Caroline Johnson, reader at Foxton writes:
Back in October, a small group at Foxton studied "The Square Mile" using the DVD and booklet from the Evangelical Alliance which challenges people to think about mission in their mile of influence.
One of the group, Andy, was challenged to look at the way we reach out to Gartree, an area of the parish where we do not have much influence. Both Andy and our daughter Becs were unemployed at the time and met up each week for lunch and came up with the community choir idea. Becs is a music graduate specialising in singing. Having had the Gareth Malone choir on the TV recently this was the inspiration. They produced a very attractive leaflet and then went round Gartree one Saturday knocking on doors and asking if people would like to sing in a choir at the Christmas carol service. Subsequent targeted knocking in Foxton resulted in 35 people aged 7 – 85 turning up to the first practice in November. Andy had followed up the visit by texting people to remind them to come along and 5 people from Gartree came none of whom has had any contact with the church. Becs made us practice silly warm ups and we provided coffee afterwards to get everyone to know each other. At the carol service we sang ’ O Holy night’ with one of the newcomers, Shelley singing the solo. There were a number of new faces in the congregation many of whom had been invited by our singers. Sarah’s husband came to church for the first time in 23 years, Elaine’s husband to his first carol service in 15. Liz had invited her work colleagues who had never been to church and initially were very scathing. Three days later we went carol singing round the village with the same singers and had mulled wine and nibbles afterwards. Billy, a prison officer, and Liz both brought their families to the midnight and Christingle services.
We hope that the new guys have found the church community friendly and welcoming. The singing conducted by Becs was certainly of a higher standard than usual and lifted the congregation.
What next? We are planning a follow up event at Easter – a musical evening with gospel music.
We were challenged by the fact that our new singers asked all their friends to come to the carol service – how many of the normal congregation brought someone new along? Not many I fear.
Back in October, a small group at Foxton studied "The Square Mile" using the DVD and booklet from the Evangelical Alliance which challenges people to think about mission in their mile of influence.
One of the group, Andy, was challenged to look at the way we reach out to Gartree, an area of the parish where we do not have much influence. Both Andy and our daughter Becs were unemployed at the time and met up each week for lunch and came up with the community choir idea. Becs is a music graduate specialising in singing. Having had the Gareth Malone choir on the TV recently this was the inspiration. They produced a very attractive leaflet and then went round Gartree one Saturday knocking on doors and asking if people would like to sing in a choir at the Christmas carol service. Subsequent targeted knocking in Foxton resulted in 35 people aged 7 – 85 turning up to the first practice in November. Andy had followed up the visit by texting people to remind them to come along and 5 people from Gartree came none of whom has had any contact with the church. Becs made us practice silly warm ups and we provided coffee afterwards to get everyone to know each other. At the carol service we sang ’ O Holy night’ with one of the newcomers, Shelley singing the solo. There were a number of new faces in the congregation many of whom had been invited by our singers. Sarah’s husband came to church for the first time in 23 years, Elaine’s husband to his first carol service in 15. Liz had invited her work colleagues who had never been to church and initially were very scathing. Three days later we went carol singing round the village with the same singers and had mulled wine and nibbles afterwards. Billy, a prison officer, and Liz both brought their families to the midnight and Christingle services.
We hope that the new guys have found the church community friendly and welcoming. The singing conducted by Becs was certainly of a higher standard than usual and lifted the congregation.
What next? We are planning a follow up event at Easter – a musical evening with gospel music.
We were challenged by the fact that our new singers asked all their friends to come to the carol service – how many of the normal congregation brought someone new along? Not many I fear.
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