The Rector's Column - July 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  

Last week I saw an article featuring a church (in Germany or Holland, I believe) that had conducted a service based on Harry Potter. Highlighted was the pastor's creativity in the design of the event and how it was enjoyed by those who attended. That was at least the third or fourth such item I've seen lately addressing creative and interesting ways to get people to show up for a church service. Perhaps it came across more strongly because the media telling the story isn't a “religious" one, but I was really struck by the priority of people feeling happy and, essentially, entertained by the experience.  

The congregation in question had a clear goal of getting people into the building. These latter two things - butts in seats via entertainment and creativity - are the themes of these articles. Of course, we want to have our building full when we come together to worship, and for people to come and be a part of what is going on. 

However, inflating Mass attendance numbers isn't our purpose. This is not to say numbers don't matter or that we should set aside evangelism. The opposite is the truth. What we need to contemplate is the why and how. The reason we want people to be a part of what is going on is so that they may share in salvation; to give their lives to Jesus Christ and be baptized and transformed. 

We are in the disciple-making business, and not the entertainment business. I believe that over the years I have used a variety of ways, hopefully some are entertaining, to teach and preach and to connect with people. l also believe that it is good to use relevant and comprehensible communication. It is right and good to have contemporary expressions of prayer and worship - that is, using the gifts and expressions of those who are now present without leaving behind our heritage. Behind it all (or perhaps, better, above it all) is the call to become a devout follower of Jesus. 

Church isn’t only the time we gather on Sunday. It is very much what happens between Sundays. We gather for bible study, to pray together, to pray for those in need, to reach out to the community, to help others in the congregation who need some help. We have a couple of Home Groups that have recently begun meeting that are exactly expressions to facilitate that. We share our lives with one another so that we can encourage one another. Truly we want to be a place where we grow intimacy - honestly sharing our joys and struggles with our fellow believers. The real issue isn't whether or not Mass is "entertaining", but whether people encounter the love of God in we His children and experience the transformational power of the Living God when they are among us. 

I continue to pray that God will continue to draw people to come and be a part of St. Dunstan's. I want to outgrow this building. Behind that prayer is the one that God would make us to be the kind of church with which He would entrust those who are searching for Him. Our goal is not simply to have impressive attendance statistics, but rather that we would be building believers of robust and living faith who influence the world for the Kingdom, whatever the world throws at us.  

May God fill us with His grace, love, and power.  

The Lord be with you,  +Fraser  

The Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton, Rector and Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Dallas