Celebrating Reflecting Planning Realising the Dicesan Visin fr Grwth in Parishes, Benefices and Deaneries
Grwing in Gd The Dicesan Visin fr Grwth encurages individuals and church cmmunities acrss the dicese t becme mre engaged in Gd s lving invlvement in the wrld. The reprt n which it is based was accepted by the Dicesan Synd in June 2014, and sets ut fur pririties fr grwth: Grwing in Depth: respnding t the call f Christ in every part f ur lives Grwing in Number: drawing the cntacts we have int the life f Gd s kingdm Grwing in Influence: reaching beynd urselves in ur impact n the wider wrld Grwing Yunger: building churches whse age-range reflects ur cmmunities. Grwing in Gd Celebrating Reflecting Planning will enable yu t realise the dicesan visin by: Celebrating the signs f Gd s presence in yur church and wider cmmunity Reflecting n what is already happening in yur church cmmunity Planning ways in which yu can strengthen and build n what yu are already ding in the name f Christ. This resurce can be used in a number f ways, depending n lcal circumstances: As a relatively brief exercise, taking n mre than an evening As a shrt series f meetings As the basis f a wider cnsultatin n an awayday r parish cnference By a ministry team r a small wrking grup By a larger grup (eg a PCC r Benefice Cuncil). Grwing in Gd is a prcess rather than a ne-ff initiative. As its cycle f Celebrating Reflecting Planning becmes embedded in church life, it will generate a rhythm that shapes and infrms ministry and missin. S in this resurce, yu will find: Liturgical and biblical material t help yu t ntice and celebrate the signs f Gd s presence, and his cntinuing desire t bring his purpses t cmpletin in Christ and thrugh the Spirit A series f statements, gruped arund the fur grwth pririties, which highlight sme f the key features f church life, and invite yu t reflect n yur wn experience as a parish r benefice Suggestins t help yu t cnsider prayerfully which areas f ministry and missin Gd is calling yu t strengthen and develp ver the next tw years, and t make plans that will take yu frward. 1
Grwing in Gd Celebrating Reflecting Planning An bvius and natural way t launch Grwing in Gd lcally is t use the setting f wrship and prayer. This can be dne in a number f ways. Liturgical resurces As a parish r benefice yu may wish t use the liturgical resurces in Appendix 1 as part f yur regular wrship, r t hld a dedicated Grwing in Gd service. Either ptin will enable yu t see the Grwing in Gd prcess as part f yur respnse t the genersity and hspitality f Gd. And by giving thanks t Gd fr his faithfulness at the utset, yu will be building n the faithful witness f many saints ver the years. Discerning Prayer Alngside praying individually using the Dicesan Prayer fr Grwth bkmarks, yu may wish t include pprtunities t gather tgether t pray. These might cme within yur usual pattern f wrship and prayer, r at a dedicated prayer event. Hwever yu decide t d it, cultivating the attitude f prayerfulness is a key fundatin fr discerning Gd s presence and activity, and seeking his guidance fr the future. Yu may find the resurces in Appendix 2 helpful here. Biblical Materials We ften cme acrss statements like this abut missin: the church s task is t discern what Gd is ding in the wrld, and t jin in. The Bible has an imprtant part t play in this discernment, and in helping us t listen and respnd t Gd s call. The biblical resurces in Appendix 3 can be used as the basis f individual and grup study, and t infrm the ministries f preaching and teaching. Grwing in Gd Celebrating Reflecting Planning Fur sets f statements, rganised arund the fur Grwing in Gd pririties, are prvided t help yu t reflect n the life f yur church r benefice. Decide hw yu are ging t cmplete them perhaps as a PCC, a ministry team r anther representative grup. Peple wh attended ne f the Grwing in Gd radshws in 2014 may well wish t be invlved in yur reflectin grup. Ideally yu shuld als include at least ne yunger member f yur church r benefice, and sme wh are relatively new t the church. T make the mst f yur time tgether, each member f the reflectin grup shuld read: Yur parish s extract frm the Church f England s Parish Sptlights, which is enclsed with this dcument. This prvides sme useful backgrund infrmatin n the area yu serve The summary f the Grwing in Gd Reprt that was accepted at the Dicesan Synd in June 2014 (yu can find this n the dicesan website at www.cfesufflk.rg click n the Grwing in Gd windw) 2
