I wonder about ‘wintering’ worship …

By Rev Nigel Hanscamp

I am wondering about what happens when we ‘winter’ our worship … or any other intergenerational activity.

Winter is that time when the earth pauses, takes a breath; slows. right. down. In my part of the world winter means rain, fog and frost. Daylight is short, night is long. The earth rests, recovers and replenishes in preparation for the energetic growth of spring.

Ministry needs that too – that rest and pause and reset. And that’s programs and people, volunteer and paid … and participants.

At our congregation we take four weeks to do a series called ‘Winter Wonderings’. Four weeks when the pulpit, musicians, sound and audio and kids ministries all take a breath, break, holiday – or a chance to put down leadership responsibilities and simply ‘be’.

On Sundays we gather around tables and get to know each other over soup and rolls. We start with morning tea, hear a scripture passage, and talk together about what Spirit stirs in us.

We have guidelines for community which include how we listen, and space for people who may want to be present without participating. Some choose to sit in the couch at the back and simply be in the room, or help in the kitchen instead. It’s a great intergenerational invitation, welcoming multiple generations and people with lots of faith, lost faith and no faith.

Then we break bread and slurp soup and continue to build community – before heading back into the fog-enveloped hills.

So I wonder, what are the gifts of winter in your neighbourhood and ministries?