Monthly Message (June 2009) - Vision

Dear Friends,

‘Where there is no vision - the people perish’ .... it says in Proverbs 29 vs. 18 (In older translations!)

I seem to talk about our building project a lot nowadays. With the countdown to the beginning of Phase 1 being measured in weeks now there is great excitement about having reached the first goal and actually seeing the work we’ve hoped for taking shape.

Amongst all the recent conversations someone asked me an interesting question came the other day - I was asked, “How have you managed to keep the people together throughout the planning and fundraising work?” .... and it reminded me of the long journey we’ve been on together .... and how ‘together’ has been such an important word.

We began over five years ago with some ideas and questions set out in a paper which I called ‘Re-pitching the tent.’ (The title of a book I’d read!). From the very beginning we recognised that the people of God are often called upon to change, to take risks as their situation requires it .... but they are always called to be the people of God, about the work of God in God’s world. And sometimes, like often in the Biblical stories, that means moving on to transform the gifts you’ve already been given into new treasures that serve present purposes. God is always bringing new life and opening new opportunities.

Then we thought together about what the church was here for and what we wanted to share from our life of faith with the wider community in this place. ‘If this church were a car - what kind of car would it be? If it were a colour? An animal?’ ... remember those questions?

And we gathered our thoughts - we are here to be a place of warm welcome, a place that offers friendship and hope, encouragement and community, a place that in its buildings and in its people says ‘God loves you’ to all.

Over the years we’ve talked a lot, faced big issues together, we’ve had a lot of fun fundraising, we’ve grown in friendship and met many new people - marvellously, the journey towards our vision for these buildings has been a rich and fruitful path. We have found God, and his people, very good.

How have you kept the people together? Was the question ... we shared the vision, and from the beginning we were very clear that these new buildings were for the enrichment of people and community, for sharing and serving, for proclaiming the gift of abundant life, that God gives.

As we launch into the adventure of Phase 1 - the building of the new Bradbury Hall - may God keep alive in us the vision of his love shared on earth by people with hands and hearts and voices, and in buildings that open their doors to make all welcome.

Yours,

Tracey.