The fluidity of the community of the Isle of Dogs has some good and some bad effects. New people who move in bring new ideas and new vitality, but they are not yet known and so it takes time for them to become understood, trusted and embraced. While those who move away often leave a gap from what we have come to know, an empty space where we used to meet. This gap isn't always negative as it can be a space for reflection, assessment and realignment. It is always the best if we can focus on the good of an event, it helps move towards something positive. A new arrival is TK, who is doing internship with Ed Dix at St Lukes Millwall. He was supposed to be residing at their newly built premises...which are yet to be completed! So he is now taking a room at the Café and helping us out at times.
City of Peace now operates without a salaried minister; it isn't easy having to pick up the roles. They have been divided up to myself, Robin and Simon. As the church has operated for sometime in a missional way there has been little focus on church structure and so we have begun trying to create a membership, a base that can be counted on and who will together with the leadership enable City of Peace to develop. This work is quite time consuming and requiring attention to detail. We have been looking at affiliation and discussing the reason for a church, what a service consists of etc... Besides this we have a Christmas Nativity service to present and to continue our regular services. These additional inputs are taxing on families and relationships involved.
The church has been blessed recently with a number of eloquent, passionate speakers who have helped us negotiate what is quite a trying time. Just last week we had TK talk about the need for us to let go of our identity, to become like little children. We have had the opportunity to meet with John Jenkins of 'Partnership' who is very encouraging and helpful. I have also been quite involved in working on facebook/twitter and webpages.
These events require prayer; these changes, decisions and circumstances require divine insight; resilience is to know that when something fails, I can learn from it, and I am loved despite it. We are fortunate to be able to rest on one another and as we rest on our Lord, and at times, escape to a quiet place to get some head-space.
For Christmas this year we will be taking a break from our usual events on the Isle of Dogs, and will head over to our family in Teddington to feast and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please also pray for those who are on the island, those who don't have someone to go to, or those who feel alone, even though they are surrounded by friends.
The church has been blessed recently with a number of eloquent, passionate speakers who have helped us negotiate what is quite a trying time. Just last week we had TK talk about the need for us to let go of our identity, to become like little children. We have had the opportunity to meet with John Jenkins of 'Partnership' who is very encouraging and helpful. I have also been quite involved in working on facebook/twitter and webpages.
These events require prayer; these changes, decisions and circumstances require divine insight; resilience is to know that when something fails, I can learn from it, and I am loved despite it. We are fortunate to be able to rest on one another and as we rest on our Lord, and at times, escape to a quiet place to get some head-space.
For Christmas this year we will be taking a break from our usual events on the Isle of Dogs, and will head over to our family in Teddington to feast and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please also pray for those who are on the island, those who don't have someone to go to, or those who feel alone, even though they are surrounded by friends.
