Listening to or reading the news can be a dispiriting experience, we live in a world which is particularly divisive and fractured at the moment. But, as I write this on a lovely sunny day in our beautiful and largely peaceful county of Rutland, we can be thankful for all that we have and all that we share. Mind you, it can also be all too easy to take what we have for granted and perhaps get a little complacent. It is worth remembering that in our own country there are movements which are intent on spreading suspicion, division and hate.
On Sunday we’ll be looking at that familiar Bible verse from John 14, “In my Father’s house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”
It’s a familiar verse, very often used at funeral services, but it’s worth remembering that whilst this passage points to the hope of heaven beyond this world, we are called to help create heaven in the here and now, to provide many rooms for many people, all of them different. The Church at its best is a sanctuary, a safe place, where many can find a home, whoever they are.
At our APCM meetings this year I focused on this idea that Church should be a safe and inclusive space. Unfortunately, there are people out there who fear being “judged” by the Church, and yet Jesus welcomed, blessed and affirmed all who came to him. This for me is at the very heart of the Gospel and is effectively what the church is for. We are called to prepare “many rooms”. This is something we shall build on in the coming months and years.
We also looked at worship, and the idea that worship is a state of mind which directs how we respond to each other, and how we welcome & affirm those around us. Worship is intended to help “build up” the Church Family; ensuring that all people feel involved, and that what we do is accessible and spiritually refreshing, as well as challenging us at times. I believe that worship should evolve, and feel integrated with the rest of our lives, as well as reflecting tradition. In this way, we as a church family are cared for and affirmed. I think it important that there is variety, but also that everything we do feels integrated, and part of the whole pattern of worship throughout the year. This is a priority I think for all our worship, including family services.
In Ketton we have been looking at the children’s area, as well as how children are included in worship. And in both Ketton and Tinwell, I think it important we remember that much of what Christ did wasn’t overtly “religious”, but concentrated instead on hospitality, welcome and inclusion, which will be a priority for us all, especially in terms of our outreach.
With this in mind we are planning a number of events and services in the coming year, which will hopefully enable us to reach out and also integrate with our communities.
Both Tinwell and Ketton have “Pet Services” coming up. In Ketton this will be on Sunday 5th July, and will be our Family service for the month at 10.30am, hopefully outside. In Tinwell, the Pet Service will be on Sunday 12th July at 3pm, again hopefully outside.
Before that, in June, Tinwell have a “Gift Week”, which will culminate in a Community Cream Tea on Sunday 14th June at 2pm.
Looking ahead, we have big plans for Advent and Christmas, when both our Churches will hold a Festival, which we are calling “Angels Together”. In the lead up to this we will reach out to various institutions and individuals within our communities to create Angels which reflect who they are, so, the artworks can take any form the creators wish. The Angels will be displayed in both our Churches throughout Advent and Christmas, and will incorporate a number of events, including Ketton’s Gift Day, for which there are plans for various stalls, crafts, and entertainment. Details to follow.
Outside of these special events, I am looking at how we can meet various needs in our Churches and communities, including a possible “stay and play” with coffee morning, and a coffee drop in for dog walkers. Also, I’m thinking about how we might offer mid-week worship, and Home Groups for prayer and study. These things take a while to plan and to establish, so I hope you can appreciate that I’m not rushing into them.
Looking to the future I’m mindful that Tinwell is a much smaller community than Ketton; the Church is also small in number, and a lot of extra responsibility shouldered by Bryan, our amazing Church Warden. With this in mind, we will have to give careful thought as to how the Church in Tinwell is managed in the future, as well as taking the opportunity to look again at our role and identity in the village and carefully discern the way forward. Both Tinwell and Ketton are part of the same benefice, which is basically a church family, so like a family, we should support one another. Of course, those who are more vulnerable need more support and care, a fact that is central to the Gospel. My initial thought is that Ketton and Tinwell will gradually come closer together and share more together; supporting each other, whilst at the same time retaining our distinctive identities and worship styles. In becoming more of a “united benefice” I think we can only become stronger, and in time both All Saints and St. Mary’s will benefit from working more closely together. Of course, this will evolve over time and will need much thought and prayer.
Thank you I’d like to thank everyone for all that you are and all that you do, and a special thanks to all who have stood again for their various roles. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be here, I pray that God will continue to work in this place, and I thank God that we are truly blessed.