The review f nearly 1,000 respnses frm the Grwing in Gd radshws, als n the same page f the dicesan website. These shw what churches are already ding r dreaming f ding in the fur pririty areas, and where they are encuraged and challenged Anything yu have used as a parish t help yu t set ut and plan yur ministry and missin (e.g. yur mst recent Annual Reprt, the Lking t the Future tlkit, Missin Actin Planning). A reflectin meeting using the fur sets f statements can take as little as tw hurs. Each set has three parts: Starter These express what yu are ding verall in each f the pririty areas. They will help yu t understand the relative strengths and weaknesses f yur church acrss the fur areas. They are intended as discussin starters rather than an exact science. Ask each team member t trust their instincts and scre the starters befre yur reflectin meeting. Statements These ask yu t think abut sme particular features f church life in each area. The pint is t give yu sme idea f yur relative strengths in each area, and what yu might want t develp. Again, yu shuld trust yur instincts ver the scring. The lists are nt intended t be exhaustive. Actins Fr each pririty area, decide n ne r tw (n mre) particular actins that yu believe yur church shuld carry ut. Discuss what it might take t develp these actins. In the Planning stage, the maximum f eight actins (tw frm each pririty area) will be prayerfully reduced t three. One f these shuld be smething yu can readily achieve within six mnths, leaving tw mre substantial actins that will require mre significant time and resurces. Once yu have held yur reflectin meeting, yu will have enugh material fr the next stage f the Grwing in Gd prcess. 3
Grwing in Depth We aim t deepen ur desire t respnd t the call f Christ in every part f life Please indicate hw much yu agree with the fllwing statements abut yur church r benefice (the higher the scre, the mre yu agree). Starter We enable peple f all backgrunds and ages t becme mre cnfident and mature in Christian faith, mre prayerful thrughut their lives, and mre willing t discver and develp their gifts in the service f Gd s kingdm. Statements We prvide regular pprtunities fr peple at all stages f life and belief wh want t explre the Christian faith and grw in prayer We help children and yung peple t grw in and express their faith We use the pprtunities arund baptism and cnfirmatin t help peple t explre Christian faith fr themselves We encurage peple t set aside regular time fr prayer and Bible study, as individuals and in small grups The teaching and learning ministry f ur church challenges and encurages us in ur discipleship Daily prayers are said in church, and are pen t all There are pprtunities fr peple t pray tgether and fr thers (e.g. prayer grups, parish prayer diary) We develp the life f prayer thrugh regular quiet days, prayer wrkshps, spiritual directin, retreats We emphasise the imprtance f Gd s call in everyday life, and infrm Christian discipleship in the wider wrld We encurage peple t identify and develp their gifts, and use them t serve Gd in the church and the rest f life. Actin These are the main changes we culd make ver the next 18 mnths t enable ur church members t becme mre cnfident in their faith and gifts, and mre prayerful: D yu need help t Grw Deeper? If s email jhn.parr@cfesufflk.rg 4
