From Derbyshire Church, Mid June 2010
By Martin Harris

Party Time in Clay Cross

Connecting people from inside and outside the Church

Martin Harris from Bridge St Evangelical Methodist Church in Pilsley near Clay Cross tells of the idea he had to connect people from inside and outside the church through socials for the 20+

Sitting in Church one cold and wet Sunday night, I was suddenly aware of all the people, families, and individuals who have come to worship with us and leave. We never get chance to talk, laugh or know anything about them. Church isn't an end in itself but the start of so much more; so out of this was born the idea of the "Saturday night Socials".

With no rigid concept or plan of what to do, my wife Tracey and I went ahead and organised the first one. We had a theme of a pudding and games night. Just inviting our friends and acquaintances from Church didn't seem to fit the bill. I felt very strongly we needed to open the event up to as broad a spectrum of people as possible. We looked for people on the fringes of Church life, and some of our non Christian friends and colleagues and neighbours.

On the face of it you might think this a recipe for disaster, mixing up different people, but thankfully the evening was a great success, with everyone wanting to know when we were holding another one.

God really does work in mysterious ways, and buoyed up by the success of the launch evening, we have had at least 10 more evenings spread over the last 2 1/2 years, with a good few weeks inbetween - these things are hard work! Themes for the evenings have ranged from a Wild West night, Pink Party, Oscars Night (fancy dress), the compulsory Christmas Party and many more.

They have all been great for a chance for Christians to relax and mix with other Christians, and a chance for non Christians to see that we Christian folk are normal really!!

God always has a way of bringing out His purposes, of crossing paths with people who may never go through the doors of a Church. It's a great privilege to get alongside non Christians and simply share the love of God, in an atmosphere of friendship, fun and laughter.

We thank God for His inspiration, (a big enough house!), and the physical strength to organise these events. There is always more going on with God than meets the eye - friendships and contacts outside the Church being made, Christian friendships being built, and yes a true fresh expression of Church. We don't know what the future holds, but we know the One who holds the future in his hands. Long may our Saturday Socials continue.

 
News Index >>