There was singing, dancing, and an opportunity to help create a meadow of hope at the Celebration of Lay Ministries as people from across the diocese gathered in Wells Cathedral to give thanks for all those in Bath and Wells who play a part in the life of the church and the community. Jill Perrett, Developing Ministries adviser said, ‘The Celebration of Lay Ministries this year was amazing! So many people generously offering their gifts and talents created a wonderful service and celebration. It was wonderful to see so many people being part of this.’
Through the service there were testimonies from people who have completed a course, those who have explored their personal faith, aand those looking to move on to a more defined role, such as Lay Worship Assistants, Lay Pastoral Assistants, or Chaplains. Fleur Turner used three words; inspiring, holy and journey to describe the Exploring Spirituality course she’d undertaken, ‘Inspiring because the tutors, course materials all of it, holy because we feel that God is moving powerfully within these courses, and journey because I am a very impatient person and wanted to know right away where God was calling me, but He’s taught me over the past year that following Him is a journey, not a destination.’
Street Pastor, Dave Knight spoke about Taunton Street Pastors, he said, ‘We come alongside people, we listen, and we chat.’ He told how the group are always supported by prayer, ‘no patrol goes out without the support of a prayer group at base.’ (Find out more about Street Pastors in this month's Manna.) Later Alan Cook shared his journey of faith. He told how music helps him ‘clearly express his love for God.’
The celebration included live music from Locking Castle Band who played the worship song ‘So Will I', and dancing from WSM dance worship group. There was also an opportunity for the whole congregation to make a meadow of hope. A variety of flowers, bugs, butterflies and bees were drawn, stuck and coloured in, then placed with a message of hope on the front of the alter.
Speaking after the service, some of those who attended said, ‘It was a wonderful celebration of all that so many people in the church do, especially ways to grow in faith.’ ‘There was such a variety of ways of expressing just that with the testimonies.’ ‘It was lovely, a nice representation of what Jesus does in the communities and across the churches.’
Photographs from the day can be viewed on the diocesan Facebook page