Signs of new spring life

After 130 years of witness in the community, the unthinkable occurred. Forty-four people (including non-church-attendees) from the village gathered to discuss whether the church should close.

They had already lost the Catholic and Anglican churches, now it was the Uniting Church, the last remaining church in the village.

There had been a grand history in Spring Hill. In 1874 the Methodist pioneers in the Orange district opened a beautiful bluestone church to the glory of God.

People remember the good old days when there was a thriving Sunday school and they could afford their own minister. They were even able to build a parsonage.

The villagers were adamant: they wanted the church to remain. The tiny congregation listened and made a decision to stay.

This presented them with a challenge. How were they going to bring new life to their dwindling congregation? What could they do?

They knew they could not count on the services of an ordained minister who visited once every two months at the best of times. So Betty Reed, a lay preacher in the Orange parish, was commissioned to preach, teach and do pastoral visiting at Spring Hill.

Like a bare tree bursting into bloom with the coming of spring, some new life emerged in the Spring Hill church in the following 12 months due to Betty’s enthusiastic leadership and the dedicated support of the tiny congregation.

A Friendship Group began, attracting up to 15 villagers as they joined in craft activities and shared fellowship and afternoon tea.

A Christmas Club was held for primary school kids and they enjoyed it so much they requested that it be held again next year.

The congregation organised a special memorial service to honour the dedicated commitment of a previous dearly-loved member. They rang all her friends and nearly packed the church. Lunch was held on the lawns as the church hall was not large enough to accommodate the crowd.

A new group called “Playtime” was established for preschool children and their carers. This was an outstanding success and continues to attract regular attendees.

A special Father’s Day breakfast was arranged and seven men arrived to enjoy bacon and eggs and Christian fellowship. Members of the Friendship Group helped to organise the day which attracted non-church-goers from the community.

Then a crisis occurred.

The church needed to pay over $1,000 for an outstanding bill, so the team decided to hold a mini fete. It was the first time the various groups met each other and worked together.

The fete was an outstanding success, achieving the financial target. Since then, folk have banded together and have painted the hall and generally improved the grounds.

There was a joyous celebration when a family from the Playtime Group brought their children to be baptised. Some folk who had not been to worship for some time came that day because of the new friendships that had recently been forged in the new groups.

The church hosted a party and it was great to see villagers, church folk and relatives all mingling together.

Spring Hill is an inspiring story of committed lay people catching a vision of reaching out and serving the people in the community. Betty is delighted that in her senior years God has opened a door for her to minister to the village.

Now new life is springing forth as a tiny congregation seeks to bring good news to the local community with the help of God.

As I reflect upon their story I am impressed that lay people have made such a difference in bringing life and hope. Here I believe is a clue to the church of the future; namely, lay people need to be empowered to minister and exercise their gifts in the name of Christ.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. Behold I do a new thing says the Lord (Isaiah 43:19).

The Rev. Noreen Towers is minister at Orange.