Nancy Rowe in Georgetown, Canada, writes about her church’s group formed to help people go deeper in faith:
‘The pub group is called ‘A Spirited Study’ and meets on a weekday evening once a month in the local pub. Some have coffee, some beer/wine, some a late supper. The group chooses the topic at the previous Spirited Study and I will often find some reflective piece to start the conversation. It was started to give people an opportunity to explore spiritual/faith issues in an informal, non-churchy setting. This was one of the ways in which I am trying to give people, including the Messy Church people, a chance to go ‘deeper’ in an ‘anything goes’ setting. We have had some really profound conversations and it is intriguing to see how the group can take the conversation into a personal exploration of their faith, or a social justice/political discussion of being Christian in the world. People are really comfortable expressing their doubts and asking questions to the group.
‘Our Messy Church is ticking along quite nicely. I love watching the families forming community. In our conversations and emails I clearly hear that our Messy Church families ‘own’ St George’s as surely as the Sunday worshippers do. I am really excited by the ongoing evolution/creation that is Messy Church at St George’s.’
You may also like
Under Pressure
26th Mar 2024They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ Mark 14:32-35 (NIV).
Being Strategic!
11th Mar 2024Last Friday, I made my way to Church House in London to celebrate the ‘end’ of my cohort’s Strategic Leaders Programme (GFSLP). It was, as Growing Faith Programmes Lead Stephen Beamond put it, a ‘tank-filling’ day!
Space for God in the everyday
26th Feb 2024Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God”. During Lent, traditionally I would give something up, but the last few years have involved me taking up something. This year I am making space to know God more in the everyday things.
Embracing Difference
7th Feb 2024Last Friday was Culture Day at my daughter’s secondary school in SE London. Digging into my German family history (how else did I get a name like Aike?),