March/April/May 2016 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. (Psalm 96:1) CONTENTS WELCOME TO VIBE Welcome to VIBE, our new publication that brings praise and prayer requests, and also intersperse these with other Gathered worship for rural churches 08 together IMPACT and Praise & Prayer. The dictionary relevant articles, which we pray would inspire you in your own definition of VIBE means feelings, atmosphere or a way work and witness. Is your building your best evangelist? 13 to explain something that makes you feel good. That’s In this first edition, we consider how to start planning the how we’d like our new publication to be! Through VIBE follow-up for visitors attending one of your Easter services. we plan to share stories from around our network that Looking ahead to the summer the story of Cromhall Chapel and The next steps… 18 their creative engagement with their village fayre will trigger help you get a feel for life in the rural context. We hope thoughts and ideas of what you could do. these stories encourage and inspire you. A land of milk and honey 24 We explore how those who have buildings can use them Prayer is the most important way that you can support both our intentionally for mission, giving examples from two of our partners and us; in VIBE you will find requests from a number of partner churches which might prompt you to review how you 29 our partners, to inform and shape your prayers. VIBE gives us the Room to let? currently use your building as well as giving you some practical space to tell the bigger ‘back stories’ that lie behind the previous advice on this topic. A widespread challenge in many rural churches is how best to lead creative worship with limited resources. Following their appearance at our annual Conference last year we are pleased that Sam and Sara Hargraves are able to pass on their knowledge, experience and useful ideas to all our supporters. Rural Ministries’s prayer is that through the stories and articles from our partners you might be motivated and enthused by what God is doing in the countryside. If you want to know more about our work, sign up to our monthly e-news or follow us on Facebook. In His service. Simon 02 03 You are the light of the world. 03 Bardney Community, Bardney, Lincolnshire A city on a hill cannot be hidden. There are some great things to give our God thanks for: Work continues apace in the Coffee Shop. Coving is up and paint is Matthew 5:14 (Day 01) Our third annual Messy Nativity trail was not only well received being applied. Opening is anticipated in the Spring. by the village but participated in as well. After messy crafts in Some specific prayer points please: the church 125 people were led round the village, passing first a • That those on the Alpha course will have a real experience of God 01 Epping Green Chapel, Essex small flock of Portland sheep in the church yard being overseen for those participating in the Alpha Course, and a sense of the by some rejoicing shepherds who pointed the multitude of would- Spirit’s leading in how to encourage these people after the course. be worshipers in the direction of the angels. This resulted in a trek We praise God for: We pray for: • May the Coffee Shop have a smooth continuation to completion, round the village via the inn, passing at the village green to sing • “Band of Brothers” men’s group becoming established. • Our busy Spring programme around the area and village. and beyond. a carol ending in a stable at the rear of Lindisfarne House, there • Varied family members attending special events over • Several folk struggling with personal, faith, and health issues. to view a scene of all the expected biblical characters, complete • For keen spiritual ears for us all as we seek to hear God clearly recent months. • Faith, wisdom and release of funds for the building with Peanuts the donkey, and a ‘real’ baby Jesus. All followed by over the coming season. • The “Community Spirit” Choir having so many invitations improvements as quotes have shot up! a fellowship buffet. Thanks again to Rural Ministries for their support. to sing at events over Christmas that “bookings” had to • Restoration of those who have been out of fellowship life for A village Alpha course is planned for the Spring. Three people be closed! some months. have already signed up just through the village parish magazine! • Ongoing local support for development of Church building. • God’s wisdom and favour in getting an area group in Epping Also enthusiastic and generous giving locally as well as from Green village established. supporters outside this area! We feel thankful and blessed! • God’s guidance and wisdom for the Chapel members and • Several people considering membership and baptism this year. leadership for more appointments at the March AGM. 04 Journey Church/Soul Café, Dibden Purlieu, Hampshire • The Epping and Harlow area groups which are now well established. We are grateful to God for many encouragements in 2015. We look forward into 2016 to see what God is wanting to do • Other musicians becoming involved at the Church as our We have seen continued growth on Saturday mornings, the through Soul Café and Journey Church. We particularly ask for keyboard player moved away. café becoming a significant meeting place for many. Our art prayer in regard to our Sunday night gatherings. These have workshops have also proved popular, both drawing and painting proved to be thoughtful and stimulating evenings that have courses well attended resulting in us starting a weekly art club encouraged people on their faith journey but have not seen for those who want to continue beyond the workshops. Our art significant breakthroughs in reaching unchurched and dechurched 02 Bont Elim Community Church, Pontarddulais, Swansea exhibitions have stimulated many conversations and provided a folk which was one of the main objectives. We are considering colourful and backdrop to what we do. This was most apparent changing the format of some of these evenings in order to create Please pray with us for finance. For many of us in a rural setting, Please pray with me that for all of us in this coming season, the in our recent interactive exhibition/ art installation called events that we can more easily invite folk to come to. the only way to enhance what we have as far as facilities is Lord will give us wind in our sails and those applications we all “theADVENTure” which ran from the beginning of advent to On the 4th and 5th March we ask you to pray for the Rural grant funding. Mindful, as we look back over the last year and pursue will be successful. the end of the year. Many folk commented on how they were Ministries staff and trustees as hold their quarterly meeting here prayerfully plan forward, our funding streams are diminishing. moved and challenged by the experience. at Soul Café. 04 05 05 Bootle Evangelical Chapel, Bootle, Cumbria 07 FEATURED Rural Evangelist Andy Cox, Newton Flotman, Norfolk We thank and praise God for all that He has blessed, is blessing There is a slow but steady increase in the number of attenders We are continuing to hold our community lunch once a month staff also need to see that and will bless us with in the days and weeks to come. and visitors, we pray that their number will continue to increase and are seeing new faces each time, of all ages. Some of the they are valued by the local Our American Interim Pastor John Ward and his wife Jan have and make the move to membership in due time. regulars are now becoming volunteers, which is encouraging community. We also hold a settled back into the leadership positions and are proving their We ask for prayer for: and shows they are feeling a part of something good. monthly service there which is much appreciated. worth once more as they encourage, lead and drive us onwards • The work in reaching the families in the village, especially the The visiting in the village is going well too and some people in our walk with the Lord. They leave in May when we hope children as we need them in the church to help us grow and be are being seen on a regular basis now and gaining their trust. This time is ‘seed sowing’ in to appoint our own part-time pastor. Many thanks to Rural the church that Jesus sees us to be. It can take quite a while for people to open up and ask for the community and please Ministries, especially Simon and David who are helping us with help, but if they can see that we truly care about them as pray that it will one day bear • Our leadership who struggle from time to time with the our search. people (rather than potential converts or pew fillers), then fruit. I am also looking for new ways to serve the community demands put upon them. The replacement of our chapel windows is progressing and we they will begin to share their lives at a real level. There are like taking people on trips who may not normally get out and • Good health for some of our members, attenders, and people in hope and pray that all will be finished by the end of March and people in the community carrying heavy loads, like caring for about and helping them link up with each other again.