It's much easier to say what volunteer Rose Gosling doesn’t do at the thriving Summerbridge Methodist Church, near Harrogate in beautiful North Yorkshire.

 

She’s a senior steward, the church safeguarding officer, and its property steward – as well as being responsible for general administration.

 

She’s in charge of church publicity, and edits the church and circuit magazines.

 

Until recently, she was a young church teacher and worship leader, and helped open the popular community café.

 

And now – for fear of finding a spare moment left in her week! – she’s training to be a local preacher.

 

But she doesn’t see herself as anything special.

 

‘It sounds a long list,’ she said, ‘but I’m more of an enabler and encourager – I try to help others develop their ideas, whether for service or outreach activities. We’re very lucky – we’re a growing church, we have lots of gifted people who want to serve God and sacrifice their time, and I’m just one of many.’

 

It’s the outreach work which gives her the most satisfaction. Church members regularly go out into their community with ‘goodie bags’ of chocolate and other treats and knock on doors to introduce themselves to local people.

 

‘We’ve had some wonderful success,’ she said. ‘For instance, one we delivered to the home of a young family – the family came to messy church, and they stayed, and are still with us now, and the husband has just gone on the Alpha course. Our church’s motto is “Bringing people and God together through the love of Jesus Christ”, and that’s what we try to do.’

 

Lindy Edwards, the church council member who nominated Rose, said, ‘Our church is blessed with a number of fantastic volunteers, and Rose has amazing energy, commitment, ideas and enthusiasm for making Summerbridge church the heart of the local community.’