Rector's Report 2019
Looking back over 2019, there have been a mixture of opportunities to celebrate, as well as challenges to face. Above all, there are people to thank. I'd like to begin by expressing my gratitude to Ironstone colleagues - Churchwardens, Readers, Pioneer Ministers, Clergy, and Organists, to all PCC officers and members, and to others across the Ironstone Churches who help in so many ways. In what follows, I'll try to highlight some of the things happening the Ironstone Villages Family of Churches, but I'll leave more of the detail to the Churchwardens in their reports.
People
During the spring of 2019, we said farewell to Lisa Neale in her role as Benefice Administrator. Lisa had worked alongside two Incumbents, and both Beverley and myself were greatly helped by her administrative gifts, her 'can do' attitude and by Lisa's friendly caring approach. We are also glad that she is still around in the area and still keeps her connections with the Ironstone Churches as a parishioner.
During Autumn 2019, we welcomed Rev'd Sue Bradley as she began her public ministry back in the Ironstone Villages - a case of welcome back to Eaton for Sue, after several years spent in parish ministry elsewhere in the Leicester Diocese.
Saying 'thank you' is so important, isn't it? On Saturday August 11th 2019, we held a Thank You Tea Party in Waltham Church. It was a lovely occasion attended by c 80 folk from across the Ironstone Churches. It was an opportunity to say thank you to so many people for all the different ways (many of them hidden ones) in which they help with the life and work of our Churches.
Worship
Our pattern of worship across the Ironstone Churches continues to evolve, building on the principle of having one Holy Communion service somewhere in Ironstone every Sunday. Cafe Church is now in its second year in Waltham led by Mike and Chris Alexander and team, Morning Praise has been established in Eaton, Matins in Stonesby, and a year of 'Meet the Disciples' services took place in Eastwell during 2019.
Partnerships
Nurturing healthy partnerships is a vital part of the Church's life and work across our village communities. We continue to have strong links with both our Church Schools at Scalford and Waltham which finds expression in many different ways -
e.g. through Messy Fiestas held in the local Churches, Collective Worship, Open the Book and Open the Bible in the Schools, regular School services and celebrations in Scalford and Waltham Churches, and in governor involvement.
In Scalford, Creative Church has been initiated by Penny Clemons, and Paul Taylor has led the establishment of a Scalford School allotment space.
We also have regular contact with our two Residential Care Homes - Scalford Court and Waltham Hall - where monthly services are held, led by either Paul Taylor and myself, or by Rev'd James Skinner from the Methodist Church. In the Framland Deanery we continue to seek new ways of working together. At the start of 2019 the Deanery Pastoral Enablers Rev'd David Payne and Judith Wells led a joint Ironstone PCCs session on 'Taking Care' and we have shared training (e.g. safeguarding) with others, drawing on Diocesan resource people whenever possible.
During 2019 a new partnership was established in Waltham, with the launch of the Friends of St Mary Magdalene Waltham.
Caring for Church Buildings and Grounds
If a challenge is an opportunity in disguise, then we've certainly got plenty of both! In early 2019 the lead roof was stolen from St. Denys Goadby Marwood, just as it has been from several other churches in Framland Deanery. This means that close to £60,000 has to be raised to re-roof St. Denys - a huge challenge for a small village. Then there is also the ongoing challenge of improving basic facilities to help make our 7 beautiful medieval Ironstone church buildings more fit for purpose in 21st century - e.g. through working towards a project for new lighting and heating at Eastwell and at Waltham. Not to mention the ongoing challenge of Quinquennials across the Ironstone Churches!
However there are also opportunities - e.g. looking at how we can develop our buildings to serve the wider community. In Scalford plans are taking shape to set up shared office space for three neighbouring benefices and also a community meeting room. With the focus on becoming an Eco Diocese, we are also being encouraged to consider how we care for and develop the use of our buildings and grounds in more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways. They are precious resources for the whole of our village communities seven days a week, and not just for those who come to join us for worship on Sundays.
Caring for Communities
I am conscious that there is so much informal and often hidden acts of care and kindness. Christians are often involved in local village community groups bringing people together - e.g. Scalford Church has started to host Friday lunches and fish and chip evenings, continuing the work that was begun at the Methodist Chapel. These are expressions of 'Everyday Faith' in action, making a difference to the lives of others, building community, working together for God's Kingdom.
Our 2020 focus on 'Everyday Prayer' will provide another opportunity for us to show care for our communities by praying for them regularly at Saturday Village Prayers starting in the summer. Prayer too is an expression of love, and people do appreciate knowing that they are being prayed for (e.g. Wednesday morning prayers for healing in Waltham). Each day of the week, in my own prayer time, I remember one of the seven Ironstone Churches and Villages.
In closing, I'd like to quote from a prayer of St. Paul...
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1. 3 - 6).
