We're beginning to explore the Acts of the Apostles together as church in Wythenshawe. We're also experiencing some interesting things: over the past few weeks 4 visions have been given to us via 4 different individuals who didn't know the church leadership were about to embark on a visioning process. The Spirit is moving - in our community and in connection with the church! I believe our role as church leaders (elders/minister) is not to control but together to discern and have oversight of the spiritual life of the church so we're going to test the 4 visions in our congregation by sharing them in Sunday worship, praying through them (together and separately) seeking guidance from God's spirit and having conversations with each other and the bodies we're connected with as a church. New people are also becoming disciples/apostles with a handful of people joining in church in the last 3 months. In the lives of longstanding church members there are also unexpected conversations about God, hope, values for future generations, healing, prayer, church and faith. The Spirit is being poured out in renewal in Wythenshawe. It is not as dramatic as Pentecost but the Acts of the Apostles are happening. It is also not an easy time - there was little trouble at church when we did not meet with the bible & pray regularly but now some people are experiencing great illness, sleeplessness and hardship unlike before. But God's Spirit and the prayer & pastoral support in our community we are not stopping the Acts in Wythenshawe. There are also new parables for our time are being spoken and written too (will share another time!). We're not only reading from Acts but it seems like we are doing Acts and may be in a time of Acts in Wythenshawe! So we're setting aside time to pray, think and explore with book of Acts from May to July to work through it as a community from beginning to end in chapters in order to practise more Acts of the Spirit, to see the Spirit of God in the community of apostles and the life of the world; the spreading of the Gospel like wildfire and what the apostles encountered in the early church. Please pray for St. Marks in Wythenshawe - whether you know us or not! May we stay open to God and whatever God is doing help us join in, so Jesus Christ may transform our communities and continue to renew and bring hope in Wythenshawe and beyond. Here is what was left on my tray recently:
St. Mark's Mission with God
I believe we need to re-evaluate ourselves as a church.
The 'shop' was the mission of God from the beginnings with the gifts and faithfulness to God by the people of St. Marks and, working with God, the shop has grown into the Tree of Life. Now although we as Christians still need to work alongside others to keep the mission of God alive (in the Tree of Life) a new mission is being born. So what gifts and uses has God equipped us with today?
We have new people - who are they?
What have they brought with them?
Why has God drawn them to St. Marks?
How can we work together and start again as indeed happened when the 'shop' was born?
Indications are that children and young people could be involved in this mission (not done to but pioneers?)
Is our work to be directed towards the wellbeing and peace of the children in our community?
Why are we being targetted negatively by a small group of young people who live in our area?
This is the only contact we have with them.
How can we turn the negative into positive? Do we have to?
Is God leading us in that direction?
Must we be equipping ourselves now for God's future? For the future of St. Marks?
Do we already have some of the makings of this with Church, Tree of Life, Family Centre and Manse (residential home)?
God does not separate. He brings together.
God is great. God does these things not us. God uses us to bring about God's will for God's glory not ours.
Romans 1:11-12 'I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong - that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith.'
More of the visions, dreams and missions to follow over the weeks and months!
St. Mark's United Reformed Church - expecting the unexpected!
