Big little Church is on Sunday 29^th August. It will be a celebration of the good things that small churches do. We are inviting churches that are doing interesting things to have manned displays. For instance, we have one church featuring its work with young people, another showing how linking with overseas development work has affected them and another looking at the impact of the “Open Book” project.

The format will be gathering in the Severn Hall at the Three Counties Showground for a choir practise around 10.30 am followed by a communion service starting around 11 am.Bishop David will be presiding and the Revd Canon Professor Martyn Percy ( Principal Ripon College Cuddesdon) will preach. He has some significant insights into rural & small churches. I’ve got the RSCM Regional Music Advisor for Central & East Regions to oversee music. The intention is to give both small congregations (&choirs) the uplift of being part of something bigger and also to demonstrate good quality music that can be done by small churches.

After the service people will eat their sandwiches, meet the display people and share good ideas etc. We’ll finish around 2.00 pm with a balloon release symbolising our being sent out and scattered by the Spirit.

It would be very good if Little Malvern Priory were there. What would be even better would be if you felt there was something about what you are doing that could be shared more widely and form part of a display.

(Agricultural & Rural Life Chaplain’ European Adviser to the Bishop of Worcester)

Eric