PARISH DAY 2009
PARISH DAY 2009
Discerning God, Valuing People, Serving Community, Enabling Change
Everyone was invited to gather and share. We had lunch and then, in groups, we studied Scripture and shared thoughts/ideas/visions for growing into a FAMILY-FRIENDLY CHURCH
Please read, pray and respond in what ever format is best for you. Thanks.
DISCERNING GOD: We looked at a number of passages from the Bible and discussed them in groups. Samuel 3, Ruth 1, Deuteronomy 6, Matthew/Mark/Luke (when the children try to get to see Jesus). These were the thoughts that people shared with each other:-
God spoke to young Samuel, Eli the priest understood it was God. No age limit and we need to have open minds. There is no age limit. The ‘family’ should include everyone. Those who had no-one were included. Everyone responds differently so that same message needs to be presented in as many ways as possible. We must treat all people the same – whatever their age, race, gender, social background, disability, academic level etc. EVERYONE has a voice. Let’s help them to use it. ALL views need to be listened to. We also need to leave our comfort zones sometimes. We need to pass on that God is love to children and instilling that in them. God is love.
Jesus asked for the children to be brought to him. In Mark – Jesus was angry with those who stopped the children. In today’s age Children have to WANT to be at church – they don’t have to be anymore. Need to encourage them to feel like they BELONG. Jesus accepts children for who they are – even if they are too young to understand. We have to live with DIVERSITY as worthy of our calling.
VALUING PEOPLE: What does the word FAMILY mean?
People said – ‘This word applies to all who meet us in our daily lives. We need to give to this extended family. We talked about valuing people – How can we help EVERYONE to feel as though they ‘BELONG’? We need to listen to people’s needs without judging them. We need to love and accept all parents and children. All people need to feel loved and valued. Good to have high expectations of each other but with love, not judgment.
Sharing joys and problems needs to be part of our ‘family’ time together. How do we do this and encourage this?
We need to involve our mums more. Not give them jobs but ask them if they want to be involved more? How can we support our mums more? Help them to feel more like they belong – that this is their place too.
We need to have more fun together and help our whole family to interact with each other.
We need an ‘open’ youth group/club for young people.
How do we draw a line between accepting people they way they are and acceptable behaviour in church?
Again people asked for more inclusion, large print editions, better ramps, People also asked for more testimonies – to hear more about what God was doing in individual’s lives.
SERVING COMMUNITY
We want to include children more and more in services. We celebrated children in the choir, at bell ringing, beginning to learn how to serve through the All Age Service. We long for a youth club which we know means a youth worker which means money. We want to see more get-togethers, parties, family days, sports day, barbeques – on a MONTHLY basis. We know that to include parents we have to provide creches for days like the Parish Day and we have to provide babysitting if we are to invite parents on Alpha or refresher courses.
ENABLING CHANGE
Remember that it is God that is unchanging and He challenges us to be constantly transforming into His likeness. Change is part of a Christian’s life. To be Christian is to embrace the changes that God leads us into. It must be God who leads us and God alone.
Yours in Christ,
