Fresh Expressions in Milton Keynes

Building Networks

2010-03-08T00:33:00.000-08:00

Networks are becoming more and more important. In the past we organised businesses, churches and communities around hierarchical structures but we now live in an age of networks in which networks describe the way we work, the way we relate, the way we communicate and the communities we seek to serve. The internet is not just a tool for communication - it is a way of understanding the world we live in. It exists because we live in a network age - and it is encouraging a society which works in a similar way...

If networks are so important then we may need to learn how to live in a network age and operate in networks. Networking is an increasingly important skill for mission and ministry and this was a big theme at the FEAST Day in Milton Keynes on Saturday 6th March.

The purpose of the day was to bring people together who are keen to explore new ways of doing church in Milton Keynes. It was good to hear some stories from people who are working away on various projects. Coffee time was an opportunity for people to catch up with each other and meet new people. Ideas were shared and contact details swapped...

Mike Baldwin and Testament provided the opening worship and told us a little about their story and the things they do. Testament, Mike told us, is not so much a band as a database. It's a list of names and contact details of musicians from a range of churches in Milton Keynes who can come together to provide high quality music for outreach events. They are already providing music for Oakhill STC and Woodhill prison. On Easter weekend they have been asked to provide five hours of music at Middleton Hall. No individual church could do this, but the database makes it possible!

The story of Testament shows us what can be possible if networking skills are used well. Mike is a great networker and has been very good at building a network of musicians across the city - and talking to people who might have opportunities to offer.

Mike questioned whether Testament and M&M should count as fresh expressions. This really depends on how you read the definition. This project does have a lot to say, however, about being church in a contemporary way - and it is seeking to serve those who are 'not yet members of any church'. Whether it's technically a 'fresh expression' or not, it is a good example of the role that networks can play in the mission of the church.

FEAST Day 2!

2010-02-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

In September 2009 we held a FEAST Day. This was an opportunity for individuals and groups to come together and share the good ideas that they have for doing church in new ways. It was an exciting event with a CafeChurch taster, good conversation and some multi-media worship with Air.

On March 6th 2010 there is going to be another FEAST Day at Christchurch Stantonbury. This will be a breakfast gathering with coffee and danish pastries at 9:30am, worship from Testament, and an opportunity to discuss a new plan for a Pioneer Minister on the eastern flank who will help us all think about mission and fresh expression...

The agenda will be:
9.30 arrive coffee and danish
10.00 worship M&M
10.20 Welcome and introduction - Tim Norwood
10.30 Input re Music and Message and discussion
11.15 Coffee refill - loo break
11.30 Info and discussion about Pioneer Ministry in MK
12.00 News, decisions, plans, action, moving forward, what's happning around the place
12.30 - finish

Air: December 2009

2009-12-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

Fresh Expressions and our understanding of 'church'

2009-12-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

Tim Clapton would like to follow up our session on ecclesiology. Feel free to post your contributions and discuss the questions Steve left with us which were quite useful:

1. What are the values and foundations [of FX or emerging church] ? (roots)

2. What are the characteristics of [FX or emerging] church ? (fruits)

3. What gifts do we need to bring this about ?

LSM in Fresh Expressions

2009-12-08T00:16:00.000-08:00

We had a good discussion about Local Shared Ministry at the Fresh Expressions residential.

I particularly enjoyed the suggestion that churches/Christian communities should be represented by amoebas...

Planning a day in March...

2009-12-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Peter Ballantine, Tim Norwood and Keith Beech-Gruneberg met this afternoon to discuss the residential and think about the day in March. Current plans are 1:00pm to 6:00pm with sessions on ecclesiology, church planting and fresh expressions... More details soon...

Residential: How was it for you?

2009-12-07T03:20:00.001-08:00

The residential at Felden Lodge is now over. Any reflections from those who went?

Afternoon Walk

2009-12-07T03:02:00.000-08:00

The afternoon for the fxmk weekend has been left free. Seven of us headed off into the countryside for a walk. We managed to get to the canal and did three miles in all (according to GPS).

Back to Felden for afternnon tea...

Culture

2009-12-07T02:50:00.000-08:00

Peter's session this morning explores the relationship between church and society - particularly in the areas of ethics and truth.
Question for fx: do we speak to culture or embrace it?

Fresh Expressions Weekend

2009-12-04T23:13:00.001-08:00

The residential began on Friday. Although it wasn't going to be quite
the same event we had originaly planned, it should be a good
experience for those involved.

The weekend started with a session with Peter Ballantine and Tim
Clapton looking at "what is a fresh expression?"

New Blog

2009-09-21T12:33:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!
This blog is the new web site for the Fresh Expressions Project Group (FXMK) in Milton Keynes. It will be expanding over the next few weeks as new material is added. Please come back and join the conversation about 'new ways of being church' in Milton Keynes...

