often packed with visitors so this church is a welcome break from the crowds. 

Close up of the alter

A view from the back 

We had a fantastic time and I hope you have enjoyed reading about the churches we visited. I have one more blog to post about my holiday which will look at some of the unique things some of these churches are doing to welcome visitors, some of which I think may work at City Church.

Have you visited the churches mentioned above? What are some of your favourite churches? Please do share your thoughts below. 

With best wishes,

Matt the Elder