A Pastoral Letter Autumn 2024 from Mark Carey

As always there is lots happening across our Network. I want to highlight things for prayer and awareness.

I am very thankful for the sabbatical time I had recently – as I reach the 7th anniversary of coming to Bridlington and complete 30 years of ordained ministry such opportunities are important for refreshment. In some ways nothing changes as I return, except, as you will see, things continue to change! Someone once said that “for things to remain the same some things are going to have to change” – I like that – things change, we learn, God keeps doing his work of renewing, rebuilding and restoring… and we join in.

Our vision is simple – as disciples of Jesus we are to ‘live the gospel’ – be “good news people” individually and together. In every part of our Network, we will seek to ‘serve the health and well-being of our communities’. The gospel of Jesus is for every part and aspect of human life and creation. Health and well-being are massive things in our culture – the kingdom of Jesus, the way of Jesus, amongst other things, brings healing, deliverance, hope and joy and we get to join in with this. In effect, this means that our shared vision is that every part of our Network becomes a healthy, disciple-making worshiping community in some way, shape or form.

Some of these forms will be traditional of course – and yet our legacy from all that God has done over the last decades is that we enjoy great diversity and therefore in the famous words of Bono “we are one and we’re not the same”! Our different churches and ministry areas must be purposeful in having one way of life – a life lived in relation to Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit. So, we expect Daily Encounter, defining how and where we Belong and therefore contribute to the discipleship of all God’s people, so we see more clearly how we join in on an individual and corporate level in Purposeful Service in relation to God’s works of renewing, rebuilding and restoring.

How we organise to do all this continues to need ongoing refining; though we are in a time when it seems some things we have been waiting for are beginning to fall into place, which means we will be able to do more work on clarification.

What is clear is that we must strengthen and release leadership teams in each Network church. We must clarify the relationship between the ‘base’ of the Network which does governance, oversees safeguarding, finances and property, and the Network which ‘fishes for people’. We must do the ‘apostolic and prophetic strengthening’ and release all God’s people in purposeful service across all generations.

FAQs For Your Information

(a snapshot as there is a lot that is happening!)

Miriam Thurlow

More will be communicated about Miriam Thurlow’s role soon, but I am pleased to say that she will be staying in Bridlington as her curacy ends to pioneer and plant, with CCBN, amongst young adults.

Holy Trinity, Bridlington

Holy Trinity has joined CCBN as the planned parochial reorganisation came into being earlier than expected. As a result, Holy Trinity is now part of the Christ Church parish and as Vicar I will be exploring ‘what next’ with the congregation – do pray for all involved – for discernment and wisdom.

St Mark’s, Westhill

Christine Strand will be joining our Network as Associate Vicar at St Mark’s, Westhill and will be working closely with myself, the leaders and teams of the Bessingby part of the Network – St Andrew’s, Ulrome, St Magnus, Bessingby and Love Westhill. Her main focus is St Mark’s and her licensing will be there at 2pm on Sunday 29th September – do come and support her if you can.  pray for Christine and Alan as they enter a new season of life with St Mark’s.

Christ Church

Major problems to do with dry rot in the (Restore) Hall roof have been discovered leading its closure. The problems are being investigated and costed for repairs and the signs are that we are going to need a significant amount of money and as swiftly as possible get undertake repairs and prevent further deterioration and infestation in other places. We haven’t got the money for this and are extremely stretched across all our finances despite good income from the use of the other buildings, and careful management of financial resources. Please pray for the fresh release of financial provision. More information will be forthcoming.

Financial Provision

Our Network runs financially primarily due to the generosity of people choosing to give. As far as possible each Network churches finances are ring-fenced so that what is given goes to the right place and is used for the purpose it was given. We are finding finances are very stretched and or your information and response, we will soon be providing more detail on the way financial resources are used, how your giving helps and where the need is. Please prayerfully review your giving. If you don’t give – please start. A commitment to regular giving is incredibly helpful for planning and strategy. And remember, we see giving as an act of worship and a response to all that God has given us. We are the generous responding to the generosity of God.

Contact with Mark Carey

If you wish to contact me then its best to do so via the Network office 01262 404100 or office@ccbn.org.uk. Very often I am not the right person to speak to – in every part of the Network we have very capable leaders who are much better than me in relation to most things! Do make them your first port of call and they will advise if I need to be involved.

All of us are able to support one another in whichever part of the Network we are involved in. Watch out for the isolated and lonely and respond to them with love, share faith and do the works of the kingdom. We are ‘the church’. Our Network is not always easy to understand due its diversity and variety – bear with it – God is doing far more than any of us realise, and I suspect we will never fully pin everything down. Let’s keep trusting God and encouraging one another.

Finally, it may seem as if there are significant challenges and things look gloomy – but my experience is that such challenges often signify that we are doing the right things – the battle is fiercest before the breakthrough. Let’s keep going!