Re-launch of the Evening Congregation

This term we are launching our new-look evening service, so we will see some major innovations start from September:

• Hospitality: There will coffee and doughnuts served before and throughout the service, and a ‘wine-bar’ set out for afterwards.
• Service Pattern: We are introducing a new service pattern, whereby the 1st Sunday of every month will be a ‘Breakout’ service, which will be distinctively different from the others.  So this term, we are planning a Congregational Meal, a Doubt Night, and our first experiment with Café Church, amongst other things. 
• Leadership: Services will be planned and led by members of the Evening Congregation Leadership Team, who are all drawn from within the congregation, aiming to bring increased creativity, engagement, and participation to all the 7pm services.

Aim: To grow in Mission and Maturity.  As the 7pm congregation, we seek to do this by modelling these values in every service but in a variety of ways.

Core Values – The Substance (what we’re really aiming at)

Inspirational Biblical Content – profound Biblical teaching applied to real-life issues.  Relevant, challenging, leading to a response. 

Open to the Spirit – in corporate worship and response.  Remembering that we are here primarily for God, not for us.  An expectation of encountering God as we worship Him, listen to Him, and respond.  A gathering where we prioritise extended sung worship, where the full range of spiritual gifts are practised, and where prayer ministry is at the heart of congregational life. 

Mission-Orientated – developing as an inwards/outwards community, by:

• Gathering: Re-discovering our confidence as a gathered congregation in providing relevant, contemporary opportunities for our non-church friends to encounter God for themselves, where the good news of Jesus Christ is presented in credible settings, and
• Sending: Equipping our congregation for mission, and delighting in each others’ outreach in our daily life and contexts.  

Secondary Values – The Culture (how we want to reach what we’re aiming at)

Participation – everyone interacting with what is happening in the services. Everyone with something to bring, everyone can have go, there are no spectators.  Room for risk and failure.  Space for discussion and listening prayer, sharing words and pictures.  Sharing of testimonies of God at work in daily life.  Engaging with God and each other in fresh, creative ways that bring variety, and take account of different learning styles. 

Congregational Identity – becoming a congregation (a community of people who share lives), not just a service time – so we’re no longer worshipping amongst strangers.  Where you receive a warm welcome, are immediately offered opportunities to enter whole-church life, and where ‘you’re missed if you miss.’  Led by a congregational leadership team drawn from worshipping members of this congregation, who will take responsibility for shaping the service, leading in expectation that all can encounter God for themselves.  

Culturally Relevant and Contemporary– Services will be contemporary in theme, content, application, and style, aiming to implement all the other five values in ways that connect naturally with our culture.  This will be open to all, but with a particular missional focus on reaching young adults.