Mission as Pastoral Care and Welcome

My name is Jean. I live at Flamborough and worship at St Oswald’s church. We are part of the Headland Benefice of four churches: St Oswald, St Michael, St Peter and St Leonard. We have our own traditions at each church, and keep in touch with what we are all doing, meeting up four or five times a year.

I completed Stepping Up in 2022, I really enjoyed the group and as the weeks went by I felt myself growing in confidence, so that I have taken on new roles in church and in mission. I am now a welcomer, and do readings and intercessions, and I am on the P.C.C. I love being a Server in the Sanctuary as it makes me feel nearer to God.

During Stepping Up we are encouraged to reflect on our own faith journey, a key thing for me was the vicar visiting me after my husband died. I recognised the importance of good pastoral care, which can be so important for people to discover and grow in faith.

I am now part of a new Baptism Visiting team. With the clergy, we visit people who want their child baptised and help in church at the baptism service.  We give the families a book of bible stories, and follow up contact with them on the anniversaries of their baptisms.  I’m also on the Pastoral Care team, where we visit the sick, and if they wish, I take Home Communion to them.

Hospitality is really important in the mission of our churches. We have Coffee and Chat monthly, and monthly lunches in the Church Hall, which I help with. We also have Quiz Nights and regular events throughout the year. In December, we have Nativity on the Hoof, which the Outreach group organise. We start at St Oswald’s Church, with a donkey and two of the children as Mary and Joseph. People dress up and re-enact the Christmas story and sing carols around the village. It’s great fun!

I love our church family and what we do. Joining Stepping Up is the best thing I have done!

To find out more about events at St Oswald’s, click here.