Godsend.Intro
Session 4 – How do new worshipping communities integrate with the parish?
Who it’s for?
People who are worried about fragmenting the parish or want to see everyone in church on Sunday.
Those who want to know what a new worshipping community looks like.
Opening prayer/worship (5 mins)
Use Soulspace (cofe.io/soulspace) or another resource.
Warm up questions (10 mins)
Either:
In what ways could the church be a gift to people beyond its walls?
Or:
Read Acts 2. 42-47 (a description of the early church). What are the main characteristics of the church, as described in these verses?
Videos: (15mins)
Discussion: Share your reactions (5 mins).
Then use one of the Soulspace 10-minute options (cofe.io/soulspace).
Discussion (20 mins)
- What are your reactions?
- Discuss the handout (at the end of this booklet or on the video), “Strengthening ties with the parent congregation – some ideas.”
- Which ideas most appeal to you?
- Can you think of other ideas?
- What shall we do next? Choose from this menu of ideas, which are designed to spark the group’s thinking. (They are on a handout that you can print off and distribute.)
- Look at or revisit one of the other sessions.
- One or two people read Chapters 15 and 16 in Michael Moynagh, Godsend, or the equivalent sessions on godsend.cloud, and share what they found at the next meeting.
- For those who want, next time the group meets share a particular demographic group you would like to reach, and/or one or two people you might ask to support you.
- Come up with a better option.
Close with prayer and date of next meeting (3 mins)