I have thought long and hard before asking this question. Am I being unfair? What do other churches do?
I have been a practicing Methodist for over 30 years. I think I support my church in what ever ways I can and regularly attend services often reading or making teas, coffees and cakes for the end of services.
Four weeks ago, I underwent major surgery and informed others that I would be unable to attend services for at least 6 weeks.
What hurts is that we call ourselves a 'family church' but since my operation I have not even received a phone call. This week, I was asked to make soup for a Lent lunch which I did and I remarked to the person requesting it that I was rather hurt that no-one had contacted me and I didn't even know if I was on the 'prayers list.'
Her reply was that no one visited her when she had been hospitalised.
By coincidence, I had a visitor from the Church that evening who said that my name had been put on the Prayers list that day. I said, I would like to have taken Communion and she replied that the Minister probably hadn't been told I was ill.
Am I just feeling sorry for myself or does your 'family church' do things differently? I have suggested that someone in the Church should be appointed who will take responsibility for contacts/ visits to members who are absent.
What is your experience and what is the practice in your Church.
What were the first ever records that you bought and when?
Parents-in-Law. What do/did you call them?