Dear Friends,
In sermons and notices and at our PCC’s we’ve been doing a bit of thinking about the question What do we do well? It’s a helpful question to spend a bit of time thinking through, not because we want to pat ourselves on the back (although you are brilliant and deserve one!) but because we want to build on the things we do well. We have many wonderful resources at our service: magnificent (though rather costly) church buildings, the skills and abilities amongst our congregations, and the many spiritual resources we have (prayer, hymns, welcoming fellowship, and God’s faithfulness to us – to name but a few). We have been posting some of our answer up on the Vision noticeboards in each church – ask someone if you’re not sure where it is!
And as Anglicans of the Church of England, it’s ingrained in our DNA that we are rooted in our local parish communities, and we are called to share the love of Christ with our neighbours. In each church community we do this in slightly different ways, according to the ways God has gifted us.
It’s important to take stock, to appreciate what God has given us, and uniquely gifted us, and at the same time, to think about the work He is particularly calling us to do at this moment in time. While we would no doubt love to do everything excellently, rather, we are called to do a little, faithfully, and prayerfully, and trusting that God, in His wisdom, will take care of any multiplication as and when He sees fit.
Thank you for encouraging my faith, and may you continue living out your faith and rejoicing in God’s abundance of hope and love; ‘Like good stewards of the grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received’ (1 Peter 4:10)
Oh, and do keep on with the Post-It notes!
Best wishes and blessings,
Rev’d Ian Hepburn
Team Rector of Turton Moorland Team Ministry
