Making room for families: a fresh welcome at Eversholt’s harvest celebrations 

An established church occasion can offer an opportunity to welcome people in a new way.

At Eversholt, the harvest celebrations became a chance to make space for local children and their families.

Rural Missions already had a connection with the community through school assemblies. During the harvest flower festival, our worker and the minister set up a children’s activity corner, while flyers shared through the local school invited families to come along.

Families from the village attended.

The staff report describes this as the first time the church had offered something of this nature for families, and an encouragement to the congregation.

The scale was local and personal. The significance lay in the church trying a new approach and seeing families respond to the invitation.

This kind of mission builds on what is already there: a church’s place in village life, relationships with a school and an occasion that brings people together. Practical support can help a congregation recognise how those connections might create a fresh opportunity.

At Eversholt, that support included regular contact through assemblies and hands-on involvement in the harvest activities.

There is more to discover about how these relationships will develop. For now, the church has an encouraging first experience to reflect on and build upon.

Your generosity helps us be present for those beginnings.

It’s only with your support that we can continue walking alongside rural churches, helping them open doors and explore new ways to share the hope of Jesus.

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