Recently, we hosted a gathering at the rectory, offering snacks, and it set me thinking about how we might be able to engage with the community and to encourage them into a commitment to the church. There are many and various different courses available to enable us to do this, possibly the most well known is the Alpha course and that came up in a recent conversation with a representative from the local methodist church. BUT most of these courses encourage some form of hospitality. This might be simply tea and cake, all the way up to an easily prepared meal depending on the time of day that the gathering is held. It is my desire, that as we seek to grow our congregations, we host a suitable course in 2027, possibly working with other local churches, in a suitable venue. What we need to appreciate, is that the existing styles of church that we offer, may not be what soe of the people who join the course desire and we may have to find possibly new and different ways of “doing” church. I will be discussing with the warden’s possible ideas over the next few months, but will endeavour to keep you all appraised. I pray that you will all be willing to get behind this and support it by either offering to become a small group leader, offering to assist by welcoming people or by assisting in providing the hospitality and most of all by praying for the gathering and all involved. All I ask at this time is that you pray about this and your potential involvement. God bless you all, Rob