Things are changing at FBC. We have a new Church Secretary. Some who have served the church so well over many years are handing on their responsibilities. We have room for new Deacons. We are facing a great deal of reorganisation. Alan Wilson Watts said “The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” God is giving us a creative opportunity to look to the future with him.

I am praying for a strong, healthy, effective church, full of vitality and the life of God, growing stronger through worship, warmer through fellowship, deeper through discipleship, broader through ministry and larger through evangelism. I believe that our church life needs to have lasting values and contemporary relevance. I think it is vitally important that we distinguish between Christianity and Churchianity, essentials and non-essentials, and that we allow mission to determine the shape, organisation and life of our church.

Here are some questions that might help us face the future:
• How far is our church ‘a church for others’ and how far is it a church for ourselves? Do we see ‘the church’ as there to meet our needs, or do we see ourselves as the church, here to meet others’ needs?
• Are we able to embrace a definition of church which focuses on community and mission rather than organisation and meetings? To whom are we reaching out?
• With changing patterns of Sunday attendance, how should we best use the opportunity for gathering together? Should Sunday be aimed at worship or teaching and discipleship or fellowship or outreach or any combination of these things?
• How can we address urgently our identified weakness in corporate prayer?