Some sixty members of Mission Partnership leadership teams gathered at St Andrew's on February 2nd 2008 to hear John Campbell, Principal of Northern College, introduce the programme that promises to be a significant resource for all our churches.
Arising out of Catch the Vision, and following on from two consultations on spirituality and evangelism, the programme is now, as John put it, "at the fitting out stage". Before the end of February the introductory material should be in the hands of every church secretary and minister - and churches will be invited to get on board before the summer.
The programme starts in Advent 2008 with a Year of the Bible, followed by a Year of Prayer, and finally, from Advent 2010, a Year of Evangelism. Essentially it is a programme for RE-FORMING THE CHURCH, using what God has given us.
The "menu" for the first year will be available from September - and all materials will be downloadable from the as-yet vestigial website - www.vision4life.org.uk.
Everyone was excited by the presentation, and asked for it to be made available - to download it go to the link at the foot of this page.
There was enthusiasm too for John Campbell's hymns - the link below will lead to a good collection of them, which John is happy for us to use simply with acknowledgement.
And here is one of them, which we sang together at St Andrew's to the tune Ye banks and braes:
A Song about the Bible & us
Though we had thought You must provide
a seamless robe of fitted truth,
You offer as Your gift of grace,
these awkward texts devoid of proof -
a patchwork pile of pain and joy,
a palimpsest of life and pray'r;
a remnant-store rich-layered with love,
a haberdashery to share.And to it each must bring their own,
rough-shaped & frayed though that may be,
till worked together, stitched and shared,
we all may then begin to see,
the story of the love of God
emerge, cross-stitched
with threads of pray'r,
from patchwork texts and complex lives -
the Christ-like tapestry we share.And what we work and then repair –
not coloured robe, but patchwork tent –
must host us in our Saviour’s Name
and welcome strangers, not prevent.
Thus, gifted, challenged, moving on
across the arid wastes we share,
we each and all may live within
Your caravanserai of care.John M Campbell
Feb 2nd PowerPoint presentation - Warning: large file: 57MB