Christian chat thread continued

[Dutchoma]

A place to share and chat about our funny (and not so funny experiences) in and out of church.
Did anyone say coffee? That would be good

Who are you wanting to reach out to?

And are you wanting people to come to you or are you going into the community to start something up?

All and both. Obviously we wouldn't attract the same folk with one thing. One aim is to attract those who are interested in things spiritual but who don't think of church - so that might be doing things outside church with a view to getting them in, or it might be out and stay out.
Our biggest gap is youth - so that's one specific target but also probably the hardest.

Grave talk/death cafe?
Starting Rite (spiritual nurture for babies and parents)?
Mental health community choir?
Parish nursing?
Mindfulness/meditation/contemplation course?

Rock/goth mass (think there will. E one at Greenbelt

Thanks niminy. All good ideas to put in the pot.
Never heard of Starting Rite - is that a branded thing? will google.
How does parish nursing work?

(Really like the death cafe idea... will defo look into that...)

Death cafe would be top of my list too.

Parish nursing

Starting rite is a book - I helped out on one this year and it was fab.

Death cafe is a brilliant idea as is community choir. We've done things specifically for seasons like a passion play in the community at Easter and obviously Christmas carols etc. We've done things like prayer tents at festivals. The Jesus Deck is great - very beautiful cards which get people talking.
We've always found Alpha brilliant but I guess that depends on the church.
Messy church can be a great outreach to young families.
Youth stuff so much harder. Wish I had the answers to this one. The Rock mass sounds good, I also know of churches doing praise rave type things but it's important to do them properly with no cringe factor. Not always easy in my experience! You can also get youth involved in some community activities like fundraising for the local hospice etc.
Men's groups - eg pub/football /board games. Well should be for both men and women but in experience things separately can work well.
Walking groups, knitting circle, mothers Union.
How about something techy/coding /AV and lighting for young people, this keeps some of ours coming.
We do youth groups for 11-13 and 14-18 and also a twenties group.
Things involving food are always good. Church picnics, bbq, barn dance, breakfast church? You could do bacon sarnies before the service, this always brings the students in - if not too early in the morning?
We do women's days - this brings a lot of people in. We do have a speaker and worship and also lots of workshops right from jewellery makibg through to first aid and chilling out in the prayer space.
Clothes exchanges/collections for the local homeless shelter/women's aid etc?

We run a youth club run jointly with local free church - have youth worker funded between us, free church and parish council who does stuff at local secondary school etc. Because they know him already they come to church youth club.

Knitting group/stitch and bitch is a good idea esp for younger women. We used to run a service especially for mother's of young children where they could just sit and be quiet for a while - plan is to start it up again.

Forest church.
All age sensory bible study that you can bring children and adults of all ages to.

Things I wish were around:

social justice/activism group

Community choir

Cafe bringing together groups who wouldn't otherwise meet, eg old/young, Christian/Muslim, students/long-time residents, immigrants/ people whose files have been in the area for generations.

This local group is very interesting:
m.facebook.com/burningfences/

Working on projects with other groups on local issues.

Urban beekeeping in the churchyard

Labyrinth in the churchyard, open to everyone as a meditation space

Shared monthly community pay what you feel meal

Sceptic but curious discussion group /theology course

Spirituality for parents of young children

Host a Mamabake session

Working with local groups to make the church more accessible

Thank up all

double how would all age sensory Bible study work? I can't quite imagine that

mhd that all sounds so hectic! I don't know how you manage it all...!

broomstick great list

Lol Edd we don't do all of them, just various ideas I've seen done at various points! Bit of a brainstorm there :D

Was talking to someone after the service about the idea of doing a village memory project based around a parish map (which we would make), thinking of ways to make connections between the generations and different groups in our community. Might work better in a rural or small town context I suspect - but who knows?

Edd, everyone arrives and you all sit down and introduce the chosen Bible passage. Then everyone goes to different 'stations' and reflects on the passage, e.g. a craft station, a writing station, a reading out loud station, a sitting quietly with meditative music station. Then you come back together afterwards and discuss your thoughts or show what you have made or written. Preferable to a traditional Bible study for me, an introvert!

I have just watched (an episode of?) Broken. No idea how long it was or if there was anything to go before. Have I missed anything, or was this all there ever was. It was very strong stuff. I so rarely watch television, I have no idea.

oma there were 6 brilliant episodes. I don't watch tv much either but I have watched every minute of that. It is gut wrenching but really really good. Shows parish ministry to be truly relevant and necessary. And written and acted beautifully.
You can still watch the whole thing on iPlayer.

double interesting- thanks!

We have a v long list now... not sure what the process will be of deciding what we actually do!

V pleased to have been asked to open PCC in prayer. Can't imagine me doing that even three months ago!

There were 6 episodes - I'm watching it on catch-up, four so far. Did you see the one that starts with the woman losing her job at the betting shop? That's number one. I've found it gruelling but brilliant so far.

So have I started with the last episode and need to go back to series 1 episode 1? Not that I will be able to watch more than an episode a day. Gut wrenching is the word I would use too.

I found broken brilliant and hard hitting. Best series I'd seen in ages and most sympathetic portrayal of a priest I've seen in a long time. Wonderful.

Oh Edd - how wonderful about PCC. The way you said that is making me tearful in a good way, thinking about the journey you've been on lovely.

That sounds good, Double. I've been to events similar - love the idea of a writing station, there are always craft ones but if you're not great at craft they can be a bit off putting!!

Struggling quite a bit with pain at the moment. But this week I should hear from editor about my book so prayers appreciated...

I wondered how you were doing MHD. Definitely prayers in all directions.

If I had never been in a church building, then going to church would be daunting. Therefore things that are not "Christian" are a way to get people into the church building and feeling comfortable.

Prayer walking could be a way to "plough the ground" or hack off the weeds, first. (people go out in pairs /threes to walk the area and pray. )

What you do depends on your area. not everything is good in every area.

everyone I know was looking for a toddler group to go to .
maybe a dads and kids group. (depending on the number of single parents about as I was rather pissed off when they did a dad's breakfast at church but something for dads and kids in the local area might work. )

More good ideas. Thanks bes.

I think it's time I read something by Catherine Fox. Do I start with Angels and Men, or Acts and Omissions?