Church News - Mission in the 21st Century

Date: Thursday, 11 February 2010

Mission in the 21st Century

Following its annual conference in October 2009 the Kirk Session has taken up the challenge of developing our Mission in the 21st Century and so we start 2010 with a new approach to renewing our spiritual lives, deepening our relationship with God and being more actively involved in practising our faith.
  
Whilst led by the Session and the Ministry Team, because that is their role, this is an undertaking for the whole congregation.   There are two aspects that may lead us to rethinking some possibly long held ideas and to all of us taking more responsibility for the shape of our church life. 

The first is worship:  God invites us to worship Him.   The second is prayer as a means of getting closer to God, of kindling or re-kindling the faith element in our daily lives.  We shall develop openings for prayer and explore approaches to worship that deepen spirituality, consider special kinds of services such as for remembering, review evening services and look at how the 9.30 am service works.

Underpinning this initiative there will be some practical approaches.  We shall consult and collect and share ideas through Grapevine, not just communicate our progress, and encourage greater use of our already busy website with a dedicated mission page.   We shall look at recent studies of church development and growth to inform why people go to church.   All of this may be wrapped up in how we interact with each other.  How we welcome each other and socialise and how we express the values that come from our spiritual development.   Full details are in Grapevine

Sandra Carter is pulling together the various elements of this initiative and will be delighted to hear of any suggestions.  Tel 667 6052, email Sandra.carter@barts.myzen.co.uk or pigeonhole in the halls entrance