Vicar’s Autumn 2023 Newsletter

Vicar’s Autumn 2023 Newsletter.

Dear Friends

I have a few things to communicate as we approach the autumn. Firstly, I want to thank you for being a part of the life of our church, and for your generous support. Holy Trinity and St Mark’s only exist because of the special people who make us who and what we are; and that includes YOU.

A few years ago, our parish identified three priority areas for development. These are Children and Young People, Discipleship, and Pastoral Care. In response to the perceived needs identified by myself, the churchwardens, and the PCC, I am going to set out a few changes that will take effect from September 2023. The changes are nothing revolutionary and are designed to reflect these three priorities in the life of our church.

Children and Young People

In July I challenged our PCC as to whether our ministry to children and young people is really a high priority to us. Will we let our commitment to children and young people shape the church’s agenda, or is it in practice something to which we give our ‘spare change’ after we’ve provided for the grown-ups? I realise this was a provocative question to ask!

We are in a number of ways already a child-friendly church. The monthly Messy Church, the 2nd Sunday 9.15am service, and the monthly Youth Café in partnership with Slyne, are all popular with local families, and this is a credit to those who help us plan and deliver them. However, consistent feedback I receive from parents is that our main 10.30am Holy Communion service is too long for the children, a view which I agree with. The following modification to our service pattern will give families the opportunity to attend a service every week that lasts for under an hour.

EXPLANTION

• The ‘Family Communion’ Service on the 1st Sunday of the month at Holy Trinity will be a revised service designed to better meet the needs of all ages, being lighter in liturgical content and tone. It will not last for more than an hour.

• The 9.15am All-Age service is increasing to twice a month from September, now on the 2nd and 4th Sundays.

• A Book of Common Prayer service has been absent in our parish for a few years, with the pandemic leading to the disbandment of 8.00am service. Some have evidently missed the Book of Common Prayer. In recognition of this I will be encouraging those who enjoy its timeless poetic liturgy to attend St Mark’s on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 9.00am.

• With the increase to the 9.15 services at Holy Trinity, the vicar will be absent from St Mark’s on both the 2nd and 4th Sundays. Members of the St Mark’s congregation will lead the 2nd Sunday of the month (as is currently the case), and I will be seeking assistance from others to help provide St Mark’s with a simple non-communion service on the 4th Sunday.

• When there is a 5th Sunday in the month, things may be flexible in terms of the type of service we use. It is also worth saying that special occasions, such as Mothering Sunday or Easter Day, may occasionally alter the monthly pattern.

There is more to prioritising children and young people than the provision of our Sunday services. I am keen to speak with anyone who would like to help us develop our youth work, by joining the team that runs the monthly youth café on Sunday evenings, and by seeking further opportunities to engage with these young people. The opportunities already exist, but we need a stronger volunteer team in order to develop things further.

Discipleship

‘Discipleship’ is one of those words which is hard to define. It is fundamentally about helping people grow in their love and commitment to Jesus, nurturing wholehearted Christian living that is practised seven days a week. This is what our ‘discipleship’ priority is all about; you could say it is about ‘whole life Christianity.’

In my experience, participation in church small groups and inquirer courses is the most effective way to deepen Christian discipleship; however, I do not feel minded at the present time to invest heavily in this area. Below are three initiatives which I believe will promote our discipleship priority in other ways.

‘Sermon on the Mount’ series

Jesus’ famous teaching in his Sermon on the Mount has been described by some as a ‘Christian discipleship manual.’ Some of the sayings from the Sermon on the Mount have become well-known, such as ‘turn the other cheek,’ and ‘go the extra mile.’ Starting on Sunday 3rd September we will follow a sermon series throughout the autumn which focuses on some different verses each week (Matthew chapters 5-6).

Weekly Prayer Meeting

Without prayer, none of our aspirations as a parish are likely to come to very much. To this end I will be starting a regular prayer time on Tuesday evenings, where those who wish can come together to pray for the growth of our church. Our time will begin each week with a short word of encouragement – a scripture, a message, or story to inspire us – then we will pray, having identified some matters that need our prayers. We will begin by meeting within the St Michael’s Chapel while the weather is milder, moving to the vicarage meeting room when the colder evenings draw in.

Fresh engagement with Nether Kellet

The small congregation at St Mark’s have begun talking about the challenges we face, with limited numbers and significant repair bills raising difficult questions about the church’s future. Our intention over the next twelve months is to reach out and connect with local residents, finding ways to serve the village in whatever way we can, and seeking local opinion on the future of St Mark’s. If there are any who feel inclined to support this missionary activity, do please speak to me. Nether Kellet is an integral part of our parish, and the village requires a renewed focus at this current time.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Visiting Team

Under Sue Young’s guidance, an enlarged team has been formed so that our care for the housebound, the sick, and those needing support for whatever reason, can be increased. If you are aware of someone who might appreciate a visit from members of our team, with or without a home communion service (which we can offer), do let Sue or myself know.

‘Lyrics and Lunch’

We are exploring whether Holy Trinity could be a suitable place to host a ‘Lyrics and Lunch,’ which is described on their website as being ‘music to feed the brain and lunch to enjoy together.’ Lyrics and Lunch is primarily for dementia sufferers and their carers, but anyone can come along and join in with the food and the singing. At this stage we wish to understand whether or not there is a demand for such a group in the area. If you know of people locally whom you think would benefit from this provision, please let us know, as it will help us gage the likely interest level.

I hope you feel that these proposals are right for us as a parish. If you have an opinion on this either way, feel free to tell me! It is always useful to receive feedback.

With love and prayers,

Peter