Dear friends-in-Christ,

Summer has started, the heat is on, and it is the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. Fans will become rampant during worship, both electrical and handmade. My advice to you is, abide in the environment, but spare a thought for us in the sanctuary with our long flowing robes. At the beginning of July we begin our Sunday services an hour earlier. It is cooler and you can spend more time with your family after church.

On Saturday, June 15, we had our vestry retreat at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington. It was a fruitful experience, and we had the Rev. Canon Gregory Perez as one of the facilitators. We discussed the role of the Interim Priest and preparing the church for a new rector or Priest-in-charge. Regular meetings with the Diocesan Consultant, Vestry, Search Committee, and Interim Priest over the next few months will be imperative. We also lamented the lack of child and young family ministries and their presence at St. Cyprian’s. I have had extensive training and ministry to youth in South Africa. My youth leadership training manual, “A Certificate Course for the Theology of Youth” is still a fundamental tool in the 23 dioceses in the Anglican Province of South Africa. An extract for youth and church growth is as follows:

Youth Ministries for Church Growth

Children and young adults represent the future of our church, and their happiness with our congregation should be just as valuable as adults’ satisfaction. Many young people who feel disconnected from the church won’t attend church services independently in the future without their families, so child and youth outreach programs and ministries are crucial in fostering engagement and building faith among younger populations.

Have youth ministries and programs specifically targeted to younger audiences to help them grow their faith in a welcoming and understanding environment. Provide educational materials and programs that foster trust in their parents and show your investment in building the child’s faith.

Volunteer Opportunities for Church Growth

People dedicated to their religion often look for additional ways to get involved with the church. Without providing volunteer opportunities to interested attendees, we might struggle to grow our church on a bigger scale. Whether people are volunteering to help during worship or offering to contribute their efforts to outside programs, providing several opportunities to get involved is an essential part of expanding our church’s reach.

Some potential volunteer opportunities we can offer to encourage attendance and involvement in our church include:

Ushers and greeters to welcome attendees, distribute materials (like bulletins), and assist with seating arrangements

Youth ministry volunteers to teach Sunday school classes and provide child care services during worship

Youth group leaders to mentor teenagers and organize youth events

Choir and music ministry volunteers to encourage people to join the church choir and organize music-related events

Volunteers for community outreach programs to keep people involved with the church at every level

Administrative volunteers to help organize events and activities, answer phones, and support different departments.

We will have our children and young people’s service on Sunday June 30^th at 9.30am. We will need ushers, greeters, offertory bearers, acolytes, and readers. We will have a child-friendly liturgy with guitar and piano music. Does any one have drums? It is hoped that we will have a young people’s service on the last Sunday of every month.

Our church does not have a MISSION STATEMENT! Vestry members on working on this. Why is it important? A Mission Statement is for Church Growth.

Our church must stand for something to encourage attendance and get people passionate about our goals. A comprehensive mission statement — and promoting this statement across your physical and virtual spaces — is crucial to encouraging attendance and growing our church.

Our mission statement explains why our church exists in the first place, so make sure it’s as thorough as possible. Show potential members that our church has a reason for its efforts and an ultimate goal in its worship. When congregants feel like they’re serving a greater purpose by attending our church, they’re more likely to engage with our church community, making it easier for you to grow and strive to achieve our mission.

As we plan programs for our church, ensure that everything you do aligns with our mission. Make efforts to fulfill our mission statement in everything you do, from small fundraising efforts to larger outreach programs.

We shall overcome!

 

Pax et Bonum

Noble+