Breathing IN and OUT during the week…
As someone commented to me recently, “Sundays at church are like a family Sunday lunch” — traditionally everyone comes, it’s an important place to hear updates from the family and we have quick catch ups amongst each other. It's fun but full and there’s washing up to do! It’s the ‘glue’ that keeps the family together!
Midweek community at Kerith is something different; in the family analogy it’s like ringing your sister or brother for a chat or heading out for a walk with just a few family members. It’s going for coffee with your parents and helping them with a practical task while you are there. It’s praying regularly for that family member who’s having a hard time.
As Simon Benham our Senior Pastor has envisioned us to Breathe IN and Breathe OUT God’s Presence this year, we feel drawn to these themes as we look at what’s happening for midweek community on our Bracknell site in light of the laying down of our Wednesday daytime meeting, Encounter.
Breathe IN
One of the key ways that we envision midweek community growing is for some new daytime small groups to start. Many find this is a better time for them than getting out in the evening, which is when most of our existing groups are held. We’d particularly love groups that run our Growth Track & Life Track courses, although there are other small group resources available, too.
Breathe OUT
We're also exploring other possibilities for midweek ministry and mission. One such development is Revive's Cafe Church. The team is looking at how to create a weekday church gathering that will be more accessible to those who might not typically be drawn to church in its formal setting. There have also been conversations around doing more with Welcome Churches, especially as our international multicultural community grows here at Kerith.
We also want to continue to resource all that is going on in our families and under 18s (Prayer Spaces in Schools, assemblies, TLG ) and our preschool weekly ministry, Sparklers and Baby Sparks.
We’d love to explore any opportunities for connection midweek for our ‘vintage family’ so we can support one another, share our faith, pass around any experience and wisdom, and give and receive love.
What is God saying to you about midweek community here in Bracknell?
Have you had a prompting that you would like to share with us? We’d love to hear it as we start our ‘listening season.’ Please use this form via the link below to let us know what God is prompting you to share. Or leave a message at reception for us 01344 862 699.
The Site Pastors are gathering a team from different areas of midweek Kerith life before Easter (Revive, Schools, Small Groups and others) to use the same ‘Discernment Process’ we followed when considering restarting 2 meetings. We’ll then take the outputs back to our Elders Team to pray further around what to implement.
We believe that as God gives clarity, these new expressions of faith-filled community will provide a rich tapestry of opportunities for connection, growth, and service. We encourage you to prayerfully consider how you might be involved, both for your own spiritual journey and to bless others in our community.
Let's embrace this change together and prayerfully welcome the new ways God is leading us to breathe in and breathe out and create space for healthy growth beyond Sundays.
Pelumi Aworinde and Beccy Oliver
Kerith Bracknell Site Pastors