Christian people are always thankful people. This is at the heart of our primary action of worship when we break bread and share the common cup in the Eucharist – a word that simply means thanksgiving.
This week I want to give thanks in two particular ways.
First, for all those who in our parishes, chaplaincies and fresh expressions work with children, youth and families. In so many different ways what those engaged in this ministry, some paid, many volunteers, are doing is sharing in the joy of proclaiming the Gospel afresh in this generation. For Bishop Rachel and I as we journey around the diocese and spend time with our many different communities, we meet so many engaged in this ministry. In different, and so often unsung ways, those engaged in this work are giving of themselves to teach, inspire and encourage others. It is inspiring and encouraging.
We want to encourage them, and we hope you will join with us in doing so. We hope you will do this particularly this week by signing your community up to RECOGNISE on 7 to 13 July. You might want to celebrate your children, youth and families ministers in services and prayers next week and perhaps even share a celebratory cake. You can find out more about this here.
Secondly, I want to express my thanks our Reader community. Readers are those who have answered the call of God to a ministry of teaching and pastoral care. All volunteers, they give visible expression to the important truth that ‘the Church is the whole people of God’ and often are engaged in connecting our faith to the everyday of work and community life.
I am especially grateful to two members of our Reader community who have taken on particular responsibilities in the Church. Firstly to Nick Partridge who has been Interim Warden of Readers for almost two years, alongside his role leading Diocese of Gloucester Funerals. I am grateful for his care and wisdom. He puts this ministry down now as he focuses entirely on our expanding work around funeral ministry. Support for Readers at every stage of their ministry is now within the Collaborative Ministry Team, including a new role of Bishop’s Advisor for Lay and Reader Ministry, taken on by Karen Czapiewski who was admitted as a Reader last year. In this role she will share with me in the oversight of our Reader community and work as part of the team in the diocesan Mission and Ministry Department to bring to reality our commitment to the development of a diverse and varied leadership for the Church across our diocese.
Please do join me in giving thanks for them, for all who work with children, youth and families and all those who engaged in sharing the good new of Jesus afresh in the generation.