Emerging Church
in a rural context?
Little Fishes is a parent and toddler group set in one of five parishes in the Oldbury Benefice in Wiltshire. Every time the group gathers it seems to take on more of the characteristics of Church. Is it an example of rural emerging church? I’ll let you decide.
Within the field of Fresh Expressions there are common differences of opinion as to what can truly be described as a Fresh Expression of Church, as compared with the more general missional activities carried out within the life of the Church. Boundaries are blurred and we can all too often ‘over egg the pudding’ when referring to good examples of outreach.
Little Fishes began in 2008 with six children, their parents and three volunteers. It was founded on a prayerful vision to meet the needs of isolated parents in our rural communities. The group took a courageous step and risked being explicitly Christian in approach and ethos, even though they were seeking to appeal to those who have little contact with church. After a year, the group grew to such an extent that they had to find a larger Village Hall. They now have 35 children or so on the books.
Meetings begin with welcome and a prayer. After a short Bible story, the children move into an activity based on that story. Snack time ensues and then Christian children’s songs are sung around a guitar. The group has produced some godly fruit, fruit that indicates that is more than simply a parent and toddler group.
One family approached the Rector to enquire about Baptism. When he reached for the diary to choose a Sunday, she interjected and said: “oh
20 www. countryway. org. uk
no, we want it on a Wednesday morning, because Little Fishes is our church.”
The group prays for people. On one occasion, we were all deeply saddened to hear the news that a mum had had a baby born with a terminal illness. For three months we prayed for the family and sang the verse: ‘He’s got the Little tiny baby in His hands.’ Many from the group came to his funeral in church and sang our Little Fishes songs.
“…it was founded … to meet the needs of isolated parents in our rural communities.”
The group displays an impressive standard of mutual pastoral care, whether it be through bereavement or divorce or the everyday challenges of parenthood. Recently, the Rector re- enacted the Last Supper as the Bible Story for the day. The children and parents all ate bread that had been made together, though some refused
the drink the
blackcurrant juice on offer! There was a real sense of togetherness. Is Little Fishes an emerging Church? The official definition of a Fresh Expression of church is this:
• a fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church
• it will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational (presence of God), mission and making disciples
• it will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.
What do you think? Philip Bromiley
Rector, Oldbury Benefice, Ecumenical Officer for the Ramsbury Area and Associate Missioner for Fresh Expressions
Multi-church ministry workshop
Forward dates for 2012
13–14 June and 10–11 October Offa House, Warwickshire
Email
katrinas@arthurrankcentre.org.uk or call 024 7685 3075 for more information and to book
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