Decision making in Gariochchurch

Dear All
 
I trust you are all having a good week. I just want to update you briefly on what has been going on recently.Sunday
 
Thanks to everyone for their contribution on Sunday. We focused on the importance of decision-making being informed by input from all members of gariochchurch, at all stages in the process, recognising that God can speak through anybody. We talked about the importance of transparency and integrity, a constant flow of information, and the need to create an atmosphere in which people are encouraged and feel confident about sharing their thoughts and receiving feedback about those comments. We also explored the concerns that the elders in BoDBC have about this particular process, especially in terms of the appointment of leaders.Communication from everybody in gariochchurch is key if this kind of church structure is going to work! Therefore we need everyone to feed back their thoughts and ideas. Even if you have no preference or opinion on one particular issue, that also is helpful to hear! In particular, we would like to hear from you about what you sense God is saying about two things:

1. Is this a helpful and appropriate process of decision-making for gariochchurch, or are there ways of modifying it?
2. What do you sense is God’s heart in terms of who should be the first leaders in gariochchurch? Should it be the current ‘6’ who have been leading so far, or a variation of this, or a totally different team?
   

Feel free to discuss this among yourselves and/or with any of the ‘6’ – but do let us know what you feel is God’s leading? If anybody would like to pass comments to us through David B, just get in touch with him. He is very happy to help.Monday
 
Here are a few topics we covered in prayer the following evening: the paperwork in regard to becoming a registered charity and joining the BUS; our mission in the Garioch; HCG transition; BoDBC; gariochchurch children; need for youth work to start; staff; present leaders; future ministries; venue; midweek gariochchurch gathering
 
As we prayed we sensed God reminding us that:
 
He, the Lord, is in charge.
The need to encourage one another to live and grow as a body, doing what the Lord has planned.
Planting something new can take a lot of preparation. (Philip and Helens roses!) Colossians 2:7 says ‘Keep your roots deep in him (Jesus), build your lives on him and become stronger in your faith. Be filled with thanks giving!’ We must prepare the ground well in ourselves – includes nurture, sharing, caring. This must not be neglected as we go on into new things. Acts 2:42 says ‘They spent their time learning, taking part in fellowship, sharing in meals and prayers!’ Sounds good to me!!
We all grow at different speeds just as flowers often bloom at different times too.
Mission is meeting people’s needs.
 
There then followed excited discussion around the idea of having a ‘launching event’ in the Garioch on the evening of 1st September. Ideas include having a ceilidh and a buffet at a central location and inviting BoDBC folk, churches in Inverurie that we have contact with as well as any other individuals who would we have been in touch with  during the last few months.
 
 
 Love Jane

gariochchurch news bulletin – 22nd May 2007

It was great to see so many of you on Sunday afternoon at Lethenty. Thanks for all your contributions towards lunch as well as during George’s (Rachael’s dad) part of our time together. He started by challenging us to read Matthew 5-8 in one sitting (at home) and asked if we thought Jesus was saying this was something we should all be attaining to now or whether it was something that could only be achieved in heaven! He also talked on prayer, giving and fasting! At the prayer time Monday evening we sensed that God was saying:

• That gariochchurch was an adventure, or a journey. It is into the unknown, but He is taking us there.
• The church is the household of God which is a picture of a big family which includes aunts, uncles, sisters, grandparents, cousins etc. We, the church, should be those relationships to each other.
• Now is preparation time during which relationships are being forged and deepened. Relationships are a key part of the foundations for our church.
• We prayed specifically for the children; our ongoing relationship with BoDBC; the next Sunday evening service (it is about church planting and gariochchurch will be featured!) and more.

Dates for your Diary

• Sunday 27^th May – evening service with focus on gariochchurch
• Sunday 03^rd June – gariochchurch @ Colpy (1pm approx)
• Monday 04^th June – prayer time @ Lethenty (7:30-8:30pm)
• Sunday 17^th June – gariochchurch @ Blackburn
• Sunday 01^st July – BoDBC for Steve and Jane Williams commissioning service with picnic afterwards

Remember to look at our web site if you are in any doubt as to what is happening where. Have a good week.