Kia ora everyone, Guy here with a bit of an update about what we call Missional Communities here at All Saints. 

You will remember that nearly four years ago, when we arrived, our two central gatherings happened each week; during the Delta lockdown, we pivoted into House Churches to continue to meet together and deepen our discipleship. We have maintained a rhythm of House Churches here at All Saints as well as continuing to gather in the room for our central gatherings. Alongside all of that we have continued to push more and more missionally into our community, through 5th Sundays, Light party, Shrove Tuesdays and more recently through groups of people hearing Gods call, to gather a team, disciple one another, and reach out to those around them. 

Thursday Bible Study
On first, third, and fifth Thursdays a group of us meet at All Saints at 11am for an hour of Bible study. Last year we used Bible Project videos to work our way through the Old Testament. We've learned a lot and got as far as the book of Isaiah. 
  
This year we have paused our OT studies to follow the Diocese Lent Study series. As we meet fortnightly this year, we will continue these until late April. We are using the 3DM model of the Kairos Circle to discern what God is saying to us each session, and to reflect on how we might respond. It's a powerful discipleship model that is used widely to help believers strengthen their faith. 

About 6 years ago, I decided one morning (for reasons which I now understand), to go to the 9am service. Not something I usually did. I sat behind Bob Smith, who, during the service gave a notice about the need for others to support the ministry at Te Hopai Home and Hospital at a monthly service. Ping! The lights went on for me and my heart beat a little faster! Are you trying to tell me something God? Well, turns out He was, and after a few years supporting Bob and John Mullis, a Vicar from St Barnabas in Roseneath, 

Kia ora everyone Guy here. 

It is with great pleasure I have been asked by our coms team to write an update on our Families House Church. 

We had our first week back together again last week, where many of us gathered at the vicarage for fellowship and a time of lenten prayer using a creative prayer resource from the diocese. 

We are into our third year together as a group and there are several things we have discovered. 

Over the past few years Mainly Music has had a renewal. Rev Guy Benton leads the upfront dancing and singing in which 20+ people join and participate on a regular basis. Heather Miller leads the team and has lots of long standing connections with many of the families and children. Mainly Music provides a great opportunity to meet, engage with and invite families to join us as part of this community of faith. God is moving in the conversations we have each week and relationships are being built.