Our Mission Community is now officially launched. We had been planning to stage a launch event in July, but had to postpone these plans because of Covid-19.

At the beginning of lockdown, the Diocese of Carlisle declared that all Mission Communities which were planning to launch this summer were to regard themselves as launched and look to hold a Commissioning Service next year. That includes ourselves.

Our Mission Community comprises the ten parishes in the Eden, Gelt and Irthing Team Ministry, the three parishes in the Lanercost Benefice, Brampton and Gilsland Methodist Churches and the Network Youth Church based in the Green Door Centre in Brampton.

An interim Mission Community Council has been established which is already planning a number of outreach initiatives to engage with the wider community as we come out of lockdown.

The restrictions relating to public gatherings mean that we are limited in what we are able to plan to do at this time. We are also sensitive to the needs of those who are continuing to self-isolate.

Public Worship

Some of our buildings have now re-opened for public worship. Please contact the clergy or wardens if you’re unsure where services are happening. Information is available on “a church near you” and on parish websites.

Online Worship

Online worship content continues to be made available by the Lanercost Benefice. Please contact Malcolm and Barbara Riches ([email protected]) to be sent details. There is also a weekly online service on Zoom run from Saint Martin’s Vicarage. Please contact [email protected] for the link. Weekly services from Brampton Methodist Church are available on their Facebook page.

Mission Oriented Initiatives

Despite the current restrictions, our Mission Community is committed to make the Good News of Jesus Christ known to others. Two of the recent initiatives taken have been:

Bringing Keswick to Brampton. Sharing the online morning Bible readings (and one evening meeting) from the 2020 Keswick Convention with our Mission Community.

In August, we launched a new All Age Service at Saint Martin’s Church, Brampton. This continues on the first Sunday afternoon of every month, at 4 p.m.

Do listen out for ways to get involved. In the meantime, please pray that together in mission we will be faithful in loving our neighbours and in telling others the Good News of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ.

Revd Stephen Robertson

Mission Community Leader

15th August 2020