On Sunday, May 29 the Churches Together service took place in St Mary’s Church, Rye. The congregation, representing many of the Christian denominations in the district, prayed and sang together, showing their desire to work together for a better world.
Reverend Paul White, rector of Rye Team Ministry, presided over the service with Reverend Fiona Gill, minister of Rye Baptist Church.
Paul welcomed everyone to the service, “I am delighted to be sharing this Churches Together in Rye service with so many sisters and brothers in Christ from across our town. It is a privilege to be ministering alongside the Reverend Fiona Gill this morning and for our readings and prayers to be led by our Methodist friends. I have no doubt that worshipping together, or at the least being in communion and fellowship with one another, is what God intends for his followers.”
Reverend Fiona Gill summed up the reason behind this annual service, “As the chairman of Churches Together in Rye and District, I was so delighted that members of several congregations from the Rye area were able to meet together again. Through these united services, over the years, new friendships have been forged between individuals, and strong relationships deepened between the clergy and the congregations.”
Marilyn Martin, one of the readers for the service, commented, “As is the case with many churches across the country, over the past decade congregation numbers have decreased, so much so for the Methodist people in Rye that we had to close our building at the end of September 2021. For us, even before the closure, united services in Rye have become a great joy, allowing us to realise that “we are not alone” and that the Christian presence locally is indeed “alive and kicking!”
It was so lovely to welcome the Quakers to the service, Harvey Gillman shared his thoughts afterwards: “I was happy to be part of the Churches Together service this morning. Quakers do not have a creed, but we have a common purpose: to seek and respond to that of God in all people. We are part of the wider Christian family but are open to seekers of all faiths and none. For us the test of the religious life is how human beings treat each other lovingly, peacefully, and with respect.”
It was joyful to have over a hundred people in church, singing together, sharing communion, renewing the Methodist covenant, socialising over refreshments afterwards and generally sharing fellowship.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .