Mission Network News

The Ugly Duckling Company

Barry Hill, Leicester Mission Enabler, writes, "Many missioners will be familiar with the ministry of Paul Griffiths and The Ugly Duckling Company (creators of Puzzling Questions (pre-alpha) and Table Talk (pre-pre-Alpha) and more).  Following a very good evening in Leicester last week led by Paul, may I commend them to any who haven't benefitted from being involved with what God is doing through them. 

Last Monday about 60 church leaders from across the Diocese of Leicester gathered to listen to Paul and receive some training and information about two of their pre-alpha resources: Puzzling Questions and Table Talk (as a diocese we had decided to offer a number of free packs to any church in our diocese which were willing to attend an introductory event - try the material in their context - meet for a review meeting six months later).  It was encouraging to note that we had a surprisingly large response from churches right across the theological spectrum, urban and rural, large and small. 

Puzzling Questions and Table Talk provide ways into conversations that people seen keen to have in a new and imaginative way which, we pray, is the next step on the journey of them coming to know the fullness of God's transformation in Jesus.  Paul can be contacted at [email protected] or see more at www.theuglyducklingcompany.com

SA-CNI December Newsletter

December is almost on us and so the December Street Angels - CNI Network newsletter is now on-line at:

http://www.sa-cni.org.uk/1/post/2012/11/sa-cni-network-december-newsletter.html

Making and Growing Disciples in the Countryside

Fresh Expressions Looks to the Future

Fresh Expressions is to continue its work ‘well beyond 2014’. Bishop Graham Cray, Archbishops’ Missioner and leader of the national Fresh Expressions team, confirmed the movement was ‘staying in business’ during a speech at its national day conference to review progress to date and to look to the future. 

Addressing Following the missionary Spirit – going forward with fresh expressions’, Graham Cray emphasised an ongoing role for the team, ‘We will continue to network pioneers, gather learning, publish stories, and provide the training needed. New partners are joining and longer standing ones identifying the work that is needed well beyond 2014.’

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, spoke of missional opportunity and the importance of belonging, ‘Why should people still be interested in the church? Because the church is what speaks to us about the possibility that all human beings can belong together by the grace and acceptance of God if they’d only just…turn round, repent and believe, turn round and trust, look to the generosity of the God who created and redeemed you, look into the face of the stranger in a completely new way.

 ‘So what we’ve been looking at and thinking about in terms of fresh expressions (of church) is…belonging being created. People who thought they didn’t matter, they weren’t welcome, are discovering that they are; suddenly finding there’s a challenge about community that only the Christian vision or the Christian community can help them with.’

In a poignant moment, Rowan Williams was later prayed for by the President of the Methodist Conference, Mark Wakelin; Moderator of the URC General Assembly, Val Morrison; and a group of young adults from re:generation, a Methodist fresh expression of church in Romford. 

Martyn Atkins, General Secretary of the Methodist Church, commented, ‘Fresh expressions have rescued the church in numerical decline... and the introspection and desperation that come about from that. I don't buy the narrative that fresh expressions is simply a knee jerk reaction to how you get more bums on seats, rather I see it as an impulse of the missionary Spirit that rescues is from the introspection of certain kinds of ecclesial thinking.’ 

He also called for an ‘evolving and real theological narrative’ for the inherited church – as well as fresh expressions. ‘We must move in the future, at a level of proper theological engagement, from the approach of some people, that the whole of inherited church is all right, to be defended without question, and anything that is seen in their eyes to detract from that needs to be held up to the light every five minutes or uprooted every two years to see whether or not it is growing. Or indeed, to be knocked around the head to be asked if it can still stand up straight! We do need an evolving and a real theological narrative.’ 

Links to full video and audio files from all contributors on the day can be found at www.freshexpressions.org.uk/missionaryspirit

