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Taking the vision. HOME. THE STORY so far…. The story so far…. Two consultations & a steering group A LAUNCH at General Assembly ’07 Presentations at all the Autumn Synods Still an awful lot of FITTING OUT to do. The story so far…. Introductory discussions then A BIBLE YEAR
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Taking the vision HOME
THE STORY so far…
The story so far… • Two consultations & a steering group • A LAUNCH at General Assembly ’07 • Presentations at all the Autumn Synods • Still an awful lot of FITTING OUT to do
The story so far… Introductory discussions then A BIBLE YEAR A PRAYER YEAR An EVANGELISM YEAR
The story so far… Helpful? Worthy? Churchy? WHY THIS?
THINGS we may have to fix…
Things we may have to fix • A learned ministry, but a deskilled church? • The cost of historical critical enquiry? • A loss of confidence in faith learning? • A Bible that doesn’t seem to help
Gifts from the wider culture • Owning our BAGGAGE • Hearing other VOICES • Eating WHOLEMEAL • Living with AWKWARD • We all bring SOMETHING • Interpretation as a sort of CONVERSATION So, WHAT NOW?
Things we need to tackle • Widespread depression • Loss of confidence • Fading self-belief • Tired & confused? • A sense that time is against us REFRESHING OUR CHURCH CULTURE
Things worth trying Repossess the BIBLE as the people’s book Refresh PRAYER as sustaining conversation with God Rehabilitate EVANGELISM as honest expression of what motivates us
Things worth trying RE-FORMING CHURCH by REPOSSESSION of what God has given us So, will help?
THREE YEARS of renewal
Vision4Life BIBLE YEAR • Starts ADVENT ’08 • MENU from Sept. ’08 • Each church designs and decides for itself • Must connect with where people are • Moving everyone into more Bible involvement
Vision4Life PRAYER YEAR • Starts ADVENT ’09 • MENU from Sept. ’09 • Still locally designed • Builds on Bible Year • Seeks to make prayer more effective for everyone in our church
Vision4Life EVANGELISM YEAR • Starts ADVENT 2010 • MENU from Sept. 2010 • Still locally designed • Builds on Bible and prayer years • Working outwards from who-we-are to honest, appropriate sharing…
BUT WILL IT WORK for US?
But will it work for us? FOUR CONVERSATIONS before you say “YES!” 4 Booklets in February 4 conversations and a decision by August ‘08 Your church plans HOW, the booklets may help NEEDS LOCAL OWNING
But will it work for us? NOW FOR SOME IDEA OF WHAT’S IN THE FOUR BOOKLETS…
DISCUSSION ONE transformed by the Bible
THE BIBLE BOOKLET IDEAS to develop locally • Telling Bible Journeys • Is the Bible working? • Are we typical of ‘us’? • Ideas about how the Bible might work better • What do WE think?
DISCUSSION TWO transformed by Prayer
THE PRAYER BOOKLET IDEAS to develop locally • Telling Prayer stories • Psalms, poem, prayer • Is prayer working? • Are we typical of ‘us’? • Ideas from others • What do WE think?
DISCUSSION THREE transformed for evangelism
THE EVANGELISM BOOKLET IDEAS to develop locally • Telling our stories • Do we allow sharing? • Do we need a re-think? • Are we typical of ‘us’? • Ideas from others • What do WE think?
DISCUSSION FOUR taking the next step
THE ‘NEXT STEP’ BOOKLET • Bringing it all together • Taking a decision Also… WORSHIP IDEAS for a Vision4Life Sunday
Praying, Preparing and Planning
Other Resources to help OUR WEBSITE: www.vision4life.org.uk OUR e-mail ADDRESS: admin@vision4life.org.uk OUR POSTAL ADDRESS: Vision4Life, Windermere Centre…
Signing Up…
Signing Up • on our website • at our e-mail address • or by post We’ll post signed-up churches, Synod by Synod on our website
“Christianity has become part of the furniture... like a grand piano nobody plays any longer. I want the dust to be taken off and the people to play music” + John Sentamu