This Sunday night from 7pm, we will be watching Hungry for Change. Check out the advert here.

Jesus calls us to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Does this really include diet? Come along and watch was is described as “…a quite brilliant movie. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it is the most influential, motivating force for change I have ever seen.” Followed by some good conversation!

We will also be providing food that we may never want to eat again after the movie

On Sunday we began our first of four sessions working through out narrative theology. (Some interesring thoughts on narrative theology can be found here.) Emma Vzesper led us in the first session with this great quote from Lauren Winner.

“For whole stretches since the dream, since the baptism, my belief has faltered, my sense of God’s closeness has grown strained, my efforts at living in accord with what I take to be the call of the gospel have come undone. And yet in those same moments of strained belief, of not knowing where or if God is, it has also seemed that THE CHRISTIAN STORY KEEPS EXPLAINING WHO AND WHERE I AM, BETTER THAN ANY STORY I KNOW. On the days when I think I have a fighting chance at redemption, at change, I understand it to be these words and these rituals and these people who will change me.”

Taking the first segment of our narrative theology Emma posed the following four questions before leading us in a meditation:

• What does the first segment of our narrative theology tell us about God?
• What does it tell us about us?
• Can you describe a moment when you were in awe of God’s creation/ power/ love?
• Can you describe a moment when you felt distant from God? What changed or is that where you are now? What is your response to Lauren’s quote?

The past three weeks at be have been packed with content!

Two weeks ago, Chris (small seed films) spoke about the power of story. Drawing on insights from Scripture and his career so far, he challenged us to explore the story that we are wrapped up in – God’s redemptive meta-narrative.

Last week, we had the ‘very-rough-and-ready’ sneak look at the Jesus Tour which will be touring in the days ahead.

And tonight, we explored what we mean by Church.

The evening began as we all chose stones that most represented us personally. Throughout Scripture, stones are a significant image. Joshua instructs each tribe to select a stone from the riverbed as they cross the Jordan into the Promised Land. Elijah collects 12 stones to rebuild the altar when challenging the prophets of Baal. The stones symbolise the people of Israel.

And then in 1 Peter 2, Peter talks of Jesus being the Cornerstone and the Capstone of a new Temple. He starts… “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.” From here, he redefines the image of the stones as symbolising us, the people of God, caught up in his mission. With a mixture of debate and conversation, the night went on to explore the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church today reflecting on the quote below from Lesslie Newbigin.

“On that day (Pentecost) we may say that everything was ready for the Church’s life to begin. Christ’s atoning work had been completed. His revelation of the Father in word and deed was complete. The nucleus of His Church was chosen and ready…. And yet, they had to wait. All was complete: and yet nothing was complete until the Spirit of God Himself should be breathed into the new race of men. Only then, empowered by Him, could they go forth to proclaim the message of salvation, and to baptise men in the Name of Christ unto remission of their sins. In very truth it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that constitutes the Church.”

Just a quick note to say there will be no gathering this Sunday, nor a just be on Monday.

Usual scheduling will resume from Tuesday.

God bless and see you soon!

Hi there Be people!

Many of us are following the 24-7 prayer podcasts created by our very own Chris Stone, as we journey through Lent!

We also thought it would be good to create space to pray and so we have a prayer room! Working with YMCA, we have a prayer space in their Wimbledon complex in the chapel on the ground floor. Address is 200 The Broadway, London SW19 1RY and map is here.

It is open in March…

Thursday 22nd, 6pm – 10pm; Friday 23rd, 6.30am – 10pm; Saturday 24th, 6.30am – 1pm.

Thursday 29th, 6pm – 10pm; Friday 30th, 6.30am – 10pm; Saturday 31st, 6.3-am – 1pm.

We would love you to particularly pray and seek God for where Be should journey towards next! There will be an evening in  a few weeks to share about what you think God may be saying.

Calling anyone interested in getting involved with the MyRaynesPark Festival. We are looking for artists, actors, dancers, singers, performers, photographers etc, plus designers, event managers, administrators, and anyone who wants to help out at the Festival this 11-22 July 2012.

Come along to hear the latest ideas, and contribute your thoughts into the mix. Your Festival needs you! We’re meeting in the Lantern Cafe at Raynes Park Methodist Church from 7pm.