There's a group of us from all sorts of backgrounds making up the 'Leadership Community' and we've been tackling an interesting and potentially unique issue. We've got this large and fantastic group of people giving up their time and energy on Friday nights plus regular big events like Jazz nights and concerts, visiting Bishops and youth events. So we're pretty covered on the 'outward' stuff, particularly with the homeless for whom we provide a free BBQ and a warm welcome in the cafe.But what about building community? What about those of us on the team who don't already have a church which teaches, encourages and supports us so that we've actually got something to give on a Friday night? These questions and a few more about people who just don't fit into mainstream church looking for somewhere they could belong and be safe to ask questions right down to the core of faith, religion and God... have been niggling at us for some time.
So a few of us have started a little gathering meeting at the pub on Monday nights fortnightly. We've established that it should be a place where all questions and experiences are welcome, and its aim is to be a part of people's spiritual journey by providing an authentic community.
I am all too aware that many attempts at 'new ways of being church' have tried and failed, or have ended up being simply Sunday church, on a different day in a different venue. We're not about just telling people about Jesus, it's more that we want to be a place where people who've heard it, maybe tried it, and still have unanswered questions can belong. No one's offering a solution, just a community of searchers.
I'm excited about it, while a voice in my head asks 'is this possible...'?
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