News Archive
Things that make you go... huh? (3)
Posted by Sean Harris on 31 Jul 2008
"Take the persons hand next to you and share the Grace!"
Cringe Factor: 10 out of 10
When we say the Grace, what are we actually saying? Is it a mere blessing, perhaps a prayer, a welcome, a goodbye??? It isn't that clear from the average Joe's point of view. I know what the words mean (I think!). But, to someone in church for the first time, what do the words "...may the grace of our Father, ... blah blah blah...." actually mean?
And if you're totally new to a church, or even from another culture, the prospect of holding someone else's hand is not a great one. Regularly, I find myself holding hands with people I wouldn't choose to! If we want church to be welcoming and warm, not cringeworthy and uncomfortable, then we really need to drop holding hands!
Might I suggest we display the words of the Grace? Perhaps we could consider informing people why we say it? Perhaps even give people the option of saying it. Pretending you have a rare and contagious skin condition on your hands might also be a practical way of stopping someone reaching for your hands. I also find picking your nose and eating it to be an effective way of shutting out hand holding.