We have had a busy three months and with high summer in Albury itis time to remember the Old Church Service in June which was well attended and supported followed by a barbecue for the Churches Conservation Trust who actually own the building. We presented a cheque to CrispinTruman who is the CE of CTC (if you get the initials!)

Tent Service is coming up- my last big event in the parish as retirement looms from September. Our last day is Sept 18th.

Grove  Books have published my memoir of ten years in Albury called “Growing Churches through House for Duty Ministry” – it is an account of the joys and pressures of growing a thriving church from small beginnings and for that, and all our time here we give God thanks.

It is good to see families coming to church but there is a serious risk of spiritual erosion and drift with  the competing pressures of sport and other things. In a secular 24/7 society is it any wonder that our spritual lives suffer. There is an urgent need for families to re appraise their spiritual priorities and for the church to look at ways of ministering to them at other times than a Sunday morning. Some churches are doing cafe style worship on Sunday afternoons at say 5 followed by tea or using other days of the week. We are losing touchwith some familes whose children are older and this is disappointing. Some have travelled the journey here with us for some years and it is sad that we so rarely see them now. The overall growth of the church and an influx of younger familes means that this drop out is actaully masked by the numerical attendance on Sundays. Albury kids football is mostly on Saturday mornings but Sunday rugby is also becoming the norm. There is also the problem that parents face when the child announces “I don’t want to go to church” If the church services were boring and inaccessable one could understand how the kids feel!  They are not!

One family I knew years ago said to their kids-” we support you all week by attending all the things you do. Will you support Mum and Dad in one of the things they want to do”  Parental will is crucial in this matter and this remains an on going challenge for the church in a post christian world.

A group of the church are going to Spring Harvest in Minehead this year- some for the firsttime- always a great experience.

Easter is late so school holidays and planning are chaotic but we do out best- I am giving out curlie wurlies rather than eggs on Easter Day.

The New year brings challenges here both for the congregations and for us as we realise that we have celebrated out final Christmas here and out thoughts, along with the parish, are turning to the future. Important discussions are taking place with the rector and the archdeacon (representing the diocese) about the shape of the future pattern of ministry here. Should it be stipendary, semi stipendary or the status quo of “House for Duty”

It is a time of uncertainty and change and I can offer thoughts along the way but cannot decree what should happen or attempt to orchestrate it.  The parish will need leadership and a continuing engagement with the families- a task whichcannot be met by the notional “Two days a week plus Sundays”  

There are increasing Sunday pressures on families and although we have sustained remarkable numbers at family worship in what is really a tiny parish, the attendance of 75 this morning was our lowest for some time. At some point the parish will have to say to the families- if you regard the spiritual nuture of your children and your own faith journey, you will have to make a stand against the secularisation of Sundays and also probably find another slot in the week to come together. We can always make time for what is important to us, The fluctuating attendance within a body of probably 150 adults and chidlren remains a cause for concern. This is a problem many churches face, particularly with the competing pressures on a Sunday. It is a pity of church is in the end at the botom of people’s list of priorities- “If we have nothing else on we go to church”  

There is a little secret that they have yet to learn . It is the promise of Scripture that “Those who honour me (God) I will honour ” and by putting God first we do not lose out. Jesus said “Seek first God’s kingdom and all these things shall be yours as well”

Despite all this we remain encouraged by what is going on here and will return at the beginning of March refershed (We hope) by Carribean sunshine and fired up to complete our final 6 months here.

We saw through the Christianity Explored Course with well over 50 people taking part in 4 venues inlcuding the Village Hall. Lots of questions and discussion- one of the things that surfaces is the fact that people can be church goers fo years and still not really understand the heart of the Gospel- why did Jesus die?   I suspect that many churches discover this and there is an on going challenge to build on what folk have learnt by reading Mark’s Gospel and also to encourage people to read the Bible for themselves. I have read it and we win in the end!!

