WELCOME TO THE PARISH OF SKETTY
HOLY TRINITY’S NEWS
MISSION
Imagine: As you approach the pearly gates, you discover that they will only open if six or more people work
together to enter a complicated sequence of instructions and actions in different places.. St Peter
asks if you are used to working in a team, and if there are other people who would be happy to work
with you; are you? Are there?
OR The organist’s heart attack wasn’t fatal, but she won’t be playing for another six months, if ever.
Nobody else has played in fifteen years. Did you know that the unassuming man who started coming
a few months ago played keyboards and had led choirs? Would you let him play? – even if he changed
some of the tunes?
A Bible Passage: Acts 6 (the appointment of the 7); Acts 9:26 and other passages about Barnabas;
Luke 10
Some questions:
1. Who would you choose to help you with a difficult job? What sort of help do you enjoy, and what do you find
tiresome?
2. “The Eucharist is the action of the whole people of God” (note 6, p15) – in what ways is this seen in your
church?
3. Why were the 7 appointed in Acts 6? What was the need, and what qualifications were important?
4. Barnabas wasn’t one of the 12 apostles, but what do you think was his gift? Do you know anyone like that?
5. Who was the last person to join the “core workers” of your church, and how long ago was that? Were they
welcome for themselves, or because you were desperate for someone to help?
6. Is it easy to get people to volunteer for jobs in your congregation? What would make you hesitate to do so
(assuming you had the ability and time)? How could the congregation change this?
7. Do the members of the group know what their particular gifts are? Are they being used? Are some
important gifts missing?
Further resources:
Have you thought of doing a skills and talents audit, to see what people in your congregation would be happy
to do? Mission and Maintenance.