I spent the year after I graduated from college in England serving as a parish youth worker at Christ Church on the Isle of Dogs in the East End of London. It was a marvelous year full of both challenge and discovery, and it was on the Isle of Dogs that I first entertained the notion of becoming a priest in God’s Church.

It was also, however, a difficult year in that I was far from home with little contact from family and friends.  This was in the mid-80’s, before the time of email and cell phones. I remember spending much of my free time writing letters to loved ones back home, and I recall the immense joy I had in receiving a letter.  It was difficult because, in short, I was homesick.

As that first Christmas away from home came closer, my siblings suggested that I consider coming back for the holidays. This was an expensive proposition, but we pooled our money and made it happen. My parents had no knowledge of our plans, and as I surprised my mother at the front door of our family home, I was greeted with shock and tearful joy.  I, too, felt the overwhelming emotions of being home again.

The coming home feelings of my Christmas experience so many years ago is one shared by many.  Returning for the holidays, embracing family, reconnecting with old friends, recounting shared memories… these are all part and parcel of what it means to come home.  And it is in coming home that we are reminded that we belong, that we matter, that the family is incomplete without our presence.  

Our faith boldly claims that if we wander away, God will seek us out and draw us home once again.  The Bible is chock full of homecoming stories, and I can’t help but believe that coming home is central to our life in Christ.  Coming home is key to a reconciled and resurrected life.

On Sunday, September 11th, our church family will be having a “Parish Homecoming.”  We are encouraging all members of our church family to come back home, to return to church, to reconnect with your parish family, to share memories, to catch up with those you haven’t seen for a long time.  If you’ve been away, know that we miss you and that we are incomplete without you.  At our Parish Homecoming, we will be worshiping together, sharing a meal, playing games, and just enjoying each others’ presence. If you’ve been away for a while, this is the perfect time to come back again, an opportune time to come home. 

So, know you are valued and loved.  Know that you belong.  Know that our parish family is not the same without your presence.  And come home.  

~Father Art