'Twas and 'tis the season

It's now close to mid-summer and an opportune time to look back on the last few weeks - and in particular to the previously mentioned "Kid's Christmas" in the park.

The heart behind this event was very simple: to tell the story of Jesus at Christmas time to those who value some form of spiritual input at Christmas for themselves and their children even if they would not consider themselves to be regular churchgoers.

We held the event in the local park where we are currently meeting (with the surf club as wet weather back-up). We hired a marquee and set up a manger scene. The service revolved around carol-singing and using "pass-the-parcel" and the unwrapping of "gifts" to bring out props and impromptu "actors" to tell the story. It flowed naturally into an opportunity share the heart of the gospel explaining the little fridge-magnet gift - "Jesus is God's gift to us" - that each child could take home.

It was fun. We had advertised widely, in schools and shops - and we weren't sure who or how many would turn up. But a good number (about 60) did of whom many were people who we hadn't seen before or were passers-by that had come to check us out. The feedback was good, relationships were formed.

It was an opportunity to advertise "Connections Summer." The response to the question of "Where do you meet regularly?... In the park" continues to be a question that causes thought about what church is and why that matters.

A few months ago some church-planting friends from Queensland asked the question - "What is the folklore in the community about your church?" The "in the park, enjoying summer" folklore seems to be spreading. As long as it moves people to those substantial questions of what is church, and who is the God who can draw such a diverse bunch of people together and why - then it is a valuable folklore and I am glad.

In the weeks that have followed Christmas engagement amongst our members is high and it is a wonderful thing to see the Holy Spirit stir us.

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Adamczewski.

Re-Vision - Kid's Christmas & Community

[Brochure pdf]

We've had a month in the Surf Club but in the lead up to Christmas we are again without venue - so picnics in the forest, church in the park and other like activities will abound. The season of adapting continues raising disconcerting but exciting questions of "who are we?" and "what are we doing?"

Often the answer to these sorts of questions revolve around a "returning." What was our original vision? What did God place on our heart at the beginning? Are we still heading that way or have we gone off course? Often we don't need new vision we need a re-vision!

One of the things that has been close to our heart as a church since the time we began was to be a presence in Somerset that helps to build Somerset as a community with a growing identity. For instance, if we have hopes and dreams about buildings to have or to make use of, they revolve around having a facility that can be, in the true sense of the word, a community centre.

One of the ways in which communities are built is through a sense of being able to "do things together" in the local space. So, for instance, earlier this year some of us were involved in an Easter festival ran at a local school with some local leaders from Fusion Australia - it brought kids and others together to simply have fun in the local space.

We are planning a "Kid's Christmas" time in the park on Christmas Eve. Not only is it an opportunity for those on the fringes of the church who want to some form of spiritual expression over Christmas (without interrupting Christmas Day) - it is also an opportunity to build community.

On the eve of Christmas we can provide a safe and accessible time for children and families to gather around, engage with the Christmas story. And so we can do something community-building while sharing some gospel truth at the same time. What an opportunity!