Grwing in Number We aim t grw the numbers f thse wh attend wrship and/r fresh expressins f church and belng t ur electral rll by 2020 Please indicate hw much yu agree with the fllwing statements abut yur church r benefice (the higher the scre, the mre yu agree). Starter Our church/benefice builds relatinships with the cntacts we have, drawing them int the life f Gd s kingdm. Statements It is easy fr thse utside the life f the church t knw f ur existence and character Cngregatin members regularly invite and welcme thers t ur services and events Our church buildings are welcming and pen during the day, with accessible materials that help peple t engage with the Christian faith Cngregatin members are actively invlved in missin prjects in the lcal cmmunity t draw peple int the life f the church Our church services and teaching are accessible, inspiring and relevant t thse new t church There are regular infrmal pprtunities in the life f the parish/benefice fr cngregatin members t build relatinships with new peple We prvide pprtunities fr thse relatively new t the church t serve in its ministries, within the church and in the wider cmmunity We ffer pprtunities t explre faith and experience Christian cmmunity fr peple wh have little r n church backgrund, including ur baptism, wedding and funeral cntacts We are planning t frm a new cngregatin meeting at anther time and/r place, reflecting a different culture yet linked t the rest f the parish/benefice We use ur festival, civic and special services t build bridges t individuals and the wider cmmunity. Actin These are the main changes we culd make ver the next 18 mnths t develp relatinships with ur cntacts: D yu need help t Grw in Number? If s cntact dave.gardner@cfesufflk.rg 5
Grwing in Influence We aim t reach beynd urselves by grwing ur presence and engagement in the wider wrld Please indicate hw much yu agree with the fllwing statements abut yur church r benefice (the higher the scre, the mre yu agree). Starter In ur parish/benefice, we seek t serve the wider cmmunity by prmting inclusin, recnciliatin and stewardship f the envirnment. Statements We are develping ur ministry f pastral care in ur parish/benefice s that it reaches beynd ur cngregatins We have a strng presence and established cnnectins with ur wider cmmunity, whm we serve in the name f Christ We care fr Gd s created wrld by treasuring and cnserving ur envirnment, wrking with thers t mdel this aspect f discipleship We are willing t set up prjects and wrk in partnership with ther grups lcally (e.g. parish/twn cuncils, cmmunity grups) t address needs We rejice in wrking tgether in ecumenical prjects Our ministry and missin embraces peple frm marginalised and disempwered grups We lk beynd ur immediate lcality, t the cunty, the natin and the wrld church, in ur search fr Gd s justice and peace We knw and pray fr the chaplains in ur area wh minister in specific institutins, e.g. prisns, health care, businesses, agriculture, educatin We supprt fellw Christians wh live ut their discipleship in their wrkplace r lcal cmmunity Our intercessins in church services, hmegrups and persnal devtins, embrace ur ministry f presence, engagement and service. Actin These are the main changes we culd make ver the next 18 mnths t grw ur presence and engagement in the wider wrld: D yu need help t Grw in Influence? If s cntact Kathleen.benrabha@cfesufflk.rg 6
Grwing Yunger We aim t grw cngregatins and/r fresh expressins f church that match the age prfile f the lcal ppulatin Please indicate hw much yu agree with the fllwing statements abut yur church r benefice (the higher the scre, the mre yu agree). Starter Peple attend ur services and activities frm acrss the age range f the area we serve Statements The predminant age range in ur cngregatins reflects that f the lcal ppulatin We have dedicated activities fr the age ranges between 25 and 65 We have a specific fcus n under-fives, including ur baptism families We have effective partnerships with ur catchment primary schl(s) We ffer the children and families with whm we have cntact lifeenhancing encunters with Jesus Christ We have effective partnerships with ur catchment secndary schl(s) We ffer each yung persn and their family life-enhancing encunters with Jesus Christ Our services are places f hspitality, creativity and celebratin fr under-18s We seek t engage with yung adults (18-25s) Peple under 40 are represented n ur decisin-making bdies. Actin These are the main changes we culd make ver the next 18 mnths t ensure that the age prfile f thse wh attend ur services and activities mre nearly reflects the ppulatin we serve: D yu need help t Grw Yunger? If s cntact jane.sheat@cfesufflk.rg 7
