Going to church is a vital expression of our faith, but how can this time together better nurture our faith so that everyone in this diocese experiences a greater, fuller life in God from Sunday to Saturday?
Whatever the size or tradition of your church, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) have identified seven small shifts that can make a big difference to the way we worship, pray and support each other in our everyday faith.
Being more Christ-like isn’t a prescriptive list of things to do, it will differ for everyone. Being confident in talking about God in our everyday lives and seeing the world as Christ sees it is what counts.
Visiting fellow Christians in their workplace, where they volunteer, or in the college canteen is a powerful way to encourage a culture of everyday faith. Anyone can do it.
Changing our conversations can change our culture. How can you be more curious and interested in each other’s lives away from church gatherings? Anyone can do it.
Intercessions are an opportunity to pray for people in particular sectors and for the occupations, volunteering and school activities in which people are involved.
Interviewing a member of the congregation about where they’ll be this time tomorrow tells them what they do every day is important to the church and important to God.
Preaching matters. When the person giving the sermon makes a link to your everyday faith let them know. Encourage them that what they said made a difference to you.
Notice boards indicate what’s important to your church. Why not include a map with pictures and prayer points of where your congregation spends time during the week?
Commissioning people for ministries beyond the church is powerful. Who’s changing job/ school, taking up new responsibilities, or starting retirement in your community?
The seven small shifts are an edited extract from Setting God’s People Free for Monday to Saturday; a Church of England resource written by Mark Green from LICC. Listen to Bishop Steven chatting with Nick Shepherd, SGPF program director, about #everydayfaith on the My (extraordinary) Family podcast