The Archdeacon of Doncaster, Venerable Bob Fitzharris, last night urged congregations to get up and be involved with society and culture to make sure the Christian message is heard.

Speaking last night in Wombwell, at a special service for clergy and churchwardens, the Archdeacon said that the right way was the involved way: "Sometimes Christians think that the way to go is to keep away from getting involved with society and popular culture. But by shying away from the realities and our world we might indeed be hiding our light under the bushel."

He added: "To make a difference we must get up and get involved."

Archdeacon Fitzharris gave a sober assessment of the task facing hundreds of congregations in South Yorkshire.

He paid tribute to the remarkable resilience and hard work of so many clergy and lay people whilst suggesting that other parishes could do more in cutting down on time-wasting meetings and being more efficient.

"There is much to yet still achieve in mission and it can seem daunting but if the early pagans were converted to seeing the change wrought in the lives of early Christians and in their loving relationships with each other, can we not determine to follow their example?"

Archdeacon Fitzharris said that a sure sign of growth was the fostering of vocations to full time ministry in the Diocese.

He urged local churches to "pray hard for every member of the Church to hear and answer their unique vocation."

More here : http://www.sheffield.anglican.org