Survival is the name of the game here with two bouts of extreme snowfall. We had a week’s holiday in Egypt at the beginning of Dec and missed the first one!  People in the Saga group discovered that I was a vicar; that the parish was knee deep in snow; that sick and elderly needed visiting and here I was sunning myself on the Red Sea Riviera, snorkling and avoiding sharks! (actually we were at Hourghada and not Sharm)  We are just emerging from the second spell of snow which effectively paralyses this part of the parish. I have been kindly lent a 4×4 by a member of the community which is very kind.

Christmas is here and it will be starange for us to be celebrating our 10th and final Christmas in the parish. 2011 means our retirement (Sept) after what will have been 10 extraordinary years here. There is some interest in the growth of thechurch here and we hope that the story will be published by Grove Books next summer.

Christmas poses all sorts of issues – it is a joyful occasion for many but there are those who at this time more than any other will feel the pain of bereavement and loneliness. Pastorally there is a lot to do here.

It also exposes the phenomenon of what the experts call “Folk Religion”- people attending services who rarely if ever come to chucrh at any other time; who cheerfully sing the carols which are known by heart and yet do they have the Christmas message of the birth of a Saviour, their Saviour, in their heart?

In Superman Returns Lois Lane says to Clark “The world doesn’t need a Saviour and either so I”  He replies “Then why is that everyday I hear people crying out for one!”

A Merry Christmas to you

Ken

We need an extention at the back of the church which will create a much needed parish lounge or room where two of the Sunday kid’s groups can meet in comfort rather than the cramped surroundings they currently occupy. In addition it will provide a facility for PCC meetings, Benefice Meetings, Coffee mornings and the teaching courses we run like ALPHA and Christianity Explored.

The latter is at its half way point and almost 60 people are takign part in four venues in the village- the main one being the village hall on a Thursday. It throws up all sorts of challenging questions from some who have been church goers all their lives and yet have not had the opportunity to voice their doubts, fears and questions.  People are frightened these days of being “certain” about their faith. The “uncetainity principle” of science seems to rule our hearts and lives .  The course is based on Mark’s Gospel and in the 8 weeks of the course the whole of Marl’s Gospel is read by the participants.  One of the questions last week was “What is the minimum belief needed to be a Chritsian?” I was reminded of the comment by John Newton (of “Amazing Grace” fame) to William Wilberforce. I only know two things. I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Saviour”  No a bad thought for today!

Christinaity Explored is in week 2 with over 50 participants in 4 venues. The main course is in the Village Hall with half the members. Lots of questions and I am amazed that some folk who have been church goers all their life are conscious of their lack of Biblical knowledge. What does this say- not about them- but about sucessive generations of preachers and churchleaders in our villages? I recall some years ago a Bible Study group here when a lady came whose husband had been church warden for x years and who had attended church for years. She was given a Bible and couldn’t locate Mark’s Gospel.

Work continues on planning the appeal for the New Extension. A glossy brochure will be produced and sent to everyone in the community, the congregation, friends of the church and grant aiding trusts. Perhaps we can put this in the blog or on the web site

Club nights in the village Hall are underway- we are in touch with more than 70 children and young people. More about this investment in the future in due course

A week on and here we go again. I am off to a Rural Ministries Conference in Kent today. I am a member of the Council of RM- an interdenominational mission agency which is committed to growing and planting churches in the countryside. It is primarily a free church organization but there are a few Anglicans around representing “the old wine skins!”

What this illustrates is the fact that the work of God is many sided and in today’s post Christian culture we cannot afford the luxury of denominationalism as such. In fact here in Albury although we are the Anglican church with an Anglican history and identity, much of what we do is in effect “post denominational”- we are primarily concerned with building God’s Kingdom and introducing people to Jesus Christ rather than promoting the Church of England per se. There is also in every village situation a tension between being called to be the community pastor rather than the curator of an historic building.

Talking of buildings we are preparing the building project appeal documents with a target of around £200k – this is a big challenge for a small community but we need to build this church room ro enable our ministry to children and adults to develop beyond the physical constraints of the church building.

