What makes faith stick?

Yesterday evening, four Winterborne Sticklanders travelled to Bournemouth for a presentation on 'Sticky Faith'. It was an evening sponsored by South West Youth Ministries (SWYM), Urban Saints and the Scripture Union. We were not quite sure what to expect but we went with an open mind. Sticky Faith is an approach based on an American study that looked at why young people tended to drift away from their faith and church attendance. What was it that young people needed to make their faith 'stick'?

"Sticky Faith is....
1. Both internal and external - part of the inner thoughts and emotions, together with choices and actionsthat reflect the innerfaith commitment.
2. Both personal and communal - celebrating God's lovefor the individual, but always locating faith in the wider community.
3. Both mature and maturing - showing some evidence of maturity but recognising we are all on a journey.

The findings were based on American research but, so often, where America goes, the UK is only a few years behind. we were shown how the profile of church attendance in the UK has changed. The average age of attendees has risen from just below 40 years old in 1980 to over 55 today and still rising. We were shown some of the American findings and what the young people felt they needed to keep their faith.

So what's that got to do with the Winterborne  Valley and Milton Abbas Benefice? It made us question how we reach our young people, who are noticeably absent from our churches much of the time. We were shown
three different approaches to youth work that had been identified in the study: - consumer, content and contemplative. You could say: - fun, facts or relationship. It was the latter that stuck - according to the study.

Young people needed: -
More involvement with worship - linked with mature faith.
Opportunities to work with younger children
A congregation that was interested in them.
More interaction with adults - not less!

...and those who had the stickiest faith in the end, were those who had often talked about having doubts.

It was certainly food for thought, as we sat in a modern, warm, urban church - with all the facilities and extra space you could wish for! We have our successful Lovely Cake and Awesome Cake groups here in our Benefice - but is there more we should be doing? We met the Church and Community development officer (Scripture Union) and we would like to ask her to come and visit our Benefice, to see what is being done. If this is something that you feel strongly about and would like to get involved, do please contact Alan (the Rector) - he would love to hear from you.

Harriet

Faith in Action

Faith in Action Passion for Change

 

26^th November 2013 

From

10.00am until 4.00pm

At Village Hall, Durweston, DT11 0QA

Cost: £5.00 per person (light lunch included)

Open to everyone

Guest Speaker: Alison Webster

Social Responsibility Adviser to the Oxford Diocese

Alison Webster is a writer, focusing on themes of spirituality and social transformation. She is author of numerous resource books that draw together social action and contemplation. She has a longstanding interest in identity issues – particularly gender, race, sexuality and disability, and is author of books on gender, sexuality, health and wellbeing.  Alison has worked for the Student Christian Movement, the Institute for the Study of Christianity and Sexuality and the Christian Socialist Movement. She now works as Social Responsibility Adviser for the Church of England Diocese of Oxford.  Her most recent book, on identity, is ‘You Are Mine: Reflections on Who We Are’, SPCK, 2009. Alison is Chair of the UK-based international charity Amaka Beautiful Child (ABC), empowering people through story-telling and the arts. She is also author of ‘Found Wanting: Women, Christianity and Sexuality’ (Cassell 1995), and ‘Wellbeing’ (SCM Press, 2002). She is the founder editor of two international journals, ‘Theology and Sexuality’ (Equinox) and ‘Political Theology’ (Equinox).

Workshop Details

Workshop1 (13.30-14.30): Dementia Friendly Churches. Facilitated by staff from PramaCare.

This workshop provides ideas for churches that want to be truly welcoming and inclusive and are willing to take steps to enable people with dementia to take a full part in worship and church life.                   

Workshop2 (13.30-14.30): World Aware Churches: Facilitated by Elizabeth Perry. Former Christian Aid area representative, this workshop will help local churches think about how they engage with world development issues and relate to communities around the world.

Workshop3 (15.00-16.00): Gypsy and Traveller Friendly Churches: Facilitated by Adrian Brook.

Recently appointed chaplain to Gypsies and Travellers, this workshop looks at how churches can be places of welcome and generous advocates for people from our travelling communities.

               

Workshop4 (15.00-16.00): Community Oriented Churches:

Placing the local church at the heart of service to the local community, this workshop looks at how we can develop creative projects with local people to meet local needs. 

Cost: £5.00 per person (light lunch included)

Contact The Sherborne Office
St Nicholas' Church Centre
30 Wareham Rd
Corfe Mullen
Dorset BH21 3LE

The Contemplative Lifestyle?

Coffee Pot Giving

£178

...and that is just from the Coffee Pot this morning. This Benefice has given generously to the Philippines Typhoon Appeal . Many red envelopes were filled in church after the Sunday services and during the Coffee Pot - people have responded not only with their prayers, but also with cash. 

Sunday services - at a church near you

Church Services in the Benefice

Sunday 17th November

TODAY

W. Stickland  - 10.30 Holy Communion 

      Rev'd Jimmy
 

W. Whitechurch - 10.30 Morning Worship 

                                                ( followed by short communion service for those
                who wish to stay)
    Rev'd Alan
 

  Milton Abbas - Evening Prayer
                                 (Traditional Book of Common Prayer) 
     Rev'd Alan

What fast movers!

Just over ten days ago, the sad plight of the Winterborne Whitechurch parish room floor was being reported on this blog (click here to read more). Now just look at it! This tremendous effort by Bill and Ed means that the Parish Rooms are open for business again - with no risk of anyone disappearing through the floor boards. A huge thank you must go to these fast movers!

Oh what a beautiful morning!

Did you get up early this morning? Were you delayed by having to defrost the car? Did you find time to stop and stare, to breathe deeply and absorb what a beautiful place we live in?




If you have photographs of the benefice that you would like to share on this blog, please email them to
Mawvoffice@btinternet.com