Friday, 20 November 2009

The Vicar writes...


Dear All,

I am writing a second letter which is not looking at Christmas, but rather into next year. In this letter I have outlined the Aims you will find in summary form on the front page of Network News. I hope you will look at each aim, pause and pray over it, and give God permission to lead you in them.

The Aims explained...

To develop a culture of honour:
We feel God is calling us to a new emphasis in the way we relate to each other. The discipleship course is helping us and we expect to see more honouring of one another and sensitivity to the calling /anointing each one has as we learn to bear the glory of God amongst us.
This will involve holding a new marriage courses and parenting courses Next year we want to encourage families, helping parents to be secure in their parenting and in their marriages. We hope to introduce more parenting courses next year.

Satan shows his hand more (according to I Corinthians 7) when there is no proper marriage relationship. We have found in the last few years Satan has sought to wreck lives when those who are married are not in an active married relationship for whatever reason. Whilst we continue to value widows, divorcees, in our church (and we are looking for those who have been through these life events who could advise others, because we want to run a course for this too!) , we also want to help those who are married. Jim & Rosemary Gillespie will be running a new marriage course next year.

To develop our calling as a beacon to the region: To hold a major Christian conference in Bridlington October 7-9th
We have for many years felt called to be a resource church, and whilst we are a church that is known throughout the Uk, few actually know the blessing God is bringing here. We feel the time has come no longer to be a secret treasure and to remove the light from under “the bushel” (Matthew 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ) One of the ways we hope to be able to impart blessing to people outside Bridlington is as they visit for this conference. It is also a way we can start to play our part within the tourism of the town. Our hope is that 1000 delegates will come to Bridlington and this is the start of an annual conference. The theme is around God’s presence changing a nation.

To develop our own Guidance resource to run within our learning centre
As a guidance centre we can operate like the old careers service

To develop another CCS shop
We are actively looking at a Community shop which can continue to be an outlet for furniture store ( when Springfield Avenue is knocked down in the regeneration of Bridlington ) and can also have outlets for other projects. If any would like to invest to help bring this about, see Andy Jefferson.

To prepare to build a new entrance to the church in 2011
We want to provide a place of welcome and information at the entrance to our site. We as a church saw and approved plans last year which we have not implemented because we have no funds to do so. We plan to start a fund for a new entrance and hope to have enough by the summer to consider applying for faculty and planning , getting the costings from builders, and getting the work done. The plans will be on display in the forecourt in January

To develop further ways of welcoming those linked to us to engage with Jesus. To develop effective work with the young adults and teenagers on multi levels
We long for everyone who accesses our church site to also have an opportunity to find out about Jesus. We want to be able to form an evangelistic oversight/action team so that good strategies emerge and many are blessed

To foster the current network churches and to create space to deepen spiritual life in social networks through different types of small groups, prayer meetings, and conferences
We have already diverse groups ranging from bible study to social/pastoral groups. We have groups for the elderly and groups for the young around interest groups We will increase these, and are dependant on those who have benefited from small groups being willing to lead or host new ones. We would like to have groups around choirs, bible study groups led by under 20s, pub discussion groups, chill out groups where you share your story and pray together. Further details from Jonathan as groups cannot form unless there is declared interest and willingness to try it expressed

To meet all our financial obligations
We think we will achieve this. We are praying that everyone allows God to guide us in our giving as we contribute to the collection every week

To partner with other churches in national/ regional events which encourage a platform for revival: Yorkshire prayer conference
Many of us may not be aware that our involvement in the Yorkshire Prayer conference has now seeded similar works in Derby, Lincoln ,Lancashire and Cumbria and is as a result bringing into the north of England a new wave of prayer which is part of the move of God to bless this nation. We are continuing our connection, primarily through Jonathan who is the director for the East Riding and on the central committee for the prayer conference.
In addition Jonathan and Andy Hall are actively networking with leaders in the UK to foster initiatives for revival

To sell 100 Springboard 2010 shares to help foster revival through us to the nation
We issue Springboard shares to those who want to join with us in part of our mission. Each Springboard 2010 share costs £5 per month and you can buy as many shares as you want. These will go to help promote revival in the nation through us as a network.

To Develop Church Planting Strategies
We would like to explore ways in which we can grow the Kingdom beyond Bridlington and investigate Church planting strategies for future growth

Jonathan

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