Church life without a centre

Well this is the week when we move out of our Church Centre. We have been there for five years and it has been a great place to have. Central to Wallington, just about enough room for meetings such as staff and PCC, visible, accessible, easy-ish parking.

Twentieth anniversary edition of SALT Magazine

Not only did we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Springfield Church this morning with a service at which the Archbishop of Canterbury presided and preached (and was interviewed!) but we have also published a special edition

20th Anniversary SALT Magazine out tomorrow….

Just a quick note to check back tomorrow at about lunchtime for the 20th anniversary edition of SALT. They will be available from Church tomorrow morning but there will also be an online version for you to read if you can’t make it tomorrow (though how you can bear to miss the 20th anniversary service with “you know who” beats me!!).

It really is a superb edition (Rosie you have done amazing job) with some great interviews and highlights of the last twenty years – articles from David Lewis and Tim Humphrey who launched Springfield and from people old and new about how their lives have been impacted by the church. Do pick up a copy to read or read it here tomorrow.

 

All aboard Noah’s Ark….

Our readings in staff prayers on Monday and Tuesday were about Noah and his ark (for any clergy readers, yes we do use the lectionary for staff prayers!).

Cafe Church – First Anniversary

Well it was the first anniversary of Springfield@Roundshaw congregation yesterday. It was lovely to celebrate with them and to enjoy all that has happened in the past year. It has been wonderful to see the way that people have pulled together and have built a warm, vibrant community.

The Church of England, decline and children….

There was a speech at last week’s General Synod (governing body of the C of E) that the Church of England was facing a catastrophic decline in numbers in the next twenty years.

Review of For the Parish – a critique of Fresh Expressions

There is a whiff of irony in reviewing this book by Andrew Davison and Alison Milbank in that our new curate has Andrew Davison as her tutor.

Great leaders away day

Well yesterday we had a wonderful leaders away day – although technically we did have an open invitation to anyone in the church who had a vision for reaching out into our community. I have to say that Springfield does have a great set of people.

Church up, Church down, Church ahead

There have been a number of conflicting church statistics of late. I wrote an essay back in 1996 at theological college. And being a college essay it usually had some grandiose title. Mine started with a quote by John Kent (whoever he was – I never did find out!). “The barbarians have arrived, twilight has [...]

A brief guide to Messy Church

There was a little flutter on Twitter last night regarding Messy Church @davemagill not trying to be deep and meaningful, but two songs then an hour of craft ain't church – was fun though— The Church Mouse (@thechurchmouse) November 20, 2010 All very amicable but it got me thinking that it would be good to [...]