Published on: 17/11/2025
As newly authorised Focal Ministers in the Diocese of Sheffield, Michael Mcgonnell and I were invited to share our recent experience with the joint Deanery gathering last week. We reflected on how we arrived at—and delivered—a weekend of Harvest Festival celebration events at St Hugh’s New Cantley this October. From Messy Church on Thursday through a mix of events, we set out to arrive at an uplifting Harvest Festival Mass on Sunday. By then, church was resplendent with flowers and buzzing with excitement to pick a winner for the free food hamper.
A Vision Rooted in Faith and Community
Our planning was shaped by a shared vision to:
- Glorify God by making church a beautiful and welcoming space.
- Offer generous hospitality, especially to families in our local community.
- Provide varied opportunities for people to engage with church life in different ways and at different times. (And to experiment with sharing descriptors to give a flavour of what to expect from the experience, so as to hook people in.)
- Deepen relationships, particularly with those beginning to engage more across different groups — through Messy Church, our new Monday discipleship Group (where we reflect on God’s Word, chat about life, pray and ask questions), and even flower arranging.
- Continue our ‘Jubilee Year: Pilgrims of Hope’ work, supporting Doncaster Foodbank (part of the Trussell Trust Network) and the global food charity, Action Against Hunger, chosen by Messy Church in September.
- And to honour and celebrate our wonderful flower arranger, Mary Powell, who continues to provide energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and expertise, as well as the wonderful greenery she finds and prunes while still tramping around the woods in her wellies in her nineties!
We also aimed to keep the weekend cost-neutral for St Hugh’s, as church is determined to deliver new windows and doors in the near future and, thanks to several key sponsors and support from our Community Café, all the catering and banner costs were covered!
Celebrating Together
The weekend began with Messy Church on Thursday afternoon, when families were invited to make bread and smoothies; they decorated their globe for a display with the donated fruits and vegetables, shared a meal and made a joyful noise to the glory of God. Friday evening saw Mary Powell —our beloved flower arranger—demonstrating her skills and expertise in ‘Demo Time’ and revealing stories of love and faith, and daring adventure, complete with wine and cheese. Her creativity, warmth and clearly explained tips helped many overcome their nerves and inspired them to give flower arranging a go during Saturday morning’s free Community Café!
Saturday evening’s fundraiser featured a lively and eclectic music programme, from Thou Visitest the Earth to musicals, madrigals, blues, and favourites like O Happy Day and The Bare Necessities. (The three sets were intertwined with the Harvest buffet supper courses and a raffle.) Singing with friends old and new was a real treat and such a blessing and brought joy to the whole room.
Welcome Slides shown during the evening included photos from each event, as well as recent history in the life of the church family (including the Messy Church’s sponsored walk to raise funds for a community defibrillator) and our July pilgrimage to St Hugh’s shrine in Lincoln Cathedral. Also mentioned were new regular activities and forthcoming events on offer, both at St Hugh’s and our sister parish, St Wilfrid’s, helping everyone feel part of the celebration.
Lessons Learned
We learned that:
- Clear communication is key – being brave enough to stand up and explain details and changes to everyone makes a big difference, and sharing the vision and inviting people into the planning conversations develops trusting relationships, giving ownership to all.
- Next time, we’ll be even bolder in following up with community groups and potential local sponsors.
- Early advertising works – our banner and fence notices drew attention, with many scanning the QR code to our events page.
- Handout slips sharing information about upcoming events were a simple but effective way to keep people connected and extend the invitation, and enthusiasm.
Harvest of Joy and Generosity
At the end of the month, we were thrilled to deliver two full crates of donations to the Foodbank and send out cheques to both charities. It was a tangible reminder of what can be achieved when faith, creativity, and community come together.
This weekend was a beautiful blend of worship, welcome, and witness— a hopeful sign of what focal ministry can bring to our church and communities and a tangible reminder that when we work together, we can create something truly special.