Nicola’s tale
Tell me what has kept you in this local Church ?
Both of our families lived in the area, and we attended here as children and now we are married we live in the village and have continued to attend the church together. As a couple we have got the vision of the church and want to make an impact on our local community. In the church there are other young married couples, some of whom have children which is also very encouraging for us. We attend the same house- group and are able to share and pray together about issues in our lives that couples our age are facing.
What difference does
belonging to a village church make to your life and witness in the community ? I think that it shows people that there is more to just being a Christian than attending the church on a Sunday. It is our life and we are fully committed to it. We hope that the people of our local community would see the way we live our lives and the work we do with the church and see that it represents how important Jesus is to us.
Thank you Sean and Nicola, and may the Lord continue to bless you, and the
congregation at Copplestone. Come and worship
Once a month a small thirteenth century church hosts Come and Worship, a service prepared by young people for everyone. There is a music group, modern worship songs, a sketch, and prayers – all prepared and delivered by a small group of young people from the village and surrounding area, with a little help from two or three dedicated adults.
Hunningham is a small village (population around 200) on the river Leam in Warwickshire. St Margaret’s church is part of a large benefice of eight parishes and has a thriving ministry to families, children and young people.
William, Charlotte, William, Elizabeth and Darcie regularly contribute to Come and Worship. All bar one had been born in the area and had been brought up to come to church with their parents or grandparents. However, now past the age when they had to go, they continue to come to church because they are part of what the church does. “I like being involved as it is being part of the community.”
Three have been confirmed recently. One spoke about the
Sean has been the full time youth worker at Copplestone Methodist Church for about a year. Previously he was a lorry driver and he was a herdsman for a couple of years. He still
occasionally relief milks for a local farmer. Sean attended a Bible College in South Africa from 2004 to 2006 and likes riding his motorbike in any spare time. Nicola worked before maternity leave, at Central Devon
Magistrates Court in Exeter and is enjoying life as a new mum. Charlie Rueben was born on 29th October 2008.
Brian Warren Copplestone, Devon
importance of being able to develop and express their own beliefs, rather than being told what to think.
All enjoying taking part in the service, getting involved, having fun and a ‘good laugh’. Far from lamenting small numbers they value the intimacy it brings: “its nice when it is small… as everyone knows you.” They come because they are involved in what goes on and feel wanted by the whole congregation.
Come and Worship is clearly part of how these young people express their faith. One
commented “I sometimes go to a big modern church, but people don’t know me there and I’m not involved in what goes on.” Even the smallest rural churches can include their young people in their worshipping life.
Come and worship ends with a puppet song. Hunningham has also started a thriving puppet ministry, telling Bible stories and taking the message of Jesus Christ to schools, play-groups and residential homes for the elderly. Their story will be told in the next edition.
Jill Hopkinson
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
15
rural mission
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