Grwing in Gd Celebrating Reflecting Planning The planning stage f Grwing in Gd will enable yu t realise sme f the aspiratins that have surfaced thrugh the celebrating and reflecting stages. Planning is seen here as a light tuch apprach t help yu t identify yur pririties fr the freseeable future (the next tw years), and bring them tgether with yur resurces human, spiritual, material and financial. This is what the planning stage might lk like in yur parish/benefice: Hld an pen evening fr yur cngregatin and electral rll members when yu have cmpleted yur reflectin meetings. Include yunger peple where pssible. Start with a shrt act f wrship. Explain the aim f the evening t identify three ways in which yur church can be Grwing in Gd ver the next tw years. Present the findings f yur reflectin meeting, with up t eight suggestins fr grwth. Display these suggestins n large pieces f card r flip-chart paper arund the rm. In small grups discuss which f the suggestins Peple feel passinate abut, and why Peple feel yur church has the particular gifting t undertake Peple can identify pssible partners t wrk with frm ther churches r the wider cmmunity, t engage in the suggested areas f grwth Culd be achieved in six mnths. Each grup writes up its discussins n a flip-chart sheet: PASSIONATE ABOUT (what really matters t us?) GIFTED IN (what we re gd at and enjy) PARTNERSHIP WITH (wh else? where else?) IN SIX MONTH S TIME Ask smene frm each grup t feed back its main pints t the whle meeting. Give everyne three pst-it ntes. Ask each persn t chse which suggestins they believe it is apprpriate fr yur church t develp, by placing their pst-it ntes n the suggested actins written arund the rm. Each persn shuld chse ne suggestin that culd be started within six mnths. If they wish t be invlved in ne r mre f the suggestins, they shuld write their name n the pst-it. Summarise the results t the whle meeting. Keep r phtgraph the flip chart sheets with the eight suggestins fr grwth (and pst-its) and the small grup discussins, as a recrd f the meeting Cnclude by infrming the meeting f the next step and praying tgether. 8
Present yur findings t yur next PCC meeting after the pen evening. This will give yur PCC the pprtunity t decide n the next steps. These include: Agreeing yur three actins, authrising thse wh will undertake them, and allcating resurces. Clarifying what yu may need t stp ding (in the language f Jhn 15, this is the pruning that is necessary fr grwth) in rder t undertake these actins. Nting any training needs and cntacting the apprpriate Dicesan Officer (their email addresses are n the reflectin sheets). Cmmunicating yur findings t the wider cngregatin. Cmpleting the summary frm n page 12, and returning it t Dave Gardner by the middle f December 2015. Ensuring that the three actins are included n future PCCs as a pririty. Grwing in Gd Timeline May- June Mid- Sept Early Oct Early Nv Late Nv Early Dec Jan 2016 Launch at Archdeacns Visitatins Training Meetings at The St Nichlas Centre, the Cathedral & St Mary s, Haleswrth Grwing in Gd Celebrating Lcal launch Grwing in Gd Reflecting Reflectin grup meets Grwing in Gd Planning Open meeting PCC decides three actins, authrises peple and allcates resurces June 16,17,18 Summary frm returned Actins underway 2016 and beynd Deanery Learning Cmmunities will be established in autumn 2016, as an pprtunity t share yur parish/benefice s cntributin t Grwing in Gd reflecting n what yu ve already dne, celebrating and learning frm each ther acrss the Deanery and discussing any issues with the Directr f Missin and ther dicesan fficers. A secnd Grwing in Gd bklet will be launched at the Archdeacns Visitatins in 2017 t cntinue the prcess f enabling parishes and benefices t clarify their visin and purpse. 9
