Mission Action Plan

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Today was the launch of our Mission Action Plan at St James (St Anne's turn will be on 5th October).

We watched Jos's video of Bermondsey, previously premiered on this blog, the churchwardesns spoke about the PCC awayday at the Salmon Youth Centre, I introducted the Mission Action Plan, and preached on Jesus's Mission Action Plan a.ka. the Great Commission in Matthew 28 ('Go into the world and make disciples of all nations..), and at the end, singing 'We are marching in the light of God' we processed out of church for a final prayer of blessing on the portico steps, and the chance for a congregational photo of a memorable day (thanks Jos).

It was good to end the service outside the church building, with the congregation facing outwards into the parish because that, after all, is what Mission Action Plans are all about.

Living dangerously at the Men's Breakfast

The day before the MAP launch,  Des Scott (left) of the Church Army was the speaker at our men's breakfast. 

He spoke on the topic ' the nights I slept with a gun under my pillow,' recalling his days as a police officer in the RUC at the height of Northern Ireland's troubles.

In an enthralling address Des spoke powerfully of how he had sought to live as a Christian in a highly challenging environment, trusting God for his safety, trying not to succumb to feelings of anger and revenge, and working to bring healing and reconciliation between the warring communities, pointing to the radically different values of the Kingdom of God.

The trouble with living in Ireland during the troubles, said Des, was that it all started to seem normal. But its not normal and, God's ways give you a new kind of normality to live by

A good time was had by all, the usual copious quantities of egg, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, beans, toast, cornflakes, tea etc were consumed, and the blokes of the parish are set to reconvene for their next early morning feast on 6th December.