Another large well attended family service on Sunday- how many villages with a 1000 people have 100 adults and children in church on these Sundays?

Sept 14th

“Term” has been underway for two weeks and most of the main services and events in the parish have resumed after their summer break. This last two weeks has been characterized by (a) the absence on holiday of most of my team here!- the Curate, The Licensed Lay minister(Reader in the old money); a Church warden. all the Pastoral Assistants and the organist. (b) a remarkable number of adults and children attending,some for the first time which is very exciting, (c) serious preparation work for the launch of the course “Christianity Explored” which will run for 8 weeks in four venues in the village with the main event in the Village Hall on Thursday evenings (d) good news from the Planners that the extension to the church has been approved and (e) sheer fatigue!

I will take some time later this month to talk about Christianity Explored and why people should do it and also to do an update on the church building projects along with the proposed new vicarage which we would like to build in the village for my successor. This present house in Farley Green is not suitable and in the wrong location.

Had a very nice letter today from the Bishop acknowledging my one year notice of retirement and saying kind things. It is a strange feeling that in a year’s time we will say farewell to this parish and the people we have grown to know and love after what will then be 10 years.

Still enough of that for now- there are things to do.

Talk to you again soon

Ken

Bob Geldof entitled his autobiography “Is That It?”  At one point, having just raised £50M for Live Aid and while standing on the stage he heard a fan shout “Is that it?”  Geldof writes “It’s a question I keep asking myself”.  In a later interview published in the Times we read this.  “Ask Geldof whether he feels that his life is fulfilled he snorts with laughter.  I am unfulfilled as a human being; otherwise, why are these large holes here?”  He thumps his chest.  “Everything I do is because I’m frightened of being bored because I know what’s down those holes and I’m frightened of it!”

Thom Yorke of the band Radiohead was asked in a New Musical Express interview why he continued to make music even though he had achieved the success he hoped for.  He replied “It’s filling the hole.  That’s all everyone does”.  To the question “What happens to the hole?”, Yorke paused for a long time and gave the honest answer “It’s still there”

It is amazing that this theme of discontent, of wanting something more, of being unfulfilled is evident in music, film, literature and sport- and in ourselves?  We can set goals, achieve them, enjoy euphoria for a time and then feel emptiness all over again.  The sad life and death of Alex “Hurricane” Higgins is a commentary on our culture.

Augustine was once a gifted, intelligent and wayward young man with a godly mother named Monica.  His dissolute and promiscuous behaviour broke her heart. Like the Prodigal Son, he ran away to Milan and there met a priest named Ambrose who spoke to him about the fulfilment that Jesus Christ can bring.  He became a Christian believer through the process of gentle encouragement and discovery based on the Gospels.  He became a great church leader and theologian in the early church and was Bishop of Hippo in North Africa.  He famously wrote “God, you have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee”.

In a materialistic and secular culture the Christian Gospel addresses these issues in ways like none other.  I want to graciously challenge the village in this important area and to invite adults, children and young people to join us this autumn.  There are 4 groups for children and young people on the first and third Sundays in the church; a Sunday club at the intervening Communion services and fun and teaching at 6²5 Club and Friday Night Live in the Village Hall on Fridays commencing on September 10^th

Christianity Explored is a simple 8 week course based on a study of Mark’s Gospel with 20 min talks on DVD and some discussion.  The format is simple.  Arrive. Enjoy a meal and then round your table, discuss the topic/Bible passage for a few minutes; watch the DVD on a big screen and then have a further short discussion over coffee before going home.  The main group will be in the Village Hall starting on Thursday September 30^th.  There are three other satellite venues if you cannot make Thursday evenings and details on all locations, dates and times are in a separate box in this edition of the Magazine.  I commend this course to you and an invitation card is enclosed.  Please reply by September 20th if you are able to come so that we can arrange for the catering and the study booklets that are provided.  There is no charge for the course but donations are welcome.