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Rector's Report to Knockholt APCM - 2004
As another year has passed it remains a great pleasure for me to be able to present this Report to you as we look back over the last year focusing on one or two highlights and one or two possibilities for the future.
As we reported to you earlier in the year, we have lost the services of several people who used to minister regularly in our two parishes - through retirement and poor health - and this almost forced our hand into re-addressing our existing Pattern of Services. I am delighted that we have been able to maintain all the different types of services month by month and that our new pattern seems to be working quite well (we are still in an experimental stage, and the Pattern will be formally reviewed by the PCCs later this year).
One of the consequences of maintaining a wide variety of service styles is that we will increasingly be balancing tastes and preferences. This is not always easy. Some like certain styles of hymn or song, others like different styles; some like very formal worship, others prefer more informal spontaneity. The Church of England has recognized this and has been adapting its services accordingly for the past 70 years – but this can create unease. We do not wish to dismiss the glories of our inherited liturgy, yet equally we cannot remain tied to traditional forms of service alone. Therefore “give and take” is necessary amongst all of us; a certain willingness to allow others to worship as they prefer. We can do this more easily here in this benefice because we do continue to offer services of all types and styles. At least everyone has an option to go to the service they prefer.
My hope is that we will see this as a strength and that it will give us the flexibility and potential to evolve and explore those new ways of being church (particularly on a Sunday, but not exclusively so) that will relate to the wide variety of people in our parishes.
I also hope that we can build on what we already have – aiming to do what we do even better. The all-age services (Family Services) are a constant challenge and often hard work – those of us who prepare and lead them would value your prayers as we seek to create acts of worship which are meaningful to all ages and which encourage more folk to join us – it has been a joy in recent months to see the children sitting together at the front of church and being encouraged and taught how to follow the services and to sing the hymns – thanks to those who sit with them and help them – quite a demanding task.
We can also be proud that we still maintain regular Prayer Book services of Matins and Evensong; these too, should not be taken for granted, and Barbara and I have talked recently about building on these – possibly looking to extending the repertoire of canticles, chants and responses that we use – there being a huge and wonderful repertoire to draw from.
Looking back over the past year, I would like to draw particular attention to our Pastoral Group which I have found to be a personal support and encouragement. Our Pastoral Group Visitors have grown in confidence and experience and are enjoying their part in this important ministry.
The Pastoral Group shares the privilege of Visiting parishioners in the Name of Christ and His Church. We particularly focus on anniversaries as they come round year on year; baptisms, weddings and anniversaries of deaths, along with any others we are aware of who may appreciate a visit. We feel certain that there are probably many more people in this latter miscellaneous category of whom we are unaware – sometimes people slip through the net of pastoral care simply because no-one tells the Rector – but there are probably others who are outside the circles and networks we move in – Do you know everybody who lives in your street? Are you sure you are aware of all their needs?
May I ask that we continue to look out for neighbours, especially for the lonely, and feed these names into the Pastoral Group.
A year ago we also floated the idea of a Prayer Meeting and many of you expressed an initial interest. I am delighted that we have managed to meet throughout the year at approximately three week intervals for Prayer in St. Katharine’s at 2.30pm on a variety of afternoons. Again, I have found this to be a personal support and encouragement. We have been able to pray in a focused way for many aspects of parish life and we have had many answers to prayer – I hope we can continue to build on this crucial behind-the-scenes power house of parish life.
Two events on Tuesday nights, the “Praise Service” and the “Home Group” have been new additions this year. Tuesday may not be the best night for everyone and we may experiment with a different night of the week, but they have had encouraging beginnings. The “Home Group” is likely to take the form of Short Courses which we encourage you to come to as and when each course interests you.
Another new introduction has been the Book of Remembrance. A printed copy of this Book is on permanent display in St. Margaret’s but it is a Book covering both Parishes. We use it to remember Sunday by Sunday those names whose anniversaries fall in the coming week. Names can be added at any time and I am slightly surprised that more names have not been included. Please have a chat with me if you would like to know more about this.
I would like to appeal to all those who live within the parish boundaries to help me in letting me know whenever new neighbours move in. I find that the fairly spread out nature of our parishes means that I rarely travel down all the roads in Knockholt, Halstead and Badgers Mount within one month – probably not within six months. This means that new people move in without me noticing. I appeal to all of you to keep your eyes open in your own roads and let me know when there is a change of house so that we can visit new people very quickly – this makes such an impression and it is lost if we wait even a few weeks.
As to the future I have one or two ideas that others may want to take up…..
- A Parish Rambling group. How about having a parish ramble or short walk once a month on a weekday morning or afternoon. The particular day of the week would vary each month to give different people a chance to join in. One person takes responsibility for choosing and leading the walk for that month and a different person for the next month – sharing the responsibility. This would be open to anyone to come as and when they can. This could be a gentle form of evangelism as we walk and chat. A morning walk could end with a drink or lunch at a pub.
- A Film Club. How about a monthly Film Club? Many people today watch films and they can offer an intriguing comment on the world today as we see it and experience it and how it influences us. We could go to a local cinema, watch a film, then go for a cup of tea (or McDonalds!) and discuss what we made of the film – what were its intentions; what was good or bad about it; what does a Christian perspective have to say about this film; how does this film impact upon the Christian perspective?
- The services of Compline were particularly popular during Holy Week. We may have a monthly service of Compline on a weekday evening at 8.00pm alternating between each parish.
- We have invested a lot of time and energy in children and young families in recent years. What is this saying about our attitude to older people? We do not want to neglect or ignore them. How about a Holiday Club for older people?
It only remains for me to thank all of you for the many ways you each contribute to the life of our church, but to pay particular thanks to my two churchwardens, Jane Brooks and Pamela Holmes from whom I receive much practical support and friendship; to Barbara who gives so many hours in the service of St. Katharine’s; to our Treasurer, Neville Flux for all his work not only on the Church accounts but also in managing Hampton Cottages and Church lands so skilfully and to our PCC Secretary, Andrea Clemans, who has so efficiently been our PCC secretary for the past three years and who is formally stepping own from this role after this meeting - we thank her for her service
I would also like to thank again Derek Childs for all his hard work and enthusiasm on the fabric of the church – so many improvements have been made – all of which take time and energy.
Finally I would like to thank my wife, Michelle, for putting up with me and being an unfailing support to me in my ministry.
We thank God for His blessing on our Church and seek His will for this next year.
Yours in Christ
Michael Woodcock
