Five benefices working together for faith and the future
Older People Ministry
The Older People's Potting Shed encompasses various activities centred around ministering to older individuals. Ministers conduct regular services at Langford View, Launton Grange, and Wyndham Hall care homes. During our last annual Greenhouse project meeting, several individuals expressed interest in this area, prompting us to explore various ways people can contribute to this project. Currently, we are investigating the Anna Chaplaincy approach to ministry to determine if it could be beneficial for us.
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The older people's potting shed is led by Roger Winson, who can be reached at rogerwinson@btinternet.com.
Care Home Ministry
The older people potting shed team currently conducts regular visits to three residential care homes.
Langford View: Weekly service every Wednesday at 2:30 pm, typically attended by 10 to 20 residents.
Launton Grange: Fortnightly service every other Wednesday at 2:30 pm, with a small number of attendees.
Wyndham Hall: Fortnightly visits every other Thursday.
Two separate teams of ministers are involved, one for Langford View and Launton Grange, and another for Wyndham Hall.
The Langford View and Launton Grange team comprises ministers from Elim, Zion Way, St Edburg’s, and Town Church. While the format is at the discretion of the presiding minister, services usually include hymns, readings, prayers, and stories. Ministers have the freedom to set the weekly theme, ensuring inclusion of major Christian festivals. The rota for Langford View and Launton Grange is managed by the Greenhouse project administrator, who sends out availability requests three times a year via a doodle poll.
The Wyndham Hall team comprises two ECB ministers, occasionally assisted by volunteers. One minister conducts monthly services outside of major Christian festivals, while the other conducts monthly pastoral visits and administers Holy Communion during Easter and leads a Christmas Carol Service. Additionally, they are available for providing Last Prayers for the dying.
If you're interested in participating in care home ministry as a leading minister or helper, please reach out. Shadowing shifts can be arranged, and there is no minimum commitment; any assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Anna Chaplaincy
Ongoing discussion
Older people potting shed team has been exploring the concept of Anna Chaplaincy and considering its potential application within the greenhouse initiatives.
Anna Chaplaincy is an approach to ministering that provides spiritual support in later life across various contexts. It is a part of the BRF Christian Charity, and their mission is to enhance the quality of spiritual care for older people. While Anna Chaplaincy may take on slightly different forms in various communities, generally speaking, an Anna Chaplain is appointed and supervised locally but receives training and ongoing support from BRF. This role can be either paid or voluntary and can be part-time or full-time. Becoming an Anna Chaplain is a significant commitment that may involve working with older people in various settings, supporting their relatives and caregivers, and assisting staff members working with older individuals. Anna Chaplains also serve as advocates for older people, both within churches and in broader communities.
Additionally, BRF offers training that is accessible to individuals who are not officially Anna Chaplains, along with a wide range of resources, including 'grief conversations,' 'carer's guides,' 'worship materials,' and more. These resources can be accessed through their website.
The Anna Chaplain framework is widely utilised across the country, and the role of an Anna Chaplain is gaining increasing recognition. However, like any new initiative, it may not be suitable for every community, and sometimes established approaches may be more effective. At this stage, we are in the process of exploring the Anna Chaplaincy framework to determine its potential applicability to our situation and whether it would be beneficial.
On February 29th, 2024, Anna Chaplaincy leader Debbie Ducille conducted a workshop in Bicester. The session drew a significant turnout and proved to be highly engaging and informative, sparking interesting discussions among attendees. While all participants acknowledged the merits of the Anna Chaplaincy approach, it was noted that finding the right person for the role currently poses a challenge. However, this does not imply closed doors, and opportunities for cooperation remain open. The discussion continues.
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If you're interested in learning more about Anna Chaplaincy or sharing your thoughts on this approach, please don't hesitate to reach out.
