Saltby and Skillington: being salt and light rural ministry
T
he Circuit Meeting heard Saltby Church Steward’s cry for help: “Our church has only four ageing members, we can’t cope with the running of it but we mustn’t just
shut up shop. There are signs of life : a Sunday School has been started, a Mothers and Toddlers Group is meeting weekly in the church and the small village is crying out for a community hall.”
Immediately the minister in charge of the section was on his feet. “You don’t have to struggle on your own to keep the show on the road – Saltby could become a ‘class’ of Skillington: we can work together.” With the minimum of fuss this step was taken – the Skillington Church Council took on responsibility as managing trustees for the Saltby church building and accounts. Soon it was decided to close Saltby temporarily while work proceeded to renovate it both for worship and as a community hall. Joint services with the parish church were arranged and were well supported. On 20 February 2005, between main building work and decoration, an afternoon service was held – all 24 chairs set out were occupied! A week of mission was scheduled for the end of April.
Meanwhile, Skillington Methodist Church, on a prominent site in the centre of its village, has a thriving Sunday School with two new (heaven-sent) teachers who are able to inspire the children to be a valued part of church and community. The Sunday School have their own garden within the village, contributing to the East Midlands in Bloom competition. The local pub collects money for the Sunday School.
Skillington Methodist Church holds monthly flower arranging classes, weekly lunches, weekly prayer meetings, twice monthly Guild meetings and monthly rambles. Sunday worship alternates between morning and evening, with congregations of up to 40.
A motorbike in church!
A little while ago a friend of mine, in full riding gear, and with his wife as pillion, rode his Ducatti 900SS motorcycle into church on Sunday morning to help illustrate the sermon! This friend is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Motorcyclists. In 2004 another clerical member rode his Honda Pan European the length and breadth of mainland Britain, visiting the most southerly, easterly, northerly and westerly points on a 2,200 mile sponsored ride to raise funds for an extension to a church.
The fellowship is a nationwide group of Christians from all denominations who share a love of motorcycles. We are spread across the whole of the British Isles but meet
26
together regionally on a monthly basis for fellowship and either a ride or a visit to a place of interest. Members often represent the Fellowship at national and local motorcycle events, including the British Motorcycle Federation show at Peterborough.
I find that when people discover I am a biker all sorts of interesting conversations open up. The Fellowship always welcomes new members, whether current or former bikers, and information can be found on our website
www.fcm-bikers.org.uk
Brian Godfrey, biker, retired priest, Diocese of Salisbury
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
The turning point from maintenance to mission came when some six years ago the Skillington Church Council decided that instead of keeping the front gates locked, the church door was to be open in daylight hours. Since “throwing away the key”, the attitude of local people has also changed, with many feeling able to pop in for private prayer, and much greater community use of the building.
Here in the Grantham and Vale of Belvoir Circuit, the principles of the “Presence” Workbook (see editorial in Issue 37) are being put into practice and it shows!
Christine Whittle (Lay Pastor, Skillington) and Jenny Carpenter
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32