​The Vicar's "Two Penn'orth"

July 2019:

Shaping our Church's Vision and Mission for the Future

Rev Paul, Vicar of Hoylake, writes ...

Several weeks ago, a group of us from St Hildeburgh’s went for an ‘away weekend’ to Rydal Hall in the Lake District. The purpose was to take another very important step as a parish: To think about and focus on shaping our mission and vision for the future in Hoylake. We were led by Father Lyndon, who reminded us of the work we have already accomplished, and helped us focus on our priorities for the future. We brought back the collective ideas of those who were there, and now a small group will work on what we did and present these ideas to our whole church family.

Pictured below:
Rydal Hall Christian Centre
(in the Lake District):

When we become Christians, we enter into a relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, that will lead us to grow. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are called to become more like Jesus and to become more holy. It is this spiritual growth that becomes a ‘birthmark’ of our faith. I am reminded of St Paul’s words: ‘So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’ (Colossians, chapter 2, verses 6-7).

We still have a long way to go to see our vision realised in terms of commitment from not just a few but from the whole parish: To see families filling the church; to see relationships flourish between young and old; to see more volunteers willing to take on responsibilities; and to see us all grow in faith and love for each other. In many ways the foundation of this work is already established: A great relationship with our local school (Holy Trinity Primary, Hoylake), a fantastic ‘Messy Church’, and strong connections with the community in all we do.

Pictured Below:
A scene form one of our recent
"Messy Church" afternoons
(our Messy Church is an afternoon
of games, crafting, competitions,
worship and ends with a meal for all):

However, we need to be more, we need to pray more - and then pray some more again!  And what does that prayer look like? Well I think it looks like this: it’s a prayer for Grace; it’s a prayer for the settling of the Holy Spirit upon us, and these are its words:

Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your people and kindle in us the fire of your love. Set us alight with the desire to change our church and the lives of all we meet so they will know the power of your Spirit.”

Our time together at Rydal was an opportunity (for just a little while) for us to stop and take time to think and talk - not just in the weekend’s formal sessions - but through our worship and social time together. Being together gives us an opportunity to get to know each other a little better and hear each other - and also to hear what God may be saying to us. I hope we will be able to go again at some point to either Rydal or Foxhill in Cheshire, and that more of you will join us.

So, ‘watch this space’, as Peter, Carron, Jill, and Jane pull together our work from Rydal so far. I would like to thank everyone who came to Rydal - and for those who prayed for us - for our faithful band of volunteers who, although small in number, are big in heart, and achieve so much in the name of the Gospel. I would like to finish these few words with words of inspiration from Psalm 37:4-5: ‘Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.’

Your friend,

Rev Paul,
Vicar of Hoylake