South West Hub

Mark Wood writes:

A dozen of us from across the south west met on line in late January. We were asked to name:

• one thing that’s gone well

• one thing that we are struggling with

• one thing that we’re curious to know more about (i.e. if it was a topic for a future meeting it might entice you along!)

Things that were going well included

• attendance is up and community engagement is good; we are enjoying a relaxed feel

• Christingle … with cards not oranges!

• Christmas Day went very well

• Christmas service numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels

• Community Carol service was amazing

• great attendance at Advent & Christmas services

• services during Advent & Christmas went really well

• the joy of finding the right person for a particular role

• we did a new Epiphany Procession service which was great

• we have appointed a full time youth minister

• we’ve made some great staff appointments

Things we’re struggling with:

• £0.5m needed for rewiring; need to find money to pay for functional stuff

• church heating

• finances and the need to seek grant funding

• funding streams needed

• grant funding

• I am always and only in response mode

• looking into employing a fundraiser

• solar panels

• the other churches in the benefice

• too many lights on the dash board are glowing red

• volunteer drop out rate

Things we’re curious about:

·       being a major parish church in a deprived area

·       being a priest in context

·       carbon net zero

·       children’s ministry

·       eco-church

·       enhance the visitor experience by sharing good practice

·       growing our own

·       how heritage venue meets faith community

·       making the building work better as an evangelist

·       something exciting for congregations

·       working the pulpit

If you’re wondering whether joining the network is for you, then these are the kinds of things your colleagues are talking about. If they strike a chord with you and you haven’t already joined, why not join now?