Berala parish has hit on a “fruitful” way to evangelise this Advent while decorating its Christmas tree.
Following the purchase of the new tree and packets of large red and gold baubles, parish administrator Fr Josh Miechels invited his flock to do the decorating; but only if they invite someone to church who doesn’t normally attend.
They may only place a bauble on the tree once they have personally invited someone to the parish and offered him or her a Christmas flyer with the details of Masses, carols and other events.
“The point is to encourage an invitational culture in our parish in a simple way and people have responded enthusiastically,” Fr Miechels said.
“There were 100 baubles placed in boxes under the tree and within the space of a week, half of them have already been hung, beginning the day after I issued the challenge.
“It gives you such a good feeling to see it, as it makes those invitations very concrete rather than abstract.
“Each decoration represents a non-parishioner who has been invited to our parish this Christmas. It’s like you can literally see the fruit of this initiative on the tree itself, and that is motivating people to invite even more.”
Fr Miechels issued the challenge in notices at the end of Mass, in a flyer and in the parish bulletin.
“Just like the shepherds, the baby Jesus asks us to bring people to adore him,” the bulletin message reads.
“Inviting people to participate in parish stuff is a normal part of being Christian. Placing one bauble on the Christmas tree will be a symbol of our giving the baby Jesus to others.”