Not the end of the story
Eth Yates, Local Missional Leader at St Peter’s Bryn, quotes the bible as she reflects on how God has been active through a few turbulent years. ‘For I know the plans I have for you, says the lord, plans to give you a hope and a future.’
St Peter’s church building closed a few years ago, a long, painful experience which rocked the congregation to its foundations. However they have learned that this wasn’t the end of the story for the worshipping community and that the building isn’t the church but the people who worship Jesus together and share fellowship.
‘We carried on as a church family,’ tells Eth, despite enduring a number of setbacks before settling into their new home of Brigade Hall in Bryn. ‘Our church family recovered and most who worshipped with us before covid came back. The worship group organised and led services and gave thanks for the fellowship we could share. Never once did we think we should close!’
When asked about what has been most important, Eth is clear. ‘The first things was to reform the prayer chain that existed years before. We wanted everything to be built on prayer to know that it is God guiding us, not ourselves. We formed the group online and through weekly paper handouts.’
Eth believes God is refreshing St Peter’s. ‘Our brigades returned, as did our Women’s Fellowship and Knit and Chat, as strong as before. Both groups gained new leaders and there are new links with the church school.’
‘So now we look to the future,’ declares Eth, ‘As a church family we have no idea where our Lord will take us and that is both comforting and a bit frightening. Frightening because we don’t know what He will ask of us but comforting because we know we’re in good hands.’