It might be winter but, but Somer Sundays came springing into action this autumn.
And ‘tis the season to be jolly creative at Somerleyton, near Lowestoft.
The new Somer Sundays programme of all-age gatherings was launched with a flower festival, songs of praise and candyfloss, followed by a session of firepits, bread-making and hot chocolate, and then a jazz-based retelling of the gospel story in November.
The next Somer Sunday is a Christingle service at St Mary’s church, Somerleyton, at 3.30pm on December 8. Billed as a traditional family gathering with a twist, it will include music from the Garden Folk Band and Christmas treats.
Somer Sundays is run by the Somerleyton Group of churches (Somerleyton, Ashby, Fritton, Herringfleet and Blundeston) alongside Garden Church – the Norfolk-based movement which is planting and growing house-church communities across the county.
The Revd David Lloyd of Garden Church said: “I am really enjoying the joy it brings. It feels really fun and hopeful. I am enjoying the creativity and freedom to offer something different into the mix and to ‘have a go’. I loved seeing the youth making candy floss, the elderly handing out wine and the musicians all playing long after the service had ended. It has a festival feel to it.”
“Somer Sundays is perhaps a little like an Eton Mess – all the key elements but jumbled together to keep things moving and often set to music.”
He said that Somerleyton has not had a vicar for four years and he met a few families from the area through Garden Church. “After listening to them I thought that perhaps God was pointing us over in that direction. I happened to meet Lord Somerleyton in the pub one day and after talking about church planting and renewal he put me in touch with the churchwardens. One thing led to another and we began something new.”
Following the four pilot Somer Sundays sessions he hopes momentum will build. “If Somerleyton wants us, I am sure we will stay!”
Garden Church includes a gospel and jazz collective which plays in churches, a creative storytelling team, a prison ministry team, and teaching sessions for lay leaders. And on December 13, Garden Church is running a Spanish-speaking tapas, salsa music and faith gathering in Copacabana, Tombland, Norwich, at 7pm.
