What’s happening with C.M.L.?

The link for this week's live-streamed service is here.

Thanks to Pam Day for this week's post.

For those who are new to our community let me first explain a little bit about C.M.L.

The Centre for Missional Leadership was formed in 2015 under the umbrella of St. Andrews Hall at U.B.C. as a teaching initiative, to equip Pastors and Lay Leaders for the task of nurturing flourishing churches in a “Post Christian, largely secular” world. (more info at the cml.ca/web page.)

This is done in small church groups, by participating in seminars, coaching, sharing of ideas and practical applications during a nine month period. Our group members, Rev. Irwin, Norma, Joan, Darlene, Linda & myself met via Zoom with participants from all parts of Canada, and of many different denominations and church situations. There was much to learn from this format.

You may recall that we did a survey earlier this year to assess our strengths, gifts and assets as a church, as recognised by members of the congregation. It was an uplifting event that provided us all with a clearer picture of who we are as church family, and what we, and our building, may offer in the future, and where there might be opportunities for growth.

Since then we have been considering how we could utilize all those assets, both within the church and greater community.

As we are encouraged to find meaningful ways to share and extend those gifts to “the neighbours beyond our walls” in a sincere and sustainable way.

Of course, one of the challenges for ministry that we kept bumping into was our very location itself!

Most other church’s programs are located within easy walking or bus access, and for all we have a great mobility and accessible building design, and large level parking lot, it’s location limits our possibilities to minister unless one has a car!

Back to the drawing board!  We know that Jesus calls us to love our neighbours as ourselves, and to share the Good News of His love to all people, so there has to be a way.

And of course there is. After much prayerful discussion and brainstorming we came to the conclusion that God has “sent” many “neighbours” to our church already, in the form of the Groups who utilize and rent our space on a regular basis.  Now to the question of “how” we demonstrate the love of Christ to them in a way that is acceptable and meaningful to them, and possible and sustainable to us, given that we are an aging congregation.

God be praised, in doing what this church does best, hospitality!

And so the birth of this idea, to thank our rental groups for supporting us, by providing them with a simple cookie, coffee and a warm welcome.  This is something that God has enabled us to do.

The first of these was the Parkinson’s Society support group, they meet every month except July, so Darlene contacted and arranged for us to host a thanks and welcome for their wrap up meeting in June.  It was a surprise to the participants, and was very warmly received by all.

The second time was for the AGM of the Summergate Community Association, where we served Tea, Coffee and water along with the cookies.  There again it was received warmly, and offered many opportunities to have conversations with our “neighbours” before their meeting began.

Coffee and Cookies for Summergate meeting

We intend to continue to show our appreciation in this way to several other groups who meet here.

However, the mission is not just to the neighbours beyond our walls, but to our own church family also, and how we all may participate more fully in our worship time.

Give the preacher a different platform?

To that end it was decided to do a little experiment with a slightly different style of worship from time to time; and to that end, when there are 5 Sundays in a month (about 4 per year) that 5^th Sunday may be a little different from what we normally do. Perhaps incorporating your own prayers (so others may pray with you) if you would like to share them, as part of “the Prayers of the People”. Doing some different styles of music and praise, maybe you have a favourite that you would like to share with us too. Just let us know beforehand so these changes might be arranged within the form of service. And do give feedback, we learn and grow when we do new things, but we need to evaluate also.

Come and give it a try, after all there are many styles and ways to worship, as one finds out when travelling and visiting different churches.

The next 5^th Sunday is August 30^th  and we are considering doing a B.B.Q. lunch following service. Instead of our usual fellowship time.   Lets celebrate the end of Summer holidays together!