Growing community

Steve Aisthorpe reflects on the next step of a missional cycle.

THE previous articles in this series explored ‘listening’ and how that inspires how we express God’s love. We might be led into loving service or challenging some injustice, for example.

The last article also introduced the Loving-First Cycle. This is not a roadmap or a blueprint; rather, it has emerged from research among fruitful mission projects and it shows how the Spirit seems to be working in our time and culture.

Like all the elements of the Loving First Cycle, community is not just a stepping stone to following phases of sharing faith and developing church. Each aspect is inherently good and worthwhile.

In present-day Scotland, growing community meets a widespread heart cry. Recent reports point to an epidemic of loneliness. There is a longing for belonging. And we should not be surprised: from ancient wisdom to cutting-edge neuroscience, a sense of belonging is recognised as essential for everyone’s health and welfare. When we grow healthy communities, we contribute to the allround wellbeing expressed in the Hebrew word, shalom. Shalom expresses a sense of people, God and creation in harmony, things as they ought to be, a state of wholeness and flourishing.

Community is the natural outcome of the kinds of loving actions that happen when we respond in obedience to what we hear in our prayerful ‘listening’. It comes into being as relationships form and begin to interconnect. As we find ways to love we inevitably connect with others who share similar interests, needs or hopes.

If we long for our communities to be a blessing, transformative even, for those involved, intentional nurturing is required. To foster conversations and relationships that go beyond the superficial, we need to cultivate a culture of authenticity, spaces where people can remove their masks safely. We contribute to that by being vulnerable ourselves. When we are willing to let down our guard, we encourage others to do likewise.

When Jesus encountered a Samaritan woman at a well he was fully aware of the priceless gift, the ‘living water’, he had to offer. However, his first words were a request for help: ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (Matthew 4:7). It’s tempting to focus on what we might offer others. And of course, we do indeed have a priceless gift to share, but it is as we invite others to share what they have that mutuality is encouraged.

In practice friendships deepen and trust develops when we do things like sharing food together, ‘going away’ together (near or far), doing something fun just for the pleasure of spending time with one another and celebrating significant personal or shared events.

The 21st Century Christian: Following Jesus where life happens is a small book by Michael Moynagh and Michael Beck. It explores the Loving First Cycle and is full of stories of current practice.

This fuller version of the video shared in the last article shows how Newton Parish Church in Midlothian has enabled several communities to come into being. Watch and listen out for the ways in which communities have been initiated and deepened: https://vimeo.com/736536245/ adef132cd9 ¤

Need help? The Mission Development Team exists to support as we participate in God’s mission and this Loving-First Cycle: FaithNurture@ChurchofScotland.org.uk