Our congregation ‘roll’ is geographically divided into
several areas, each having
a small group of families or individual members, and under the care of an Area
Visitor.
The visitor for each area is responsible for delivering any Church post such
as the ‘Ascension News’ magazines, and generally keeping contact in a supportive way
with church members in the area. The function of an area visitor is, ideally,
one of friendly contact and if possible, occasional hospitality, such as a
quarterly tea, or brunch, to which parishioners can come and get to know one
another a little better, with perhaps a ‘bring and share’ for refreshments. In
this way, people can be an encouragement to one another in their daily lives,
and possibly even develop faith-sharing groups within the area.
If trust and relationships are built in this way, area visitors can be a
great help to the clergy and staff by bringing to their notice particular
pastoral needs, such as a hospital visit for someone, or a home visit after
hospitalisation, or a meal for a family with a new baby, for instance.
It is really just a natural way of being a neighbour to one another! We
realise that we fall far short of the ‘ideal’ in the way of pastoral care, but
of course we have to accept that some people prefer not to be visited, or to
join in local ‘get-togethers’, so privacy needs to be respected at all
times. However, the area visitors can help in many ways besides just being
‘post-bringers’, and they need affirmation too!
So, if you are not sure who your area visitor is, please don’t hesitate to
ask the
office staff or one of the
clergy. If you encourage your area visitors,
then they will be able to encourage you as well!
