Reports & Articles
Newcomer Connections Team
Missing…
Our community requires maintenance, for which we are personally responsible. When I come to
church I generally sit in the same area and see the same folks. My eyes roam the pews during the first
hymn and I take roll call to see who is present and who is missing. It is my community. I make a mental note of who I see after the first service at the social hour and who is arriving for the second service.
I think about who is missing. The next Sunday I attend, my ritual of roll call is still the same. Sometimes it is the same folks missing as the week before. Then, the same folks are missing a third Sunday
in a row.
Now here’s the thing. I wonder what is happening with them, those that are missing. Are they seeing
relatives far away or are they busy with work? Or has something happened, something I don’ know
about?
For myself, if I am not in church for three Sundays in a row, I would hope my absence would be noted. It is not in my nature to call people upon my return and say, “Hey, I've been absent for three
weeks. Did you miss me?”
I would hope someone emails me and inquires about what is going on, to say that I was missed and
ask if things were ok.
I think strongly that contacting someone who hasn’t been around for a while is a personal responsibility.
So I did it. I emailed a party on my “missing” list. They called me back. They were pleased to hear
from me, to learn that someone had noticed their absence. They wanted to know their presence mattered.
They had been away visiting kids. Everyone was fine. We connected.
I hear the desire from members in our community to deepen connections with each other. It can start
with an email or a call to those you notice are “missing.” A strong community takes maintenance. Be
part of that. It’s what we do.
Katharine P. Nelson
The Pioneer 9