Changes to the way we gather

On Sunday 29th June we outlined some changes to the way we gather as a church week by week. They come into effect from September 2008.

Coming up on our second birthday, I am reminded once again of our mandate to build a church where people who have had little or no experience of faith before can meet Jesus.  It is this desire that birthed CLC in Luton in the first place - and it is this mandate that compels us, from time to time, to review our structures and meetings. Between September and December 2008 we will be altering the way in which we meet as the whole community together.  Instead of four or five Sunday meetings each month, we will meet just once a month.  This Sunday evening gathering will be known simply by the title of ‘City Life Church’ and will incorporate many aspects of our present range of meetings.  We also expect to be moving out of our present location, the Old Shop. At this time we anticipate that in January 2009 we will return to meeting weekly as the whole community together, much as we have done for the past two years. We are doing this first and foremost because we believe it is something that God has led us to.  It is not an admission of failure about how we have been meeting up until now, or a lurch towards a more deconstructed church - as though structure were a bad thing.  It is a pragmatic decision we have come to by looking at what could allow our cells to flourish in the early part of the next academic year. Put simply, we believe that this change will release energy, life and resources to make our present small group structure more effective in their task - reaching people with the good news of Jesus.  It is about creating time - time to share together; time for outreach; time to laugh together and cry together; and time to celebrate what Jesus is doing amongst us.  These are the things we seek to release in an even greater measure as a result of the decision. In the coming weeks I am asking you to talk together in your cells about the implications of this change.  With far less of our efforts going into running Sunday meetings, the primary place of your investment into this church becomes the cell group.  Your commitment will in large measure define the success of this change in your cell.  This change asks more of each of us. Let me reassure you that these plans have been discussed widely amongst our leaders and with Plumbline, our apostolic oversight over the past two months.  I have been encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive comments from cell leaders, members of the development team, and in our staff team.  Together we feel this shift is timely and are hopeful it will allow cells to really become bedded-down here in the town. We really are seeking to be faithful to what we believe God would have us do in this new season, aware that his grace is sufficient for the areas in which we don’t hear so clearly!  I would ask anyone who feels that God is speaking at this time to please share with me directly as we seek his continued reassurance about the change. I’ll be delighted to talk to any one about our rationale behind the decision and to listen to your hopes, fears and questions. Change is never easy and as such I want to thank you in advance for your patience as we work together to get things right!