Archdeacon’s Visitation 2010
Dear All,
On Wednesday 19th May your church wardens together with Christine and Tracy, attended the Archdeacon’s visitation at St. Andrews church, Burnham-on-Sea.
This is the occasion on which the Church wardens are sworn into their new office, prayers are offered for all the churches in our deanery and we all offer one another mutual support in what we do in Christ’s name.
The Archdeacon in her usual relaxed style delivered her ‘Charge’ another word used for a sermon, in which she encourages us in her duties.
Prior to the visitation each church had filled in a questionnaire on their ministry during the previous year. The Archdeacon reported back on some of the findings and we felt that it would be worth passing on her thoughts on two of the topics which are as relevant to all members of the congregation as to the Church wardens:
What means of communicating the faith appear to be most effective in your situation?
“Prominent notice boards, delivering the parish magazine to all households, the website and offering a warm welcome to all who come to church for occasional offices and other special visits. The activity of church members in the community is essential so that non church activities are supported. One church had made a particular effort to ensure they had a representative at the local car boot sale which is held on a Sunday! After all, this is where so many people go on a Sunday morning. What a fantastic initiative. For those seeking to discover more about the Christian faith, many of you continue to run discussion groups, Lent course and Alpha courses and find these to be hugely effective as indeed are all other programs that help enquirers to explore faith. Drawing men into the life of the church can be difficult as many are frankly put off by much of what we do. The introduction of a Men’s breakfast on a Saturday morning in some places has been hugely effective. Sometimes with a guest speaker or perhaps simply to encourage friendship and support. To attract children several churches have introduced ‘Messy Church’ or special activity mornings which work well when attached to a season or festival in the church’s year. It was encouraging to see how many of you mentioned the importance of personal example and willingness to share your faith with neighbours, work colleagues and others as opportunity arises. The value of parish visiting is widely recognised and because it cannot e sustained by the clergy alone, equipping lay people with listening skills, basic knowledge of pastoral care including bereavement visiting, has helped many churches to hold at their centre the commitment to love and support all those in need in the community, especially the sick, elderly and housebound.
Another positive point of contact is for those of you who have a school in the parish (whether a church school or not) –the opportunity for taking assemblies, inviting the children into church midweek for a special service as well as serving on the governing body and being seen to take an active interest in the life of the school is hugely effective. It was encouraging to discover the variety of ways to help share the gospel your PCCs are supporting. It is often said that the church is the only organisation that exists for those who are not its members. So, all these signs of God’s love in your communities speak of living faith in action. This is one of the greatest challenges that we face today as now the vast majority of people in this country have little experience or understanding of the Christian faith. Many people are spiritually searching and yet suspicious of institutions and, what they perceive to be the ‘baggage’ of the church. The single most significant influence in introducing people to faith in Jesus Christ is through friendship. Where we can offer hospitality and create a sense of belonging to a community and being valued within it, the local church seems to thrive”.
Signs of hope in the last 12 months
“Again there are many ways of understanding signs of hope. New initiatives are springing up – alternative forms of worship, a new family service which has taken off because of the involvement of a local music teacher; a refurbishment of a community hall by the church to provide a drop-in cafe and resource for the village; seeing a new reader ministry emerge. And yes for some of you the increase in Sunday worship attendance which has ‘bucked the trend’. One comment reoccurred and it resonates with the wider picture across the Church of England. Seasonal or special services, such as Mothering Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, the Crib service and the Christingle service are gathering huge support. They are attended by people who you might think of as on the fringe of church life. Perhaps these acts of worship don’t necessarily have to happen in church-maybe the school or community hall, and even the local pub or supermarket is more appropriate. Wherever they happen, they provide a meaningful opportunity to engage with people. Such services usually attract parents as well as children and are even more popular when refreshments are offered. We all know that these are the missing generations from our regular church congregations. Thank God for these signs of life and I would encourage you all to give special thought to how you are able to build on these occasions. Perhaps people enjoy coming to church or worshipping God more than we think they do!”
Some challenges, but much that we are doing already.
Yours in Christ’s name
Graeme and Derick
Church wardens.
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