Country Way Susan Atkinson Agricultural Christian Fellowship


Robert Barlow Diocese of Worcester


Gill Crippen Rural Theology Association


Gordon Gatward Director, Arthur Rank Centre


Jill Hopkinson National Rural Officer, Church of England


Graham Jones National Rural Officer for the Methodist and United Reformed Churches


+Mark Rylands, Bishop of Shrewsbury Rural Theology Association


Simon Martin Training Resources Officer, Arthur Rank Centre


Barry Osborne Rural Evangelism Network


Note: The views of individual writers expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect editorial group policy


Publisher, Editorial Office and Advertising Sales


The Arthur Rank Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire CV8 2LG Telephone: 024 7685 3075 katrinas@arthurrankcentre.org.uk


Editor


Jill Hopkinson Design & Print


Gus MacDonald and Beccy England Ammac Design Studio, Leamington Spa Telephone: 01926 883376 gusmac@btclick.com


ISSN 0969-6172


Editorial Group


Contents


October–December 2011


Rural Round-up New Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 New Chief at Farm Crisis Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Celebration of Village Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Safeguarding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 ACTS 435 – Every Church Fits! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Over the hill? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Going Green – free packs of trees available for community groups


. .7


The Land Trust – our farming future? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Building on history: the value of historical perspective for rural congregations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 How is it for You? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9


Generosity Generosity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 One Small Chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Giving: the missionary perspective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Encouraging Christian Giving in the rural church . . . . . . . . . . . .14


Children Coming close to God in Messy Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Authorised Mess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 I wonder… Godly play in parish ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Ark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Emerging church in a rural context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20


Vocation Outreach House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 The divine depth of ordinary life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Vocation or vacation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 A calling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Beware a queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Lay worship leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26


Resources and Book Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28


AGRICULTURAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP


A fellowship for all who are interested in the connections between Christian Faith and Farming.


Annual conference and quarterly bulletins


For further details see www.agriculturalchristianfellowship.org.uk 2 www. countryway. org. uk


THE RURAL EVANGELISM NETWORK


A national network of representatives from Churches and specialist mission agencies. Enabling the sharing of insight and experience and encouraging best practice in evangelizing the diverse rural communities of the UK.


Conferences • publications • consultations • workshops


Associate Membership also available at £15 pa


Telephone: 01858 414930 Email: ren@ruralmissions.org.uk www.ruralmissions.org.uk


RURAL THEOLOGY ASSOCIATION


Ecumenical, international group – developing theology in a rural setting.


Raising awareness of rural ministry and country living which embodies a Christian response to the world. 2 Journals per year – conferences – news – local groups. Membership £15


www.rural-theology.org.uk


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