weekends

ROOTS IN THE CITY with pioneering missional community Roots in inner-city Bradford. Roots is a number of small missional communities - in the pub, on the allotments, in homes - looking to be alongside people where they are in the way of Jesus. Roots is partnered with the Joshua Project which has a particular focus on young people, learning from them about life in the city and working with them to find new ways to live being shaped by the Christ. Joshua project works in partnership with various local organizations including education authorities and neighbourhood policing. The weekend will offer opportunities to join in the life of Roots and Joshua Project, and to imagine how their experience might inspire you where you are.

Hosted by Ian Adams and Rich Jones

A weekend in London visiting two communities, Grace and Moot who have sought to discern what it means to follow Christ in the city of London. Experiential approaches to being Christian and worship are key for the missional challenge of the 21st Century. These communities have different approaches. We'll explore alternative worship and community with Grace and join them for their Christmas Grace on the Sat night. And we'll learn about Moot's journey into new monasticism and the development of an arts cafe in the heart of the city as the base for communty life. Both alternative worship and new monasticism use different approaches to contextualising the Christian faith in a form that becomes accessible to the 'un and dechurched' alongside the growing numbers of spiritual seekers.

Hosted by Jonny Baker and Ian Mobsby

The popular perception of Kingston upon Thames is of a rich, leafy, but dull suburb in South West London.  However there are pockets of real deprivation, both material and spiritual.  It is in this context that Christians are doing mission that is both innovative and edgy and creating imaginative expressions of church that reveal the transforming love of Christ. On this weekend you will hear stories of church plants to the homeless as well as to residents of the YMCA.  A project that is seeking to support and encourage young, single Mums and you'll have the opportunity to experience outreach to spiritual seekers using dream interpretation and prophetic card readings.  If you are ready for your expectations of church and mission to be challenged and expanded, then this is definitely the weekend for you!

Hosted by Andrea Campanale

The gospel has as much to say about transforming places and communities as it does about personal renewal. Come and hear the story of The Salvation Army Eden project in Fitton Hill who are working in partnership with other service providers and community groups to bring about the regeneration of Fitton Hill.   This is a weekend to explore the role the church can play in community transformation. There will also be the opportunity to hear more about the wider work of Eden, and Salvation Army projects working to support health and faith and learn about Hope Citidel Health Care a community Interest company set up and run by Laura Neilson providing primary health care to some of the more difficult areas of greater Manchester.

Hosted by Chris Neilson