Vision 2011

Our Church Vision 

Our vision is to be a redemptive community, sharing the love of Christ in the world, by word, sign and deed; helping people become lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.

What do we mean when we say we aspire to be a redemptive community 

“We are on a journey towards being a community of communities made up “of people who strive to live by the values of Jesus’ kingdom rather than by the values of the world around us. The life of the redemptive community revolves around worship and bringing honor to God. It is a place where faith is nurtured, brokenness is healed, hope is found, lives are restored and salvation is lived out. It is characterized by a love of each other that resembles the love God has for us. This love is extended to the world by including everyone and showing hospitality to all. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the redemptive community serves Jesus in the world. It follows his example in joining with the poor and those on the fringes of society, working for justice, and proclaiming the good news of God.”

From 2009 Vision Night

Last year at Vision Night Alan talked about our sense as elders and a pastoral team that God was calling us to go fishing out of the harbour and into the wider community for the lost, lonely and the least. We looked at how Jesus called Peter to leave his nets and go fishing for people. We believe this call is for us all. Not just a few. It is a call to be involved in helping people become lifelong followers of Jesus and transforming our communities.

Two key passages.
For a many years Luke 4 v 16-19 and Acts 1 v 8 have been pivotal passages for us. These two passages can be brought together to provide a big vision.

While holding this big vision we believe God is calling us to prioritise the forming and strengthening of local communities. That is communities in our local neighbourhoods. Communities of care and mission. Communities we can all be part of. Communities that can be glimpses of the kingdom of God where we live.
At the leaders night on the 29th of October 2010 we invited the leaders of the church to be part of forming and building our church as a community of communities by helping to lead in the development of a midsized community in their local area.
What will the local communities look like?
The local communities we are hoping for will be shaped by being:

• Locally based
• Volunteer led
• Mid-sized (30-50 people)
• Missionally focused

 
Each community will have a number of life-groups (small groups that meet to support each other, biblical study and prayer) within them. While the Life-group is a place to care for each other and support each other’s commitment to Christ, the local communities will provide a basis for mission together in the local community. This mission will be of all different types and shaped by the unique needs and opportunities of each local area.

How will we get started?

Next year, beginning on Wednesday the 9th of February, we will have five Wednesday nights for life-groups and individuals to come together and dream, explore, pray and develop the beginnings of new local communities.



New rhythms for a new year

• Beginning in February 2011 we will have daily readings and prayer starters linked to our present preaching series available via our website. We would encourage households to do these together.
• The daily readings, preaching series and life-group studies will be built around a strong biblical framework that follows the key Christian celebrations – Lent and Easter, Pentecost, Advent and Christmas.
• We will have seven biblical preaching series throughout the year. Each series will be seven weeks long. For the first six weeks of each series we will come together in the Sunday services to hear from God’s word, worship and pray together. On the seventh week we will meet in our local communities to enact what has been learnt together through the series in our local contexts. On these seventh Sundays there will be no services.

See the emerging calendar for 2011 for more details of when different things will be happening and to find out more.

If you’d like to find out more or have comments and questions please approach one of the leadership team and talk them through. If that isn’t possible please send feedback and pass on your thoughts, dreams and hopes.