What makes a growing church?

            Dear friends

Summer seemed to arrive early this year, and then confused us with cool mornings and wind but still no rain. Perhaps by the time you read this the drought will have broken and we’ll all be back to moaning about too much rain, instead of looking anxiously at our gardens and pots, and wondering when they might get watered by hands other than our own! This summer sees changes for us here at the Vicarage, with one of us retiring from full time paid employment (no, that’s not me!), and our grandson due to start school in September. As life’s twists and turns approach us we have to be prepared to accept what is new and see how we fit into a new picture. Without abandoning what has been good, we need to be ready to embrace new things, new experiences, and new ways of doing things.

This is something, it seems to me, that the Church of the Good Shepherd has always been very good at, and which makes it quite unusual (but by no means alone) within the Church of England. When I went to a Diocesan morning on Mission back in January, we were given the results of a survey that looked at what characterised shrinking and growing churches, and I think that in preparation for our day away together at Walberton on Saturday 2^nd July, (remember my invitation to you in the April letter?) it would be good to share these with you.

 Shrinking churches were most often focussed on maintaining a tradition, unwilling to recognise the need for change, highly dependant on the clergy and focussed on keeping the institution of the church going. Growing churches on the other hand, were most often those whose worship tended towards the informal and human, and where shared ministry engaged a wide team of people in all aspects of planning and leading. They were and are about identifying gifts – wherever they are found in the congregation and wider community – and ministering through these strengths, rather than trying to be all things to all people. Very often, growing churches have an enthusiastic ministry to young people, and are supported by what was called ‘fervent intercession’ – in other words, a growing and living church is a praying church. Fundamentally, growing churches understand what the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ is all about and focus their attention on ensuring  as many people as possible hear this – in a wide variety of ways suitable for the place and the people around them. They are spiritually vital and ready to catch the tune the Spirit is singing and want to sing along with her and harmonise.

Does this sound familiar to you , and are you excited and energised by realising that you could be describing this apparently small church here on Shoreham Beach when you look at the characteristics of a growing church? I certainly was, and am. This isn’t to say we don’t need to look at what we’re doing and make sure it’s still meeting the needs of this local community – and responding to God’s word to us. But it does mean that I think we’ve got it broadly right – and I hope you do too.

So, will you try to come along on Saturday 2^nd July to our Parish Day Away – even if it’s only for half the day? It will be great to get together and share time and prayer and laughter, but it would also be excellent if we can start thinking and planning for our 100^th birthday year (from July 2012 to July 2013). We’ll have a speaker in the morning who’ll help us think about WHO WE ARE, then share lunch (please bring your own), then in the afternoon we’ll take time together to talk about what we’re doing, what we want to be and do, and how we might go about being the church on the Beach in the future. Exciting stuff and I’m really looking forward to it. We’re looking at shared transport options, so please sign up when the sheets are out, and don’t be shy if you need a lift. With love and best wishes …………..  Gail