Volunteering letter July 2011

Dear friends,…

Your church needs you.

How can we release all the talents of our church members in service of the

Kingdom of God? A strong church enables all its members to contribute to

its life—not just financially, and through prayer and worship, though these

also are essential—but by volunteering to help in different areas of the

church’s life and ministry.

In thinking through these matters, I’m sure we now have in our minds the

idea of the “Big Society” that has been recently proposed by

politicians—but also we must be aware of how what we do as a church is

different from this. The idea of the “Big Society” has been criticised

because it seemed at one stage (maybe it still does) to be a cost-saving

measure. It seems that volunteers are now required because we cannot

afford to pay people to do the same work. This idea could well actually

discourage people from volunteering. We might ask, “Why should I do for

free what someone else was previously paid to do?” and “Does my

voluntary work keep someone else out of a job?”

The church has believed in and worked towards a better society for many

centuries. Only we have seen it as something richer, deeper, and broader:

“the Kingdom of Heaven”, made real through the care and education of

individuals, and in many other ways. In the past, many have contributed

their time and talents towards it, through practical service of both the

church and the wider community. It is important that we do not let our

hope and work for a better society and a better world, be tainted by the

idea of “Big Society”—an idea which has been spun in particular way for

particular political, social and economic ends.

So it is without any hint of embarrassment that we do invite people to

come forward to volunteer their time and talents within the life of our

churches. But in order to do so, the proper groundwork must be done.

Megan Locklin and I regularly take Holy Communion to the sick and

housebound in St. Paul’s parish. We are looking to invite other people to

share in this ministry.

Doing so involves some degree of consultation: not least with the PCC,

with the residential homes involved, and with our Child / Vulnerable Adult

Protection Representative.

It involves planning the best way in which people can develop

relationships with those whom they work, the kind of support, supervision,

and training that people would need.

And it involves developing a clear description of the role and its duties so

that everyone has a clear understanding of what is involved.

In this case it is clear from Diocesan guidelines that the ministry of taking

Holy Communion out to the sick and housebound is seen as an extension

of the role of the Eucharistic Assistant on a Sunday Morning, so our first

request for volunteers will need to be addressed to the Eucharistic

Assistants.

Volunteers need support, encouragement and training in order to make

the work that they do more fulfilling, and more effective.

So, I would like to end this letter with a challenge. Do you feel that you

could be doing more to contribute to the life the church? Do you have a

concern about a particular issue, or about a particular group of people?

(Perhaps you are not sure where to start.) If you do then please come and

have a no-commitment chat with Andrew or I. While the leadership of both

churches may have a list of things were we need volunteers within the life

of the churches, I am sure there are also many more areas where help is

required.

Here at St. Paul’s we are looking for leaders for Rainbows and Beavers; we

are looking for people to help lead Services on a Sunday Morning; to help

lead the intercessions; to help out in the Shop; to help at Baptism Services;

and in the future to get involved in our first steps in the ministry of Healing.

Of course the list is and should be endless, limited only by our own

imagination and willingness to respond to the love and grace of Almighty

God.

Yours in Christ,

Nick

In St Thomas’, we also need two more Eucharistic Assistants on Sunday mornings, also more people to read from the Bible during worship and people to lead prayers. At the moment, I think we have enough for the Sunday School team, though that can always change. These are roles for which it is up to me to take the initiative though you are welcome to suggest names to me of people other than yourself!  But if I do approach you, please take time and prayer to consider the request.

But please take the initiative yourself for:  praying on Mondays and Thursdays at 9am, singing in the Choir, cleaning the church, gardening in the grounds and joining the Holiday Club Team.  Thanks - Andrew