Mission Shaped Community – Grays

Sola:

Acts 9 v 1-20 – Conversion of Saul

Saul persecuted the church but God got hold of him!!!

Act 9:15  The Lord said to him [Ananias], "Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel.

Know a lot about Paul the apostle, but we don’t know much about Ananias.
We can’t all be Paul but we can be Ananias.
Mission is not a big thing that cannot be attained, but a response to God.

Gillian:

Know where we’ve come from to know where we are going. Mission always seen as something we WENT to, i.e. foreign places. BUT it’s also about my community. Have to rethink what is meant by mission.
Everyone has amazing gifts in God – every time you make a cake for a neighbour, a thoughtful word, helping other people – that’s mission.
God has placed unique gifts in us, may not be able to stand up in front of 50, 70, 100 people. But there are other aspects…
i.e. Jane and Richard joined the local cycling group, not here every Sunday but a doing mission on a Sunday.
This is the way forward!!! Half of her is scared, half SO excited…
 

Russell:

Talked around changes and reforming into groups of disciples into doing mission.
100% convinced this is the way of doing things, the way ahead.
Believe this is where God is taking us.
Acts 13 v 1-3
The leaders have been meeting together, fasting and praying. God clearly spoken to us….

Act 13:2  And as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Very clear in all 3 places what the focus of mission is.
Need to fast and pray more.

Act 13:3  Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Mission is not about doing what we are doing now, saying “come to us” but ways of deliberately going out.
1. In Grays there is already a vision for the immediate area around All Saints. Street Party, Street Clean, Christmas events. Already an MSC – “All Saints MSC”
2. Gillian’s MSC focused around families, reach out to networks of people connected to us in someway. – Focus on own families, friendships, network of families coming to All Saints, nursery staff, parents. Frock swap etc.
3. Seabrook Rise – Bar N Bus, already opportunities for other areas for Mission.
Children’s MSC – Infants & Junior – Called Step Out.

Step In – Friendships
Step Up – Cell Groups for Children – relationship with God
Step Out – Reaching communities

 
Youth MSC – Existing youth Cell groups
Will carry on every Sunday at 10am, no large meeting in Corringham, no full on worship time in Tilbury. Good Christ centred Worship, Good teaching, Good Kids and Youth.
 

No pressure to join an MSC!

Seabrook Rise

Bar N Bus – Tuesday Nights
Community House
Riverside
Already relationships kicking off
Clearly geographically focused.
Ideas – Young people only on the bus, Families asking for more
Gary Jones wants to lead this.
Q: Will meeting increase
A: nothing
Already churches working in Seabrook Rise – Should we contact them – GPC working there, St Peters & Pauls loosely based in there.
Bus team is Baptist Church & TCF run the Bus
Q: Must be  a place to go elsewhere where they can get the word, like a child to teach. Place designated as a holy place where they can go. Are situations where people need to be delivered etc. need to think ahead, a regular program to know there is somewhere to be fed. Feel there is a need for a set program in all 3 places.
Russ: Everything tells me about the bus is the pray aspects of it. Kids asking for prayer. Can’t say worship and prayer doesn’t work in these places.
Q: Would this place be the place where you would bring the people?
A: Yes. Carry on meeting on a Sunday. So the place to come. Sundays will be focused visionary etc…
Q: what is being put in place to cater for the people we are reaching?
A: takes a long time to focus, to bring people to the meetings.
People could come to All Saints for meals etc…
 

The Lantern

(As in Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – The lantern represents a meeting of two worlds)
Q: Is it at Gillians home?
A: Looking for someone with a bigger house.
Point of contact very low key, invite people to come who wouldn’t come to Church. Some people don’t do church, partners don’t or children don’t.
e.g. Meal together, pray around the table, and invite people.
People already doing it though.
Initially Christian but longer term
Pray triplets, need to know hurting, struggles, not 1 on 1.
Likely to be cell groups, bible study. Open to everyone relaxed but a tight-nit underneath.
Q: Will you bring people into the church
A: people part of the MSC to be at 1st Sunday celebration. Encouraging and motivating.
Q: know how to meet needs, are we prepared for the needs that are being asked for?
A: Can’t individually meet that but can call on the other resources.
 

Bridging the Gap! – All Saints MSC

See Seabrook Rise and All Saints one MSC
Project over the whole thing –
There are projects as part of the MSC

Street Clean
Street Party
Bar N Bus
Christmas

Very much seen as one, working out of the Grays congregation
People want to go into OAP complexes, but there wont be 25 people dedicated to, but would be resourced by the Grays congregation.
Street Clean – Problem, Thurrock Council won’t take the rubbish away. BUT the community have brown bins – leaflet the area asking to use the areas brown bin.
Bar N Bus has 2 events this summer – Resourced by Grays congregation.
Alpha fundamental – as is “Life worth living”
Sprung out of a prayer walk.
Q: Will the family spirit still continue?
A: Yes, even if we have to meet separately at 6pm as the Grays MSC.
 

Summary

Romans 10 v 12 – 14

Rom 10:12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him:
Rom 10:13  for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15  and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!