Appendix 1 Liturgical Resurces Opening Acclamatin Respnse Let us give thanks t the Gd f ur Lrd Jesus Christ, wh has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing. There is ne bdy, ne Spirit, ne hpe in Gd's call, ne Lrd, ne faith, ne baptism. There is ne Gd, Father f all, ver all and in all, t whm Christ ascended n high. And thrugh his Spirit he gives us gifts: sme are apstles, sme are his prphets. Evangelists, pastrs and teachers he gives us, s we can minister tgether t build up his bdy, t be mature in the fullness f Christ. T Father, Sn and Hly Spirit give praise and dminin, hnur and might, fr ever and ever. Amen. Penitence We cnfess t yu ur selfishness and lack f lve: fill us with yur Spirit. Lrd, have mercy. Lrd, have mercy. We cnfess t yu ur fear and failure in sharing ur faith: fill us with yur Spirit. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. We cnfess t yu ur lack f trust in yu: fill us with yur Spirit. Lrd, have mercy. Lrd, have mercy. May Gd wh lved the wrld s much that he sent his Sn t be ur Saviur frgive us ur sins and make us hly t serve him in the wrld, thrugh Jesus Christ ur Lrd. Amen. The Peace We are all ne in Christ Jesus. We belng t him thrugh faith, heirs f the prmise f the Spirit f peace. Eucharistic Preface And nw we give yu thanks because by the Hly Spirit yu lead us int all truth, and give us pwer t prclaim yur gspel t the natins and t serve yu as a ryal priesthd. Intrductin t The Lrd s Prayer Seeking the salvatin f the wrld, let us pray with cnfidence as Jesus taught us: Pst Cmmunin r clsing Prayer Eternal Gd, giver f lve and pwer, yur Sn Jesus Christ has sent us int all the wrld t preach the gspel f his kingdm: cnfirm us in this missin, and help us t live the gd news we prclaim; thrugh Jesus Christ ur Lrd. Blessing Nw may the blessing f Gd the Father, wh made frm ne every natin that ccupies the earth; f Gd the Sn wh bught us fr Gd frm every tribe and language and peple and natin; and f Gd the Spirit wh brings us tgether in unity, be with us and remain with us always. Amen. Sending ut Glry t Gd, whse pwer, at wrk amng us, can d infinitely mre than all we can ask r cnceive; t him be glry in the Church and in Christ Jesus, fr ever and ever. Amen. Further resurces www.churchfengland.rg/prayerwrship/wrship/texts/newpatterns.aspx 10
Appendix 2 Discerning Prayer Yu may find it helpful t use ne r mre apprach frm each sectin in a time f prayer. Prepare befrehand s that yu have what yu need, e.g. candle, music, Bibles, newspapers, a prayer tree and leaves, r cards and a bwl etc. In a grup, welcme everyne. Explain hw the thughts and insights frm yur prayers will fit int the Grwing in Gd reflectin prcess. Arrive in the present Take a deep breath maybe several deep breaths Light a candle as a sign that yu are in Gd s presence. Prepare in infrmal r frmal wrds: e.g. O Gd, make speed t save us; O Lrd, make haste t help us. Lead yur peple t freedm, O Gd And banish all darkness frm ur hearts and minds. Play r sing a sng r hymn. Attend t ne anther, e.g. briefly share with a neighbur a mment frm yur day. Reflect With Scripture: e.g. Jhn 15.1-11; Mark 4:26-32; 1 Crinthians 3.5-9 Yu may like t read a passage thrugh slwly. If any wrd r phrase stands ut fr yu, sit with it fr as lng as it speaks t yu. Or yu may like t explre the text itself, reading its cntext and lking up crssreferences. On life in ur parish / benefice / deanery Use lcal newspapers t remind yu f life lcally. Lking at a particular stry, hw d yu feel? What d yu think? What wuld yu like t d? Or reflect n the parish sptlight summary. What stands ut fr yu? Hw d yu feel? What wuld yu like t d? In silence Quietly sit r kneel in Gd s presence. Respnd Hld n t what yu thught / felt / understd in the reflectin time. In respnse t that, what is Gd s call t me, and t us? Share whatever yu are willing t perhaps a verse, r thught, r picture, r plan. Yu may want t write r draw n a paper leaves and fix them nt a prayer tree (a tree shape r a small branch); r write r draw n cards and put them in a bwl r bx. In a small grup, yu may als want t share yur thughts alud. Offer Offer yurselves and yur effrts in thanksgiving and prayer in frmal r infrmal wrds, in sng and / r in silence. 11
Appendix 3 Biblical Resurces Grwing in Gd Gd s Kingdm in the wrld Read Mark 4:26-32 and Luke 13:20-21 As yu read these passages, what d yu ntice? What stands ut fr yu? What questins arise? What d these pictures say t yu abut hw Gd s kingdm grws and spreads? What d they say abut yur rle as individuals and as a church grup in this prcess? The cntext arund each f these verses is ne f cntrversy in the preceding days Jesus has been criticised fr healing n the Sabbath and has challenged peple s perceptins f him and the kingdm in his prvcative teachings. Hw des this understanding f cntext shape the way yu understand these three images f the kingdm? In what ways can yu watch ut fr signs f the kingdm grwing? What signs wuld yu be lking fr? Based n these three images, f the grwing seed, the mustard seed and the yeast, hw might yu be different in the cming mnth in yur apprach t grwing Gd s kingdm? The Kingdm f Gd The gspels make it clear that Jesus came with a specific missin: t bring in Gd's kingdm (Mark 1:15, Matthew 4:17), knwn by Mark and Luke as the Kingdm f Gd and by Matthew as the Kingdm f heaven. This term isn't meant t refer t a gegraphical place, but t a way f being in which Gd rules and life is lived accrdingly. The kingdm will nt be fully realised until Jesus returns - until that pint there is still struggle between Gd's kingdm and ther ways f being - but Jesus' teaching, bth verbal (in his stries and discurses) and practical (in his miracles and behaviur) gives tasters f what this kingdm lks like. Jhn's Gspel has Jesus speaking f having cme "that they may have life, and have it t the full" (Jhn 10:10). Hw d yu understand life in all its fullness? What might it mean in practice fr the kingdm t be bth nw and nt yet? 12
Reading Jesus Parables Much f Jesus teaching was delivered in parables stries intended t prduce a respnse in the hearers by speaking t them in ways they wuld understand, and challenging them. Stries were, and are, a cmmnly used teaching technique, nt unique t Jesus. But whereas sme were set in a fantasy wrld, Jesus parables were set in the knwn wrld, drawing the readers in by their familiarity. Smetimes the meaning f the parables is bvius; n ther ccasins they are intriguing, even mystifying, and they invite further reflectin. Sme parables wuld have shcked their riginal hearers (fr example, the Gd Samaritan). Why are stries such a useful teaching technique? In what ways might it be useful t rewrite the parables fr tday? The kingdm parables give images f what Gd s kingdm lks like nw and hw it will be in the future, its imprtance and impact, hw it grws and hw it challenges peple. See, fr example: Matthew 9:16-17; Luke 7:41-43; Mark 12:1-11. What images f the kingdm are presented in each f these parables? Picturing the Kingdm These readings cntain three pictures f the kingdm, likening it t a grwing seed, a mustard seed and yeast. There are many ther parables which prvide different, but cmplementary, depictins. Cnsider each f these pictures: - the weeds amng gd plants (Mt 13:24-30) - the hidden treasure (Mt 13:44) - the valuable pearl (Mt 13:45-46) - the fishing net (Mt 13:47-50) - the unmerciful servant (Mt 18:21-35) - the wrkers in the vineyard (Mt 20:1-16) - the wedding banquet (Mt 22:2-14) - the wise and flish virgins (Mt 25:1-13) What d these images tell yu abut the characteristics f the kingdm what it lks like, hw it grws, its value, its bundaries? Hw might the messages f these pictures be translated int images that make sense in tday s wrld? Further teaching n the Kingdm As well as the parables, the gspels include a wide range f "tasters" f the kingdm, thrugh examples and stries: - Luke 4:31-37 - authrity ver evil spirits - Mark 4:35-41 - authrity ver nature - Matthew 15:21-28 - the imprtance f faith - Mark 9:14-29 - the imprtance f prayer - Matthew 5:43-48 radical teaching Hw des each f these examples develp yur understanding f what the Kingdm f Gd is like? What examples culd yu give f the kingdm breaking in t tday's wrld? In what ways d yur answers t these questins encurage, challenge r inspire yu? 13
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Grwing in Gd Summary This summary sheet can be detached frm the bklet, phtcpied r cmpleted electrnically frm the Grwing in Gd pages f the dicesan website (www.cfesufflk.rg) Benefice/Parish Deanery Actins (ne shuld be achievable within six mnths) Dates f yur Deanery Learning Cmmunity will be published by Easter 2016. Please return this t The Revd Dave Gardner via dave.gardner@cfesufflk.rg by 11 December 2015. Many thanks. 14