Thoughts From The Cottage
Dear Friends
I wonder what your thoughts are at the beginning of a new year. Have you made ‘new year resolutions’? Have you decided to change your wardrobe, furniture, car or house? Have you decided to take up a new hobby or interest? Have you decided to change your lifestyle, diet, political views or general outlook? Maybe you have decided that nothing will change and that what you were in 2018 will be what you are in 2019.
Things may change whether we plan them or not. 2019 may be better or worse than we think because of things we have no control over. There is a very real sense that we have to treat each new day as it comes, giving God thanks for it and seeking his help in living it. What is true for us personally is also true for the church. What will 2019 bring the Beacon Church Centre? The answer may depend on whether you are an optimist or a pessimist and you can’t opt out by claiming to be a realist because that is simply another name for pessimist. We all have a chance to shape the future of our church. Our input or lack of it will see to that.
2018 has been an interesting year. We have a seen a continued decline of numbers in our regular Sunday morning congregation but we have seen visitors, newcomers and an increased regularity from some. Financially we have made the loss that we expected to make. Messy church has grown and Friday Messy and Sunday morning Messy have been particularly successful. Community interaction has increased, particularly on Tuesday morning, at the Cracker and the afternoon teas with Beaconside school. We have been less active in CTB45 and we have fewer people doing key roles, particularly on a Sunday morning. So was it a good year or a bad year? You decide.
Where does that leave us at the start of 2019? Quite simply we have to grow the church, find more people to take on key roles, develop new initiatives, increase our financial income as well as supporting all the good work going on. In January we begin our ‘Talking Jesus’ course which will help us to gain confidence in talking about our faith and inviting non-churchgoers to come with us to worship and church events. It runs once a month from January 27th to the end of June – don’t miss it.
Under Louise’s guidance we will continue to develop Messy Church and hopefully begin a club for older children. To enable this to happen we need to expand the team of helpers. Messy Sunday mornings will be expanded and take place on Mothering Sunday, Father’s Day, Harvest and Gift Sunday. The uniformed organisations will be involved and Louise’s regular work with them will aid this.
We will begin the process of preparing for Ian’s retirement in the summer of 2020 starting with finalising our pastorate profile and discussing with Synod pastoral committee how ministry will be provided. More information on this should be available for the January Church Life Meeting – don’t miss it.
It’s going to be an exciting year at the Beacon Church Centre!
Ian Ring
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