12 Myths of Interfaith Press Release

Baptists to dispel Inter Faith myths with new resource

‘God only works through Christians’, ‘Other faiths only engage in Inter Faith relations to convert us’ and ‘We can’t work alongside people of other faiths’. These are just three of the 12 myths of Inter Faith engagement challenged in a new resource from the Baptist Union of Great Britain being launched on 19 November during Inter Faith Week. 12 Myths of Inter Faith Engagement is designed to be used in a small group session to allow for discussion. It is hoped that by working through these myths, Christians will have an increased knowledge of other faiths and a new confidence in how to engage with them. Other myths include ‘Being involved in Inter Faith activity means we have to worship together’, ‘The Inter Faith agenda seeks to make one world religion’ and ‘Muslims are taking over the country…we need to keep them back’. “Our prayer is that 12 Myths of Inter Faith Engagement might be a resource to inspire and equip the work to which we are all called," says Ian Bunce, Head of Mission Department at the Baptist Union of Great Britain. “By confronting and overcoming the myths that hold us back, we can become more confident in engaging with our neighbours from different religions and cultures and building good relationships.” Following the launch on Monday 19 November at 19:00 at Kahaila Cafe, 135 Brick Lane London E1 6SB, 12 Myths of Inter Faith Engagement will be available to order through the Baptist Union of Great Britain Online Store from Tuesday 20 November for £3 a copy. Kahaila is an exciting new church plant in a multi faith community and a great example of living alongside people of other faiths.

More details about Inter Faith week can be found here

Nursery Rhyme Mass

The Nursery Rhyme Mass is a fun way of sharing the mysteries of the Eucharist with children and young people.

The whole Mass is rewritten and set to nursery rhyme tunes well-known and understood by children: it is intended to make All-Age worship sacramental and encourage the participation of the whole family in the sacrament of salvation in a profound yet fun way.

The Nursery Rhyme Mass is an on-going and evolving project, and we welcome new parts and alternative sections from all who wish to participate. Although it is nice to recognise the original author, this liturgy is made available under the Creative Commons License so that as many churches as possible can share in this worship. You can download it from that website and see a video of it in use in a Primary School.

www.nurseryrhymemass.org.uk/

College Lectures at St John's Nottingham Spring 2013

College Lectures take place at 11.30am every Wednesday during teaching term, and are part of the learning programme for all students. This term we have some exciting visitors!  Do look out for further updates.  www.stjohns-nottm.ac.uk

The events are open to local people (or not so local if you are willing to travel!).

Cost: £6 to cover administration. Lunch is extra and must be pre-booked.

Space is limited, so places MUST be booked in advance by contacting 0115 925 1114.

 

Wednesday 9th January at 11.30am                                  

The Rt Revd Paul Butler, Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham

Reflections on Episcopal Ministry

 

Wednesday 30th January at 11.30am                                

Stewart Henderson, Poet, BBC Radio 4 Presenter/Producer and Songwriter

Making Words Work - on attempting to translate the language of the Divine into the shorthand speech and patois of our times....without diluting its meaning.

 

Wednesday 13th March at 11.30am            

Jo Cox-Brown, Street Pastors

Jo will be talking about her work as co-ordinator for Nottingham Street Pastors

 

Wednesday 17th April at 11.30am

Mike Pilavachi

Executive Director of Soul Survivor & President of St John’s

Topic to be confirmed

 

Wednesday 15th May at 11.30am                             

The Revd Mia Hilborn

Head of Spiritual Health Care and Chaplaincy Team Leader, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

 

To book, contact Ruth Taylor at St John’s

Tel: 0115 925 1114

Email: [email protected]

 

Resourcing Mission Bulletin

The last Resourcing Mission Bulletin focused on parish development.

Please click here to access all the papers or click on the individual papers listed below.

Paper 1: Parish Development in the Diocese of Toronto

By the staff of the (Resource) Strategy and Development Unit, in consultation with David Robinson, Director of Congregational Development, Diocese of Toronto

Toronto diocese’s strategy is to transform its whole ministry and organization to have a more explicit focus on growth. This paper looks at the key offerings provided by Toronto diocese to support parish development. The offerings are designed specifically to address the full range of parish needs in helping them to grow and become financially sustainable and, critically, also link into other areas of diocesan activity such as appointments, health and viability and finance.

The paper can be found here.

Paper 2: Strengthening Parish Development

By the staff of the (Resource) Strategy and Development Unit

This paper looks at the strategic context in which parish development works best, draws out some key points on change management, discusses how parishes can be identified for development and also looks at impact and evaluation.  The paper draws on the experience of a number of dioceses and reflects some of the experience of Toronto diocese described in Paper 1.

The paper can be found here.

Paper 3: Visioning Day Toolkit for Growth or Mission Action Planning

By the staff of the (Resource) Strategy and Development Unit

This tool-kit – based largely on one developed by Peterborough diocese – has been designed specifically to help parishes prepare for and develop Growth or Mission Action Plans. It includes preparatory material as well as material for use on the Visioning Day.

The tool-kit can be found here.