Christ Church Downend in 2017 
'The glory of God is a person fully alive.' St Irenaeus 
It's all about LIFE! (It's not about church) 
So what does CCD do now that is didn't do 5 years ago? 
1) We are learning the value of establishing a Rhythm of life 
With the pace of change in our world increasing to the point where many are feeling they have lost any sense of stability or rootedness, the ancient paths of Spiritual Disciplines are being explored by people all over the nation. Living by a daily rhythm of contemplative prayer, study of God's Word, and theological reflection is enabling 
our spirituality to grow at a personal level. As we meet in 3's or 4's or our Homegroups, we are able to share our stories of how God is bringing inward transformation and a growing in us the fruit of His Spirit. This 'Rhythm or Rule' of life is like a trellis which forms the framework around which the other dimensions of our life can be wrapped around. It is the essential structure for healthy growth. 

2. We have seen a culture shift from being a church that seeks to attract and retain to 
becoming a church that equips and releases. 
There has been a radical change in the 'way we do things round here' (Mark 
Greene's description of culture). Most people now see what happens on Sunday as a 
time to gather in order to celebrate and worship the life giving God. It is seen as the 
first day of the week (not the last) where we hear what God has been doing in the 
lives of others, to learn of their challenges and the exciting opportunities they have, 
and to pray for one another in relation to their daily lives. The emphasis is not so 
much on teaching but on learning, with a clear focus to each act of worship. Creative 
ways of engaging with God enable people to relate to what is happening at many 
different levels. High levels of creativity have been released, made possible partly by 
the now re-ordered church building with its different adaptable spaces, and also 
because many more people are feeling freed to experiment and take risks, secure in 
the knowledge that they will receive constructive feedback which is being welcomed 
and taken forward to develop latent talents and spiritual gifts. 
3. We have been intentional about enabling people to develop a theology of home 
and family, and gain a Biblical perspective about the value of work (including 
school work). 
This has been hugely affirming and has helped to move us away from the thinking that sees church as the thing that really matters to God. It has enabled many to reorder their priorities, not just in theory but in practice. Identifying clear Christian values which underpin decisions about how we are to live at home and the workplace has been integral to this process. Values have been the common denominator uniting home, school/work and church, each reinforcing the other and building the sense of whole life focus. Central to such a theology is the vision of a 
God who welcomes. (Luke 15: ll-end, Matthew 25: 25-35). Henri Nouwen points out that hospitality means, 'the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend.' This may not necessarily mean doing something special for the other, it can mean the willingness just to be oneself (open hearted) and allowing 
another into the rhythm of our family life and welcoming them into our community life as a church. It thus leads to a freedom to participate through which all are enriched. We are beginning to feel we are finally getting to know one another as God's family and strangers become friends! 

4) We have seen a shift in the way leadership is understood and exercised. 
The first calling of leaders is to ensure that the church community (at every age and stage of life) is a disciple-making one that will help people to grow in maturity and mission. They are helping people to see that when they join CCD they are coming into a church with strong networks of care in which they will be both helped to grow towards maturity and be part of maturing others (becoming a disciple-making disciple). Thus leaders are not now so much attempting to 'fix' problems but to ask what is God wanting to teach us through all this? They are calling people to prayer and to live authentic lives made possible by God's grace (1 Tim 4:10). They are not the primary source of care but care so much for the whole church that they are focussed on enabling people to care for one another and equip one another for living 
out their faith in the harsh realities of their day to day world. We have worked hard to shape people's expectations especially in relation to the way clergy and staff are perceived. 

5)	We have been clear in our communication of the direction we are called to travel 
and we are making no more than one degree shifts to get there. 
Our goal of becoming a whole life disciple making church (learning to live the life) has been embraced by the vast majority of people now because we have been consistent in the messages we have sent out at every level of the church's life. We 
been intentional about dispelling the myth of the sacred/secular divide and sought to celebrate the truth that God has given us all things richly to enjoy. The principle of alignment has been embraced, though it challenged us to make some very difficult and sometimes painful decisions. In order to focus on the vision of becoming more fruitful (John 15: 1-4) there had to be some pruning so that we were able to use our limited resources to do fewer things, but do them better. Careful and prayerful long term strategic planning has made it possible to make modest changes more frequently (one degree shifts) because we know that we will ultimately see the radical change that God has called us to make. This clarity in communication has led to a much greater sense of commitment (buy-in) among church members. Evidence of this is seen, for example, in the way people can articulate the vision of Christ Church simply and enthusiastically, an inner joy and deeper resilience in people's lives, and the levels of financial giving which has increased by over 50 in the past 5 
years as we have come to see that Jesus is Lord of all (including of what we have in the bank) and have a passion to resource the things that are making a difference in our world. 
6) We have redeveloped the church building so that it supports our vision 
Christ Church is now the place people know they can come to find God's peace, experience genuine hospitality and explore their inner spiritual journey using the variety of multisensory prayer stations or in the intimate quiet of the chapel. And they can do it every day, any day! The building is safe, warm, flooded with natural light and has ease of access throughout. Teachers from the school come and sit in the Spiritual Garden as they have sandwiches and take some time away to relax. Children make daisy chains and watch the insects with their Dads. Training days for other churches are held on how the local church can become a house of prayer, and we host concerts, exhibitions and theatre productions with the wider community. It is becoming a place where community is built, creativity is celebrated and Christian Spirituality is nurtured. 

In Conclusion 
Looking back to 2012 we can see that God has been doing a miraculous work among us. 
Other churches are wanting to hear our story and learn of what God is doing. We can 
celebrate the evidence of that work, for the people of CCD now are growing in: 
• Worship of Jesus as Lord of all 
• a vision of church as community with Christ at the centre 
•	a sense of rhythm to their lives where routine 'work' is wrapped around daily 
worship, rather than worship being squeezed into 'work' 
• many meaningful relationships with people who would have remained strangers 
• a fresh understanding and an enthusiastic sense of purpose about mission 
• a deeper consciousness of God's presence and power on their daily frontline 
• a greater support from their fellow Christians in prayer and encouragement 
• a feeling of being equipped to face each day with confidence in Christ 
• a desire to welcome others, not only into their homes, but into their lives 
•	a love of just being alive, living fruitfully and joyfully in this world and seeing others 
discover that Life 
It's all about LIFE! .... a new life, a whole life, a life both given and learned, a life that 
offers a radical alternative to those who are longing that things might be different. 

	Jo Vickery 	Advent 2012