Welcome to the ??? Church Away Day To discern God’s purpose for our church and plan a way forward

1. Welcome to the??? ChurchAway DayTo discern God’s purpose for our church and plan a way forward

2. We’re here to discern God’s purpose for our church. A clear purpose will: • Give us something to focus on and plan for. • Help us to decide what to spend our effort and money on. • Reduce frustration. • Make our church more “healthy”.

3. Where are we now? What is our church good at & not so good at? Where should we be? What would our church be like if it was truly the church that God wants it to be? Discern things to focus on. How do we get there? What “first steps” do we need to take? What can I bring to the party? How can we best use our individual gifts to help take these steps?

4. Where are we now? • In groups, decide what you believe our church is good at and not so good at. • Write these on the sheet of paper in the respective columns. • The group you are in is according to the colour of the sticker you were given. • Break at 11:00 for a drink and look at the other groups’ sheets. • Get back together in here at 11:20.

5. Where should we be? • What is God’s purpose for our church? • What does God want our church to be doing?

6. Where should we be? Back into groups to..... • Discuss what our church would be like if it was completely the church that God wants it to be. • Each group draw and/or write something that represents this perfect church • Be creative, dream dreams • NOT the church building!!! Back together in here at 12:10..... One person from each group to present his or her group’s vision (2 minutes maximum)

7. Where should we be? • What do you believe are the four things that God most wants our church to do? • Include things that our church is already doing • Be specific and avoid “how to” do something. • Write these on Post-its • Just one per Post-it; write clearly; just a word or phrase. • On each, write a number showing how important you believe it is: 3 = Essential; 2 = Very important; 1 = Quite important Then lunch - back together in here at 1:30.

8. What our church should be doing

9. How do we get there? What are the first practical steps we should take towards achieving God’s purpose for our church ? • Go into groups to discuss • Each group looks at a single focus area. • Different groups from this morning - choose a group based on your interest and/or experience. • Capture on sheets of paper. • Break for drinks at 2:40; back here at 3:00. • One person from each group to present his or her group’s proposed “first steps” • 2 minutes maximum.

10. What can I bring to the party? Our church is its members. We all need to play a part, according to our gifts. • Complete the questionnaire. • Go round the “first steps” and see which you have the right gifts for • It may be something you’re already doing • You may need to stop doing something to be able to start doing something new • Write it on a card to remind yourself. • Back together at 3:50.

11. What next? • The output of today will be produced and made available. • Proposed changes and actions arising from today will be taken to Church Council.