Wanted: churchgoers. Place of work: Landeryd church. Salary: Good communion.
That ad was put in a local paper last week by the vicar at the Lutheran church of Landeryd, a small community 160 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of the capital, Stockholm. Desperate for more attendance, the church is even offering free cab rides for those who don't have a car.
"I want more people to attend the Sunday services," the Rev. Bjoern Frennesson told The Associated Press on Sunday.
There are 14,300 people in the parish, but few of them live near the church.
"I want a bigger base of loyal worshippers. I want to create a spirit of community, a kind of responsibility among the churchgoers and explain that we are important, " Frennesson said.
Apparently the ad had an effect. Normally there are only 20 to 40 people attending the service. This Sunday there were about 100, Frennesson said.