Published on: 07/07/2026
In June I attended the Diocese of Sheffield Readers’ Association AGM, held at St Francis’ church in Bramley. It was a truly lovely evening, beginning with sharing afternoon tea and a copious amount of scones with jam, and we went on to relicense some Readers who had moved parishes, or whose 5 year term was due for renewal. We celebrated Readers who have been faithfully ministering for 10, 20, 30, 40, even 50 years. We were encouraged by Bishop Leah to continuing to minister in the unseen, unreached places, remembering that God sees our acts of service and pastoral care even if others don’t. We heard of Reader ministry in Argentina and were pleased to be able to financially support the training of readers in other places. We sang together, encouraged each other and prayed together – it was a joyous time.
So what is it that Lay Readers do? You may have had conversations with people who ask the question above – and while Readers may read aloud portions on scripture in church on a Sunday, more than that they have been called and trained for a preaching and teaching ministry within their churches, they enable and encourage church members to shine as Lights for Christ in their everyday lives, and they are leaders within church and society.
They have studied and read (and continue to study and read) the Bible, seeking to teach and explain it within our churches and within the wider world. They also read theology, reading the things of God, helping people to make sense of the world in the light of faith in Christ. They read the world too, seeking to identify where God is work in their communities and parishes in order that their churches can join Him in His mission. So you can see it is much more than reading words on a page.
You can find readers within churches of every tradition across our Diocese, in every deanery, ministering in churches and as chaplains in hospitals, hospices, fire stations and beyond. You’ll find readers leading small groups, midweek bible studies, taking school assemblies, and much more; teaching the faith to people of every age.
Do you know a Reader? Why don’t you sit down with them and ask them about their ministry, about when they were first called into Reader ministry and what they love most about what they do?
Do you know someone who you think might be called to this area of lay ministry? If so, do encourage them to speak to their oversight minister about it, or to anyone involved with Reader ministry or lay ministry from the Diocese, including myself.
This was our prayer on Monday evening for all the Readers in our diocese, including those in training and those who God will call to reader ministry in the future. You may like to pray it now:
Almighty Father,
you have called your Church into being in your love and strengthened us for your service. As we give you thanks for the ministry of the readers of the Diocese of Sheffield, guide us, inspire us and make us all a joyful Church, one in heart and mind; for the sake of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
This week’s Blog post was written by Beth Burras, Lead Lay Ministry Enabler