What 3 words spring to mind when we imagine All Hallows in the year 2020? Here are the results from APCM Sunday. This is how we want to define ourselves into the future- and it’s very joyful, hopeful reading…
And here’s how we see ourselves at the moment… Praise God for a short list of Weaknesses/Threats and loooooong list of Strengths and Opportunities!
Strengths
The people!
Lots of love around
The warm acceptance of diversity
The café – enabling other works in the building
Fantastic garden space
Lots of people involved in different ways
Creativity
Sense of fun
Shared lunches
We share bread and wine
We learn about God
We pray
We are an active church, and we go on outings
We have new people with us nearly every week
‘As a visitor, it is very friendly and dynamic’
Focus on social justice
Safe space to be LGBTQI
Sociable and extroverted (although this can be hard for some)
Open-minded
Caring
Good childrens’ work
Open
Broadminded
Friendly
Liturgy/prayers
Enthusiasm, energy, joy
Mix of people
Children
‘It’s not like other churches… I mean it was so informal and full of love’ (Muslim police officer after licensing service)
Inclusive
Work with asylum seekers
We work together to make decisions about our life
Deep-thinking friends to share faith with
Weekly communal worship
PLAYING after church!
Weaknesses
Not well-known enough
Need more fellowship
We’re all very busy – lack of time to meet together
Some services are long- especially all-age services
All-age services need to be inclusive of all ages, not just children
We find fault too easily, feed back more negative than positive, too much intellectual critiquing
Quiet people get overlooked- this is not inclusive
Intellectual- dominant balance of power in favour of the articulate
Threats
We are a close community, so newcomers can be ignored and feel a bit alone
Burn out! Too few people doing too many jobs
Overwhelm caused by too many desparate needs
Disunity caused by too many competing agendas (asylum seekers, LGBT, environment, worship, creativity) – need to work together
From all who are narrow-minded- religious and secular extremists
Building
Money
Inequality
‘Losing’ elderly, increasingly frail parishioners
Capitalist greed
Opportunities
Reconnect with the local community- in service and worship
Links to/with other churches / communities
Growing in ‘discipleship’ – groups for fellowship and reading/applying bible and God’s kingdom to our everyday lives
Engagement with freshers week – followed up by beer & questions in the Royal Park pub
Taking a weekly ‘attendance register’ – making sure no-one goes unnoticed and uncared-for
Opening up access to the garden
More events etc to draw people in
The café and church as a community resource
To grow and change
Spreading a fair and equal philosophy to other churches
Messy Church for the community
Safe place to be gay/bi/trans-sexual
Focus outwards – serve and connect with the community, visit people in their homes
Space for creativity in worship and services
Another service- either 8am eucharist or afternoon/evening experimental worship
People often say ‘I don’t go to All Hallows much, but I’m glad it’s there- it gives hope for the church.’ WHY do they say this, and do we need to listen to why?
More food, cake and MIDNIGHT FEASTS!
More parties and events
More camping and walking trips
More learning bible history
More games
Advertise/publicise ourselves better
Tell people about All Hallows and what we do
Invite friends to come to church and to events/trips
Do a sponsored walk
Fresh eyes / new energy
Local multi-cultural friendships- mosques, churches, BLC, Neighbourhood Forum
Expectancy of great things from God
More children keep appearing!
