Perhaps hope should feel daring... I think you're right that you have to look in the unexpected places to find the green shoots, plants grow in neglected corners and cracks in the concrete after all. Perhaps what some of this boils down to is that we need to take more seriously the distinction between church as people and church as institution. And having done that, we can consider our definitions. I remember a book which argued 'we need to lower the bar on what it means to be 'church' and raise the bar on what it means to be a disciple.' An interesting thread to pull on...
Thanks so much for your reflection and truth spoken in a time where I think we need to be in lament and reality about the decline and death of churches as we presently know them in so many denominations. I just thought you might be interested in a resource that I and a friend have developed called Ember Spaces . This is the blurb about it and we are wanting to offer it across the UK and across denominations:
Ember Spaces:
A Holy Saturday kind of day to
…come away together.
…acknowledge things that are dying in your church context.
…give space to your grief.
…be brave, honest and courageous
…expect encounter and be open to God and one another
This is an offer for Christian communities facing endings; churches, fresh expressions, congregations and places where there is parish restructuring.
I am very interested in the work you are doing and wondering what overlap there is. Feel free to get in touch - Sally Taylor - sally.taylor@poolemc.org.uk
I find myself increasingly frustrated with the C of E. However I see ‘green shoots’ flourishing just outside its door. I also love this song. It feels daring to have hope for the future but it may be there after or beyond ‘church’?
Perhaps hope should feel daring... I think you're right that you have to look in the unexpected places to find the green shoots, plants grow in neglected corners and cracks in the concrete after all. Perhaps what some of this boils down to is that we need to take more seriously the distinction between church as people and church as institution. And having done that, we can consider our definitions. I remember a book which argued 'we need to lower the bar on what it means to be 'church' and raise the bar on what it means to be a disciple.' An interesting thread to pull on...
Thanks so much for your reflection and truth spoken in a time where I think we need to be in lament and reality about the decline and death of churches as we presently know them in so many denominations. I just thought you might be interested in a resource that I and a friend have developed called Ember Spaces . This is the blurb about it and we are wanting to offer it across the UK and across denominations:
Ember Spaces:
A Holy Saturday kind of day to
…come away together.
…acknowledge things that are dying in your church context.
…give space to your grief.
…be brave, honest and courageous
…expect encounter and be open to God and one another
This is an offer for Christian communities facing endings; churches, fresh expressions, congregations and places where there is parish restructuring.
I am very interested in the work you are doing and wondering what overlap there is. Feel free to get in touch - Sally Taylor - sally.taylor@poolemc.org.uk
Hi Sally, thank you for this - I look forward to reading more - I'll be in touch.
Peace!
S
I find myself increasingly frustrated with the C of E. However I see ‘green shoots’ flourishing just outside its door. I also love this song. It feels daring to have hope for the future but it may be there after or beyond ‘church’?