Dear Friends,
As our Church family approaches the APCM - One heart, many voices united we serve, I wanted to extend our thoughts further afield. What happens here locally is of course very important and I hope and pray our APCM will give time for thanksgiving on our past year and give some pointers for our life together for the next year.
We are part of a wider community, the Diocese and indeed the national Church. So here is a simple signpost with some good material that answers questions that are rightly and increasingly asked of myself and the team here.
The Diocese - what is its new model of ministry with Oversight Ministers and Focal Ministers?
Here is a great a very simple explanation - enjoy!
When can we sing? When can we get back to normal for congregational gathering? (and many other supplementary questions!!! )
The Church of England has a set of rules that we are obliged to follow - we do keep an eye on them but so too can you. It saves a question and indeed you might get the fuller answer you need. Do please continue to pray for those juggling complex issues and seeking to simplify them for others. The team here are as fully up to date as we can be and are ready to be as adventurous and as adaptable as possible.
View the guidance from the Church of England here.
Offering to help with volunteering for teams and rotas and new ways of doing things would be a really great gift to receive so we can be more adaptable and serviceable in sharing with others. If you feel you can help then please get in touch.
And finally
We are part of the one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church local, regional and national and we are also members one of another. Please never hesitate to reach out to us if we can help you feel more connected. I am pleased we are re-doubling our efforts to be accessible and welcoming to visitors and those returning to our building even now for the first time.
Yours in Christs service,
Mark Brown