Last Sunday we attended the church service at St Stephen’s Anglican Church in Reefton. By turning up we doubled the congregation there. The service was led by Hilary Ladds, the local lay minister. Songs were played on the computer and automatically coordinated with the overhead projection – they must use a song-bank that makes this quite efficient. The service was Anglican, even though I had never heard most of the exact liturgical words before. We also had Communion, but quite differently, as it was led by a lay leader rather than an ordained minister. The sermon was thought-provoking and well-prepared.

After a proper sit-down morning tea, we were invited to lunch by Hilary. With some Lego available, the children got creative, while the adults talked about life and ministry. Hilary is officially the Senior Care worker in Reefton and funded through Anglican Care. Visiting the elderly and connecting with them is a major part of her ministry, but she is also the lay minister and church administrator. Working 25 hours a week, she does have time to take days off.

Life is not easy for older people in Reefton. While there are basic health services in Reefton, for more specialist services residents have to go to Greymouth, Nelson or Christchurch. The only rest home in Reefton closed recently, so that if anyone needs care, they have to relocate to Greymouth. That is 1 hour (about 80 km) away by car. There are no public transport services from Reefton to Greymouth, so visiting for those who can’t drive any more is difficult.

The Church is persevering in Reefton. Apart from the Sunday morning service, the Anglican Church offers “Chair aerobics” on Tuesdays, as well as “tea and chat”. It also runs an op-shop one day a week. With few people attending church regularly, it may seem disheartening, but the faithfulness is clear.

Reefton also has a Roman Catholic, a Baptist and an Assembly of God church and they are doing some events together, such as  community carols.

Being church in some of the smaller centres and rural areas in New Zealand looks quite different and new ways of ministry need to be explored.