Celebrating the Mission to which God calls us
Posted on 1/11/2005

Congregations and faith groups from across the Uniting Church are being invited to reflect on their local mission using a series of short, small group studies prepared by the President and President-elect.

God’s Word, God’s World, Towards the 11th Assembly, is a series of four short resources designed for use as discussion starters for small groups, congregations and faith communities who are interested in celebrating and exploring ways they can live out the mission to which God calls us.

All four worksheets use the 11th Assembly theme, God’s Word, God’s World, as their basis and include short bible studies, reflections, prayers and discussion starters. Designed by the National Assembly’s Working Group on Missiology, they are intended for use in small groups but can also be used for individual reflection and meditation.

One set of the worksheets is being sent to each congregation across the country in upcoming Synod mailings in time for congregations to use them as a four-week study resource for Advent. They can also be used in Lent or at any time that suits between now and the 11th Assembly.

Uniting Church President, Reverend Dr. Dean Drayton said the worksheets focus on four bible study passages and are designed to stimulate discussion, reflection and action about mission across the church.

“The President-elect and I have been very encouraged by the way many congregations, in a huge variety of ways, are now directly and very deliberately involved in God’s mission.

“God loves every part of creation, every human being. God’s mission for us is to live that love, through our worship, witness and service.

“These worksheets give congregations a short, easy to use resource that can help them reflect on their local mission and to search out new ways they might share the good news of Christ,” he said.

President-elect, Reverend Gregor Henderson, said he hoped the sheets would help the Church focus its energies as the 11th Assembly approaches.

“As we prepare for the 11th Assembly in July 2006, we hear God’s Word spoken not only to us, but also to the world.

“We know well that in the Uniting Church there are many different points of view on a host of issues. What holds us together is our relationship with the living Lord and our commitment to sharing the good news of that relationship with others.

“We invite every congregation to make use of these worksheets and reflect on how they are living out God’s Word in their community. “

Additional copies of the sheets can be downloaded from the 11th Assembly website or purchased for a small fee through the Assembly’s publisher MediaCom – 1800 811 311.