Background - “Church in the park,” “The church without walls.” “Street church.” All over the world there are meetings of the church that fit these descriptions. Many are part of a growing movement, an informal fellowship of congregations known by different names like Ecclesia, ‘the Welcome Church’, and others . Prior to moving to El Cajon, Father David Madsen and his wife Naomi helped to start tw
o Ecclesia congregations in New York City. Both are still meeting – one in Madison Square Park right on 5th Avenue and the other in Marcus Garvey Park in the center of Harlem. The Madsens were also part of a group that started a congregation called the Welcome Church that meets in front of the Free Library of Philadelphia and down the street from the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art. They are near well-known locations, and their followers are people who live on the street or who stop or pass by regularly. The Welcome Church in Wells Park is like these congregations without the famous place or landmark. It is a place where everyone is welcome to participate in a short worship service that includes communion. Everyone is welcome and accepted for who they are – no exceptions! People from the street; people from St. Alban’s; people from other churches; people from no church; people who are poor or marginalized; or people who just happen to be in the park and decide to drop in. It is a non-denominational and ecumenical gathering. It is the Church with a capital ‘C’, the ‘big house’. The Welcome Church in Wells Park began its ministry in April 2013, and each has been a beautiful time of fellowship. It meets at 3 pm on the 4th Sunday of the month. The service is simple. We gather; we pray; we sing; we pass the peace; we receive Holy Communion; we have lunch together. We share the great fellowship of the Spirit – the same treasured fellowship that all experience when meeting in “housed” congregations. All receive the precious gift which none of us has earned, but which is given freely to all – a place at the Lord’s Table. At a Meal in the Park, George, one of our ‘regulars’, rushed up to the serving line as the meal was winding down. It was assumed he wanted to be sure he didn’t miss dinner. But, his first words to Naomi were, ‘I tried to get here earlier but couldn’t.’ Then with a disappointed face, ‘I missed the prayers, didn’t I?’ She said, ‘Yes you did, George. But the peace of the Lord be with you anyway!’ He shook my hand, gave me a big smile, ‘And with you. Thanks.’ And then he hurried to get in line for meal. Join us. There’s always room, and everyone is welcome.
