Dear Friends,

As we move into the month of June, many turn their thoughts to completing exams, getting outdoors, enjoying the (hopefully!) better weather and bright evenings. As a reluctant, rather than enthusiastic gardener, I do love to see the wonderful blooms on display infull colour as I visit in people’s homes and drive to various locations. The stretch in the evenings seems to help our mood and many have commented to me on how well the church grounds are looking. We are very grateful to Jim and Geoff our Glebewardens and the team of volunteers who work really hard to look after our grounds so well and set them off so beautifully. When the grass is cut and the rhododendrons are in full bloom, it’s a special reminder of the wonder of creation and the magnificence of the location we are in.

One of the things we spend a lot of time thinking about is how to attract new members or a new generation to our church. Some members of the congregation who attended a conference on church growth recently shared some interesting ideas about outreach that other churches were using. There is no one-size-fits-all or magic bullet that is going to be the solution or the answer. Every church and community is unique in that sense but sometimes the ideas that work best can be there in front of us if we open our eyes to see and our ears to hear.

One of the biggest struggles many of us experienced during the Covid pandemic in 2020 was a sense of social isolation. When it wasn’t safe to be in contact with other people, we really missed gathering together and began to do certain things online to stay connected. Whether it was church services, prayer meetings or Alpha courses, whether it was schools teaching lessons online, sports clubs getting together to say hello or do a workout together, we really valued that sense of connection.

During June and July, we are hoping to open up our church grounds for the local community to come and bring a picnic, bring themselves or their family. We’d like to offer a space where people can chat, play games, get to know each other. If people want some space to pray or have someone pray with them about things going on in their lives or the lives of people they care about, that opportunity will be available in the church.

We would like to begin on June 23rd and meet for 6 consecutive Tuesdays. The church and grounds will be open from 5.30pm – 7.30pm and everyone is invited.

We hope to have an evening where we deliver invitations to local residents and we hope it will be fun and an opportunity to explore what it means to be a neighbour. Please feel most welcome to come along. The gatherings will be better if you can make it along, the halls will be open along with the church and there will hopefully be the chance to meet new people and enjoy one another’s company.

We look forward to welcoming all our Sunday School children on June 21st for a special family service and prize giving and don’t forget Messy Church is happening on the afternoon of June 5th from 3.30pm – 5pm. If you have children or grandchildren or neighbours of nursery and primary school age, they would be most welcome.

We hope the weather will be kind and people will be able to come and share the brighter evenings with us in our beautiful grounds.

With very best wishes,

Jonathan Pierce (Rector)

Telephone 02890 793822