A day in the life of 
The Benefice of Grimshoe
Feltwell, Hockwold-cum-Wilton, Northwold, Southery & Weeting

Gently Reaching Into Minds, Spirits & Hearts Of Everyone

This document was produced in consultation with each parish to help us realise all that we do by working together.  It is divided into outcomes, actions and costs.

Last updated Spring 2016

Outcomes

• The regular worship of God, from whom all blessings flow, available to all who want to explore their faith
• The regular lifting up in prayer to God of the needs of our local communities and the wider world
  
• People able to explore their own faith and spirituality in more depth
  
• Prayerful places available in our communities for those who need time to reflect or pray
  
• Hundreds of children taught about the Christian faith and given the opportunity to grow spiritually and to develop their own life values based on love of others
  
• Community brought together to celebrate special times of the year
  
• Individuals given the opportunity to celebrate important moments in life, such as the birth of a child, the celebration of a relationship, the death of a loved one
  
• Those who are bereaved given additional avenues of support, if they desire
  
• Those who are sick and housebound still given the opportunity to explore, deepen, and practice their faith
  
• Community ethos strengthened by opportunities to gather together
  
• Wider community engaged in the activity of the Church through fundraising, helping them know what the Church in this place believes and stands for
  
• More space available for community activities, to increase the vibrancy of our local community life
  
• People given the opportunity to gather together in fellowship, irrespective of religious belief
  
• Quality and comprehensiveness of our children’s education taken seriously by our local communities (engaging not only with academic prowess, but also on helping grow well-rounded individuals)
  
• Steps towards ensuring future sustainability of Church’s action in our communities taken
  
• Diverse charitable giving encouraged
  
• People given opportunity to engage with local and national issues of justice
  
• God's Blessings revealed in a simple way in people's lives
  

Actions

• Sunday Worship, mid-week worship, daily prayer
• Variety in worship from BCP Evensong, Matins, Services of the Word, Benediction and Family Services to Eucharists
• Baptisms, Funerals and Weddings taken
• Preparation for Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation undertaken
• Wedding preparation undertaken
• Messy Church twice a Month and weekly during Summer
• School Collective Worship
• School Eucharists
• School Governance
• Children & Youth pilgrimage weekends
• Advent and Christmas carol services
• Harvest, Plough Monday and Rogation services
• Remembrance services
• All Souls’ service
• Mothering Sunday services
• Holy Week and Easter services
• Services of thanksgiving & blessing
• Coffee Mornings
• Bell ringing
• Community Choir (Northwold)
• Churches open daily (Feltwell, Northwold)
• Churches open at weekends (Methwold, Weeting)
• Visiting the sick
• Visiting the bereaved
• Bible studies
• Book groups
• Breakfast club
• Keeping fabric of buildings sound & watertight
• Keeping Churchyards in good condition
• Support of local FoodBank network
• Support of homeless charities (such as Jimmy’s Night Shelter in Cambridge)
• Support of Quidenham Children’s Hospice
• Support of The Children’s Society
• Support of national campaigns (such as EndHungerFast)
• Support of various other national charities
• Fundraising activities
• Feltwell Community Information Point

Costs
Hundreds of volunteer hours spread across all five villages, from cleaning, flower arranging, bell ringing, organ playing, preparing services, going into schools, making cakes, teas, and coffees, welcoming, fundraising, to praying and worshiping together.

In 2015 it cost around £75,000 to keep the Benefice running.