John Barr, Rector
Looking back over 2019, there have been a mixture of opportunities to celebrate, as well as challenges to face. Above all, there are people to thank. I'd like to begin by expressing my gratitude to Ironstone colleagues - Churchwardens, Readers, Pioneer Ministers, Clergy, and Organists, to all PCC officers and members, and to others across the Ironstone Churches who help in so many ways. In what follows, I'll try to highlight some of the things happening the Ironstone Villages Family of Churches, but I'll leave more of the detail to the Churchwardens in their reports.
People
During the spring of 2019, we said farewell to Lisa Neale in her role as Benefice Administrator. Lisa had worked alongside two Incumbents, and both Beverley and myself were greatly helped by her administrative gifts, her 'can do' attitude and by Lisa's friendly caring approach. We are also glad that she is still around in the area and still keeps her connections with the Ironstone Churches as a parishioner.
During Autumn 2019, we welcomed Rev'd Sue Bradley as she began her public ministry back in the Ironstone Villages - a case of welcome back to Eaton for Sue, after several years spent in parish ministry elsewhere in the Leicester Diocese.
Saying 'thank you' is so important, isn't it? On Saturday August 11th 2019, we held a Thank You Tea Party in Waltham Church. It was a lovely occasion attended by c 80 folk from across the Ironstone Churches. It was an opportunity to say thank you to so many people for all the different ways (many of them hidden ones) in which they help with the life and work of our Churches.
Worship
Our pattern of worship across the Ironstone Churches continues to evolve, building on the principle of having one Holy Communion service somewhere in Ironstone every Sunday. Cafe Church is now in its second year in Waltham led by Mike and Chris Alexander and team, Morning Praise has been established in Eaton, Matins in Stonesby, and a year of 'Meet the Disciples' services took place in Eastwell during 2019.
Partnerships
Nurturing healthy partnerships is a vital part of the Church's life and work across our village communities. We continue to have strong links with both our Church Schools at Scalford and Waltham which finds expression in many different ways -
e.g. through Messy Fiestas held in the local Churches, Collective Worship, Open the Book and Open the Bible in the Schools, regular School services and celebrations in Scalford and Waltham Churches, and in governor involvement.
In Scalford, Creative Church has been initiated by Penny Clemons, and Paul Taylor has led the establishment of a Scalford School allotment space.
We also have regular contact with our two Residential Care Homes - Scalford Court and Waltham Hall - where monthly services are held, led by either Paul Taylor and myself, or by Rev'd James Skinner from the Methodist Church. In the Framland Deanery we continue to seek new ways of working together. At the start of 2019 the Deanery Pastoral Enablers Rev'd David Payne and Judith Wells led a joint Ironstone PCCs session on 'Taking Care' and we have shared training (e.g. safeguarding) with others, drawing on Diocesan resource people whenever possible.
During 2019 a new partnership was established in Waltham, with the launch of the Friends of St Mary Magdalene Waltham.
Caring for Church Buildings and Grounds
If a challenge is an opportunity in disguise, then we've certainly got plenty of both! In early 2019 the lead roof was stolen from St. Denys Goadby Marwood, just as it has been from several other churches in Framland Deanery. This means that close to £60,000 has to be raised to re-roof St. Denys - a huge challenge for a small village. Then there is also the ongoing challenge of improving basic facilities to help make our 7 beautiful medieval Ironstone church buildings more fit for purpose in 21st century - e.g. through working towards a project for new lighting and heating at Eastwell and at Waltham. Not to mention the ongoing challenge of Quinquennials across the Ironstone Churches!
However there are also opportunities - e.g. looking at how we can develop our buildings to serve the wider community. In Scalford plans are taking shape to set up shared office space for three neighbouring benefices and also a community meeting room. With the focus on becoming an Eco Diocese, we are also being encouraged to consider how we care for and develop the use of our buildings and grounds in more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways. They are precious resources for the whole of our village communities seven days a week, and not just for those who come to join us for worship on Sundays.
Caring for Communities
I am conscious that there is so much informal and often hidden acts of care and kindness. Christians are often involved in local village community groups bringing people together - e.g. Scalford Church has started to host Friday lunches and fish and chip evenings, continuing the work that was begun at the Methodist Chapel. These are expressions of 'Everyday Faith' in action, making a difference to the lives of others, building community, working together for God's Kingdom.
Our 2020 focus on 'Everyday Prayer' will provide another opportunity for us to show care for our communities by praying for them regularly at Saturday Village Prayers starting in the summer. Prayer too is an expression of love, and people do appreciate knowing that they are being prayed for (e.g. Wednesday morning prayers for healing in Waltham). Each day of the week, in my own prayer time, I remember one of the seven Ironstone Churches and Villages.
In closing, I'd like to quote from a prayer of St. Paul...
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1. 3 - 6).
John Barr, Rector