First one in the bag, thanks to everyone who has been hoping, praying and sending messages of support, it was strangely like so many gatherings we're hosted before and yet so special as only the first gathering of a new church can be. 27 people turned up including some family and it was a great evening - mainly many of the people we met over the summer. The first four meetings (10th, 17th, 24th and 1st Oct) are all about sharing our story of why we are starting this church, some context of the vineyard, what we anticipate this church will do and the values and priorities that underpin all of that. Nige and Jay sounded fantastic as they led us in worship and the presence of the Holy Spirit seemed very tangible at times during the evening. The coffee was fantastic - not only fairtrade and organic, but also offset the carbon emissions produced flying it from Colombia to the UK. Not a bad start for a church that we want to establish on the most environmental and ethical footing. Praying for momentum and for the grapevine to get working as hard as we are!
