An article for January editions of parish magazines from the Dean of Worcester, Stephen Edwards.
A magazine can go through doors that you can’t – words from a wonderful book I found in a charity shop many years ago. Published in the 1960s it has tips and suggestions for producing parish magazines which can be used in the Church’s mission and ministry. Of course, it paints a picture of a world before computers let alone photocopying and social media. It speaks of sending copy to the local printers or for those more fortunate parishes, how to get the best out of the gestetner – its glimpse into a past age reminds me a little of helping my mother with the parish magazine in the 1980s and what seemed like endless folding and stapling.
Times change but the importance of good communication has never been so critical, and it is the local level sharing of news which is a lifeline to many communities. Parish magazines – in their diverse formats and styles, offer a significant gift to neighbourhoods and are a channel for churches to reach beyond those in the pews each week. I expect I am not alone in being sent copies, or cuttings from other magazines – people keen to share what they have read and often wanting to pass on information they think I might want to see. We can assume that such sharing is common and perhaps encourage it with a note to forward or pass on to a friend or neighbour.
However, although the message remains as important, the context for that message has changed. No longer can we assume that everyone will understand what we mean by the words, phrases, and activities which we so often take for granted. Alongside the notices and write ups of events, services and activities, we find more of an interest than we might imagine for stories about faith, invitations to learn, conversations exploring what it means to be a Christian.
As the year ahead comes into view, so do the possibilities of how this magazine, this newsletter, the message, might be shared and spread further. As we celebrate the season of Epiphany and think of the Church’s mission in proclaiming the good news, now is the time to think about what that means in our context, our locality, for our generation.
The Very Revd Dr Stephen Edwards, Dean of Worcester
