Dear member of the All Saints family,
As we have had the opportunity to worship together in two services on a Sunday, it has struck me how many people contribute to making a service happen.
At the 9 AM service, as well as the Leader and Preacher, there are musicians, with others doing the reading, the prayers and managing the sound. Also, we have a duty warden and a welcomer to ensure we know who has been to the services for track and trace purposes.
At the 10:45 service it is even more complex. In addition to what happens at the 9 AM service, we livestream the service and use ‘Easy’ (not for me!) Worship as well as manage the sound; we have a worship group; Emma Smith and her team are there to welcome members of the youth groups; Charli Perkins has kindly been providing materials for Sunday Club members (it was wonderful to see a couple of young families in church last Sunday!). Both Emma and Charli are running other groups on Sundays as well.
Also, things have happened before the service including Andy Warren and Christina Beveridge cleaning the church, Helen Dymond assembling and printing the service sheets.
I would like to mention the welcome teams at the 10:45 service, who in addition to greeting the congregation now have to clean the pews both before and after the service and ensure we know who is present and that we arrange ourselves appropriately during and after the service to meet the guidelines. That was a long sentence, but that represents how much they are now doing, so I hope you can join me in thanking them.
Also, I hope you can join me in thanking everyone who is involved in making the services happen including those I am bound to have not mentioned.
Which brings me to 1 Corinthians 12 v 27.
‘Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.’
Following on from this, v 28 describes different gifts of the spirit given to individuals as God has chosen to help the church worship, serve God and grow. God has made us to have a range of skills and talents and we can all contribute in our own way. Everyone’s contribution matters, as we know that all parts of our own bodies have a role to play.
As it has been a long time since we have run two services, we are short of people in a number of roles. We are very grateful to all those who have already offered to take part, but we still need more support in:
- As above, until restrictions are eased, this is more onerous than usual. At least for the next few weeks we really need more help at the 10:45 service and we need to establish a rota for a welcomer at the 9 AM service.
- Sound and vision. Paul Barnfather and the team have done spectacular things in broadcasting both live and pre-recorded services and now have expanded into running the live services.
- Sunday Club. This continues to take place online with Helen Ellis and Charli running groups. More support is needed here – a DBS check will be required for these roles.
So, if you are able, and feel you can help in any of the ways above as suits the gifts that you have been given, please contact the church office and you will be put in touch with the relevant leader of the groups.
On a similar theme of roles where help is needed, Tina Trevett has put an item in the notices requesting volunteers for Minis to help run the group from September to December. Helen Ellis currently runs this wonderful mother and toddler group but is retiring in the Summer. It is such a good way to reach out to families that don’t currently come to church as well as providing a valuable service. It would be a great shame if we had to stop it due to a lack of help. Please look at Tina’s notice and pray whether God is calling you to this highly important work.
Please see the notices for exciting events that are happening in June, including Heart & Soul Café re-opening and the Cheerful Givers meal taking place in the Church Centre.
Finally, just to say that we are hoping to be able to make the announcement about our new vicar soon; there are various processes that need to be completed before we can, as occurs with all appointments.
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.
With best wishes and blessings,
Andy Creeth and John Chester, Churchwardens