News Reports
SARK METHODIST CHURCH - January 2009
Given by the Romans, and from the Latin Sargia, Sark means: New beginnings in a small place. I am therefore both mindful and thankful for the work done by those who have gone before. I am particularly grateful to Roger who helped make my transition from Cambridge circuit youth worker to church worker on Sark, fairly smooth. I also want to acknowledge his work with the young people on Sark, as I offer a new ministry to the fruits of Roger’s labour. Our ministry here on Sark has developed over the last four months in several ways.
Worshipping life: All things worthy of God are acts of worship, so whilst our usual Sunday morning service at 10.30am maintains its traditional elements, it is embracing new ideas that are offered in the true spirit of the doctrine of salvation for all by faith. We include the creative arts in worship, opportunities for extemporary prayer and storytelling and a use of the technical age if an advantage. Whilst our numbers depend as always upon the time of year, our core membership is in a state of steady growth. In December we welcomed Mr Alan Jackson into membership through confirmation and in May, three new members will be welcomed. We also intend to offer worship of different styles and at different times throughout the summer.
Church groups: We continue to hold our weekly prayer meeting on a Tuesday, and I am pleased to report that this remains a strong ecumenical group. Several of us from the Methodist church are part of a Christian praise group held on a Tuesday night. We now have a first Sunday in the month ‘Lunch Fellowship’, where a cooked lunch is shared and discussions had. We meet for bible study on most Friday evenings, and for worship development on a Monday night.
Youth ministry: We have a good working relationship with Sark’s new head teacher, and I now lead an assembly usually once a month. We have four youth groups throughout the week, where art, guitar, song writing, cookery and chess are offered within the freedom of a youth group ethic. The Christian message is intertwined through all the activities, such as discussing Jesus and food during cooking, and writing Christian songs for worship or biblical story content for art. Currently we have in the region of 35 young people attending the various groups. The children of Sark do attend services at both Anglican and Methodist churches at various times of the year, but in the main, we take church to where they are.
Community: We continue to offer a high level of pastoral care and visiting to the community as a whole, and administer home communions where requested. Our pastoral work as a church has been shaped in recent weeks by the political events and responses surrounding Sark. My only comment for the purposes of this report is to say thank you to our circuit for all the prayer and practical support both offered and received. We are also interactive in the virtual world of cyberspace. We have a Sark Methodist virtual church on the social networking site Facebook, with over 130 members worldwide. Also www.sarkmethodists.com is now online and offers up to date information on a number of church activities.
Finally, William the church cat is alive and well, but probably now in a semi-retired post....he is chilled out.
Yours in Christ.
David.
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© 2008 The Bailiwick of Guernsey Custodian Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes