2 last week Week 1 Week 2

3 worship Insert your text here

This week’s theme... “Re-imagining church— Part 1: Community” 4

5 Where do you belong?

6 Four different arenas where human beings can belong: –Public space –Social space –Private space –Intimate space Edward T. Hall

7 the search to belong… public space

8 the search to belong… social space You want to be where everybody knows your name And they're always glad you came!

9 the search to belong… personal space

10 the search to belong… intimate space

11 Where do you belong?

12

13 the passive consumer ‘I want what I want’ + ‘Satisfy Me!’ = Passive consumer!

14 the passive consumer healthcare… education… policing… public sector reform…

15 satisfy me!

16 satisfy me! a demand to be ‘entertained’ ‘Worship is a form of entertainment… If people are not entertained, they don’t feel they are participating.’ a US pastor in The Washington Post

17 satisfy me!

18 satisfy me! co-responsibility, co-production and community

19 satisfy me! ‘Satisfy Me’ ‘I want what I want’ ‘God loves Me’ ‘It’s My worship & My healing that counts’

20 me worship from:

21 consumer society has much we can celebrate

22 but consumer society has a price tag ‘It privileges the affluent & well- off and excludes the poor. It has harmed the environment and championed choice at the expense of other, sometimes more important values. It can lead to hedonistic lifestyles that downplay moral obligations and appeal to the baser instincts.’

23 but consumer society has a price tag fresh expressions can be consumerist but can also nurture community

24 community and those on the edge a biblical theme God is not just saving isolated individuals but building a new community Restoring the image of God who is community Jesus modeled an inclusive community—men & women, rich & poor, insiders & outsiders

25 fresh expressions on the edge

26 fresh expressions on the edge Listening Serving Building relationships Evangelism Worship

27 ‘We’ve got a product but we’ve forgotten the person.’ Roy Searle - Northumbria Community

28 pause for praise Insert your text here

29 community …the sum of relationships a group of individuals has with one another or their common experience of sharing together

30 community Your task in this group work is to rewrite Acts into the opposite sense

31 community They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

32 feedback

33 community They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47

34 description of the early church not over organised essentials only not too centralised God’s people getting on with it others liked what they saw!

35 description of the early church Personal and intimate belonging Social and public belonging

36 I have come to feel that the primary reality of which we have to take account in seeking for a Christian impact on public life is the Christian congregation. How is it possible that the gospel should be credible, that people should come to believe that the power which has the last word in human affairs is represented by a man hanging on a cross? I am suggesting that the only answer, the only hermeneutic* of the gospel, is a congregation of men and women who believe it and live by it. Lesslie Newbigin * “Hermeneutics” is the study of interpretation.

37 discuss Where have you seen real community in a church? Tell a story. What have you seen that builds strong relationships within the church community? What have you seen that hinders strong relationships within the church community?

38 ‘The church is the only society that exists for the sake of those who are not its members’ William Temple

39 the kingdom of God is a party Tony Campolo

40 Jesus presents us with a dream... not just a dream of more and better individual Christians standing like isolated statues in a museum. It is a dream of a community vibrant with life, pulsating with forgiveness, loud with celebration, fruitful in mission... A substantial city whose streets bustle with life, whose buildings echo with praise, a city aglow with the glory of community. Brian McLaren

41 discuss Public and social belonging How can we provide opportunities for public belonging within our churches? How can we provide opportunities for social belonging? How can we listen to the needs and views of people in our local communities?

42 worship and repentance

43 John 15:12-17 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

44 sung worship Insert your text here

45 let us pray Lord, we are honoured that you call us your friends. For the lost, the unloved, the marginalised and the victimised For those in pain, sorrow & grief, Have mercy, Lord

For those on the edge, not loved and cherished, Have mercy, Lord To those in our midst who are lonely and isolated, Have mercy, Lord 46

Forgive us Lord when we have squandered opportunities to share your love. We mourn Lord, for the poverty of our own hearts that would ration out your love. Have mercy, Lord 47

And we cry out to you Lord, for the many who are seeking you but take one look at us, the church and run a mile. Forgive us Lord when we want to settle for the status quo, to take the easy options. Have mercy, Lord 48

This is your mission Lord, we’re in this together! 49

Blessed are you King of the Universe who brings forth bread from the earth. You have given us your peace, and set a hunger in our hearts. 50

Restore our strength. Give new energy to tired limbs, new thought to weary minds. This is your mission Lord, we’re in this together! 51

52 breaking and sharing bread ‘May you… be blessed in Christ as you continue to serve Him.’

53 Almighty God, You call your people to proclaim afresh in every generation the good news of Jesus your Son. By the power of your Spirit rekindle in us gifts of courage & compassion.

54 Open our eyes to see your grace at work beyond our church buildings & institutions. Help us to work with you in building communities of faith allowing your mission to be expressed in our hurting world.

55 May we proclaim afresh your faithfulness and constant love in a changing and uncertain world. For the building of your kingdom and to the glory of your name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

56 final worship Breathe on me, breath of God, Till I am wholly thine, Until this earthly part of me Glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with thee the perfect life Of thine eternity.

Next week... “Re-imagining church— Part 2: Worship” See you then! 57