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Paul Bolton

 

Hi Folks,

Since I started in the post of Fresh Expressions Worker back in October things have been going well and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what has been happening both in specific areas and Circuit wide.

First of all I thought it might be helpful to explain just what a Fresh Expression is and what our aims are.  The Fresh Expressions web site defines it as,

“A form of church for our changing culture, established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church.  It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples.  It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.”

So, this initial period has been one of ‘listening’, that is, taking time to get to know the people and communities in which I serve and listening to God to find out what He is doing and endeavouring to join in!  This is a period which cannot and should not be rushed but which will, over time and by God’s grace, bear much fruit. It is following in the footsteps of Jesus Himself who, as John tells us in his gospel, ‘dwelt amongst us’, served those in need and made disciples.

As well as this more passive ‘listening’, the Circuit has also been running the Mission Shaped Intro course at Consett Methodist Church.  This has been very successful and is the biggest course of this type that the District has seen with over 45 people attending.  Through this course we have been studying and discussing the ways in which our culture has changed and how the Church can best respond to the challenges and opportunities this presents us with.  I am so glad that so many have been attending and look forward to the next few sessions over the coming weeks and what may be borne from them.

I am also very excited by the developments that are occurring in South Stanley.  As the Ruth Project came to a close, one of the main fruits of that work was the Friday Fun Factory – a club for primary school aged children – which has been continued.  The club is growing and the children are very open to hearing about the Gospel and I hope, through God’s grace, the relationships with them and their families may well develop into a fully established Fresh Expression.  Through getting involved with this group I have been able to make ties with some of the local schools and am hoping to further develop the relationships within this community as we explore what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Your prayers and support would be greatly appreciated in these specific areas, particularly in regard to developing discipling relationships and also in my continued listening to God’s will.

Every blessing,

Paul.

• North West Durham Circuit Office
• Leadgate Methodist Church
• Tyne Avenue, Consett.
• Co. Durham
• DH8 6ER

01207 593666
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