R W G R
12-21-2009, 09:12 PM
"There used to be a time when churches could rely on being filled on a weekly basis, come rain or shine.
But dwindling congregations and ageing members have forced churches to look for ways to innovate and modernise in an attempt to get the Christian message out.
And so members of Greyfriars Parish Church in Lanark have decided to exchange pews for bar stools in an attempt to spread the festive message with a Christmas Eve carol-singing session at a local pub, the Clydesdale Inn.
Their minister, the Rev Bryan Kerr, said that the church had looked at ways of getting their message out beyond the church.
"Christmas Eve is always a special time in our church, with our popular – and some might say lighthearted – watchnight service, but this adds a whole new dimension.
"The time when a church could open its doors and expect people to come flooding in are long gone, if they ever existed. This is a way of going out into the community and sharing the message, and we think it's important to get out there to people who might not otherwise encounter it."
In addition to the carol service, the pub will be serving Greyfriars Kirk Christmas Ale, a beer brewed specially for the event.
"Many people might be a bit dubious about the church going into a pub and having its own ale brewed," he said.
"However, if Jesus was here in Lanark today, I am certain that we would meet him in the most unlikely of places, possibly even in the pubs around the town, meeting and speaking to those he came across. The church is not saying that people need to drink to have a good time, but we are recognising that, at this time of year, many people enjoy a drink with friends and we want people to hear the Good News of Christmas when they are there.""
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/glasgow/Church-hopes-its-special-ale.5929779.jp
But dwindling congregations and ageing members have forced churches to look for ways to innovate and modernise in an attempt to get the Christian message out.
And so members of Greyfriars Parish Church in Lanark have decided to exchange pews for bar stools in an attempt to spread the festive message with a Christmas Eve carol-singing session at a local pub, the Clydesdale Inn.
Their minister, the Rev Bryan Kerr, said that the church had looked at ways of getting their message out beyond the church.
"Christmas Eve is always a special time in our church, with our popular – and some might say lighthearted – watchnight service, but this adds a whole new dimension.
"The time when a church could open its doors and expect people to come flooding in are long gone, if they ever existed. This is a way of going out into the community and sharing the message, and we think it's important to get out there to people who might not otherwise encounter it."
In addition to the carol service, the pub will be serving Greyfriars Kirk Christmas Ale, a beer brewed specially for the event.
"Many people might be a bit dubious about the church going into a pub and having its own ale brewed," he said.
"However, if Jesus was here in Lanark today, I am certain that we would meet him in the most unlikely of places, possibly even in the pubs around the town, meeting and speaking to those he came across. The church is not saying that people need to drink to have a good time, but we are recognising that, at this time of year, many people enjoy a drink with friends and we want people to hear the Good News of Christmas when they are there.""
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/glasgow/Church-hopes-its-special-ale.5929779.jp