A year on from its successful 'Get A Life' conference the Presbyterian Church has launched a new video to help congregations further develop ways of being active and relevant in their communities.
"The Coleraine conference of August 2004 addressed some vitally important issues facing the church today," explains organising committee co-convener Harry Robinson. "What does it mean to engage in effective witness? What would authentic fellowship look like? What are the components of meaningful worship?
"However the conference was always meant to be part of a process. A process whereby congregations throughout the length and breadth of Ireland would start to address these topics themselves at a local level."
A series of follow up meetings in the Spring of 2005 gave delegates and others who could not be at Coleraine the opportunity to share how some of the issues raised at 'Get A Life' were being worked out in their congregations.
"The video shows examples of what churches have initiated in their attempt to be active and relevant," continues Harry Robinson. "There is nothing spectacular here, but what we have sought to do is to show how some congregations, even ones with comparatively few resources have been creative and have achieved what could be called 'small wins'. Little changes which never the less have had a knock on effect on their congregational life and witness."
Among the examples included in "Get A Life Stories from around the Presbyterian Church," is how Ballyclare Presbyterian have begun serving breakfast to the school students who gathered outside the church door before going on to lessons. Another is how simply by opening the Church on Saturdays for visitors to see round, people have been encouraged to attend worship in Mullingar. At Scrabo Presbyterian the development of all age worship services has attracted more people to attend church regularly while in May Street in Belfast the serving of lunches combined with worship has made the church a centre for city outreach.
"'Get A Life' has shown us that for some people the church remains the last refuge and constancy and familiarity in the midst of change," says Harry Robinson. "But for others change in how we be the church, and how we do church cannot come quickly enough.
"We don't expect congregations to replicate any of these examples because each situation is different. Nevertheless we hope that what they see may encourage and inspire local churches to be equally creative in their context and do what it takes to enhance worship, develop fellowship and make an impact on the community for Christ."
"Get A Life Stories From Around the Presbyterian Church" will be distributed to congregations during August.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive