Tinmouth is a rural township southwest of Rutland and about half way between Killington and Manchester, with a single church open to all, including a number who travel from neighboring towns or farther away to join us. First settled in the 1760s, Tinmouth's residents currently number 560. Through the years, we have worked together in many ways. For example we have accomplished a series of recent volunteer projects of benefit to all: enlarging a town Library, renovating two firehouses, building a Community Center and expanding Tinmouth's excellent elementary school of about 50 children.
The congregation is as diverse as the town. Our several elderly members bring an enriching link with our past, along with their unique individual gifts. Our religious backgrounds range from the Quaker to the Catholic, every person finding a loving welcome in this "small congregation with a big heart." Church attendance varies between 15 and 50, often doubling for holiday services or other special occasions.
Newcomers tell us we are an unusually gifted group of people, and it is true that many in our congregation have made special contributions to our church life, helping to lead services or prayers, serving as readers, offering a sermon when the minister is ill, finding a way to replace all our ancient hymnbooks or solve other knotty financial and maintenance problems. We know we have the best pie makers in Rutland County! Our choir is small, but active and joyful, all musicians (including the organists) volunteering their time. The Women's Community Circle raises funds for the needy, whether in our near neighborhood or overseas, and helps fill special church needs. We have had a volunteer-led Sunday School in the past; most of us would like to revive it as one way of making our program as appealing to young families and their children as possible. Several of us have enjoyed occasional bible study, where the atmosphere allows open exchange of views, understandings, questions. Some of our members participate in further Rutland County service projects.
We are open to different modes of worship, but many of us find reassurance in the traditional modes as well -- "The Basics," as one member calls them, not the gimmicks. We ask our pastor to speak to and expand the spiritual values we hold in common. We all agree on our desire for biblically based preaching, and on the need for caring visitation of the ill or bereaved, as well as willingness to try to connect with the many families in town who presently do not attend.