How does your church help to bring the community together?
The church community is not sidelined as a ‘people apart’ if it participates in local interests and events - entering a float in the carnival procession, providing members on the village cricket team, sharing in the best kept village competition or serving on the allotments committee (with a Gardeners’ Question Time in the Church or exhibits at the Harvest Festival). Carols in the local pub also provide a bridge. Taking part in the life of local schools through Assemblies, PTA’s, helping at sports days and with special projects maintains a vital link with the younger sector of the community. Some of the Church members need to be covered by safeguarding police checks to be available for this involvement with young people both inside and beyond the usual church family even though there may not be a regular ‘Sunday School’. Is your church a ‘social bridge’ helping to integrate the community?