To offer Support

2009-09-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

The project group will seek to offer support for those who are involved in fresh expressions and emerging forms of church. In order to achieve this, they will:

Make sure that entrepreneurs and projects are linked to the denominations, partnerships, parishes and churches that could be willing to support in a natural, local and appropriate way
Provide pastoral, theoretical and technical support for entrepreneurs and group leaders, particularly if this is not available denominationally
Be available for all those who are involved in fresh expressions and emerging forms of church in Milton Keynes

To Build Networks

2009-09-21T12:13:00.000-07:00

The project group will seek to build networks which link those interested or involved in fresh expressions and emerging church, particularly our entrepreneurs, projects, churches and denominations. In order to achieve this, they will:

Attempt to maintain a list of fresh expressions in Milton Keynes, particularly where these are linked to the denominations and groups which belong to the Mission Partnership
Organise regular networking events in which people can talk about their projects or dreams and share experience
Bring together people who have similar interests and those who are keen to support or resource their projects
Build e-networks through the FXMK web site, facebook group and twitter feed

To Provide Training

2009-09-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

The project group will seek to provide training that deepens our understanding of mission in contemporary culture and equips people for pioneering ministry. Examples may include:

The six week mission shaped intro course which provides a basic introduction to mission in contemporary culture and may be offered on a regular basis
The year long mission shaped ministry course which equips people to build, sustain and grow fresh expressions of church
One-off sessions on request either as part of other courses or standing alone

To Inspire and Inform

2009-09-21T12:07:00.000-07:00

The project group will seek to inspire and inform people in Milton Keynes about fresh expressions and emerging forms of church. In order to achieve this, they will:

Organise vision days or other public events
Keep churches informed through emails, notices and other publications
Be available to churches, committees, councils and groups for one-off sessions

The FEAST Day

2009-09-21T04:12:00.000-07:00

Sunday September 27th 2009
4:00pm to 7:00pm
at the Church of the Holy Cross, Two Mile Ash

The FEAST Day is an opportunity for people who are interested in fresh expressions and new ways of being church to meet. We hope that people will be able to share ideas and experiences and discuss future projects.

Come along and find out what’s going on in the city, share your ideas, or experience something different. You are welcome to come to all or any part of the event. Tea and coffee will be available and there will be a chance to ‘bring and share’.

4:00pm Welcome to the FEAST: What’s going on in Milton Keynes?
4:30pm Café Church: A chance to experience café style worship in the way that it’s being done in Costa Coffee shops across the country.
5:00pm Ideas Café: Bring and share both food and ideas. What are you interested in? What are you doing? Bring some food to share and chat with other people about their ideas and projects.
5:45pm Air: Ephesians 2:19 - Air is a new multimedia worship event. It aims to grow into a community of Christians exploring how their life rubs off on those that they meet and know in an age where the Church is Alien to the culture.
6:30pm Wind down and Chat

Welcome to Fresh Expressions MK (FXMK)

2009-09-21T04:09:00.000-07:00

Fresh Expressions is an initiative of the Church of England and the Methodist Church. It has been going since September 2004. It aims to help Christians of any denomination think about ways of starting and growing fresh expressions of church in their area. A fresh expression is 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.

The Purpose of FXMK is to inspire and inform church members in Milton Keynes about fresh expressions and emerging forms of church; to provide training that deepens our understanding of mission in contemporary culture and equips people for pioneering ministry; to build networks which link entrepreneurs, projects, churches and denominations; and to offer support for those who are involved in fresh expressions and emerging forms of church.

Mission Shaped Intro

2009-09-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Mission Shaped Intro 2009

four weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church

Host:	FXMK (Fresh Expressions in Milton Keynes)
Price:	FREE

Session Dates:	Wednesday, 30 September 2009 Wednesday 7 October 2009 Wednesday 14 October 2009
	Wednesday, 21 October 2009
Location:	7:30pm at All Saints' Church in Loughton, Milton Keynes

Email:

tim.norwood@wvep.org

Mission Shaped Intro

New world, new church? Our world and our lives have changed radically in the last twenty years, but has the church adapted to this change? Do we need a changing church for a changing world? Are new forms of church really possible? If so, how can they be developed? mission shaped intro looks at fresh expressions of church through a mix of teaching, reflection and story. This course is an enjoyable hands-on experience combining presentations, group activity, film and music clips, worship and prayer.

The next mission shaped intro course will be on
September 30th and October 7th, 14th and 21st 2009 at 8:00pm
at All Saints' Church in Loughton, Milton Keynes

Mission Shaped Intro

2009-09-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

six weeks to rediscover mission

and re-imagine church

mission shaped intro looks at fresh expressions of church through a mix of teaching, reflection and story. This course is an enjoyable hands-on experience combining presentations, group activity, film and music clips, worship and prayer.

The aim of this course is to explore the ‘why’ of creating fresh expressions of church rather than the ‘how’. The six week course takes us on a journey looking at the ever-changing nature of our social communities and why the church needs to rethink its approach to those communities in meaningful and relevant ways.

The course is designed to present those changes in an informative and interactive way, and is suitable for both clergy and lay alike. The ninety minute to two hours sessions are delivered through verbal presentation, powerpoints, movie clips and stories with group participation.

While it is designed to help groups to consider the ‘mixed economy’ approach to mission, it is also an ideal Lent course for congregations and groups. It also provides a link from vision days for those who wish to discover more and for those who wish to go further through the mission-shaped ministry course.

Participants in recent pilot courses of msi commented:

‘Worthwhile coming and a challenge – opened my eyes to many things that are possible.’

‘Thank you for being affirmative and challenging my thinking and at times being inspiring and prophetic.’

The msi course has been eagerly awaited not only here in the UK but also in USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.