Vision is what could be and what should be. It is the things we begin to see for the future in line with what the Holy Spirit sites within us.
On Vision Sunday, we were able to share with you what the Lord has been saying to us for the coming year. We are so excited by the things God has laid on our hearts, and we wanted to highlight the key things we shared.
There are many things we are discovering in our corner of the world that could be changed and transformed by the presence and influence of the church and they should be.
We want to give every person, young and old, the opportunity to have their first and next encounter with Jesus. We believe passionately that as we lift up Jesus, He will draw all people to Himself and in doing so, we want to be known as the church for the least, the lost, the near and the far-off.
During our first few months on the ground in Sutton, we began to sense God stirring many of you into a new season of discovery. So many of us are being moved for people in a new way, dreams are welling up within people, and we are embarking on a discovery year to understand how each person might begin and continue to extend the kingdom of God as we bring Jesus to people as the church in Sutton.
Wherever you are at in your faith journey, if you have begun to sense that Sutton Vineyard is your home, we want to invite you to help us build the church and there are 3 vital ways in which you can help.
Prayer
Prayer is the engine room of the church –or, to use another analogy, it is the body’s lifeblood.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Many years ago, The Lord began to speak to our church about building a dedicated room for prayer. At our Dolphin building on the High Street, we have a place that is given over entirely to praying. We’d love you to help underpin the vision and purpose of our church by committing to regular prayer. This can be in your own time at home or on the way to work, but you could also be one of many people who want to use this space to uphold our aims and objectives as a church in prayer.
We are setting up the prayer room to continually capture all that God is saying and doing in our church and to have them at the forefront of our minds as we seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Sutton and beyond.
Finance - Consider in prayer
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports our church financially. No matter how much is given, we don't take anyone for granted. We see these things as an act of worship that also resources the church to reach out to those who need Jesus. We are eternally grateful for those who serve, give, and stand with us. We cannot do this without you!
Each year, we budget with outstanding stewardship, the best way to be an active and vibrant church in Sutton. We need to close some financial gaps to keep going and minister vibrantly and powerfully as a church.
As of September 2023, we currently have a monthly shortfall of £2.5k stopping us break even. But as we begin to mobilise the church to reach the least, the lost, the near and the far off, we don't want to close the gaps, but if possible, gain some momentum as we discover and uncover ways in which we can bring Jesus to our corner of the world.
As we prayerfully consider our approach in opening up more opportunities for our local community to be welcomed in, it will cost us.
With our Youth and Children, we will consider ways to create community touch points. In our compassion projects, we are exploring the next steps to build on the great work already happening. Within local governance, we are networking and discovering ways to bring the church's voice to play its role in the wider community. As we discover these steps with prayer, strategic consideration and fostering new relationships with other churches and local leaders, we know it will come with a cost.
To help get ahead, we don't just want to close the gaps, we want to move our finances to a place that puts wind in our sails. So we desire to see our giving move to £4k extra a month to help move us from a place of maintenance to forward momentum.
The apostle Paul encourages us not to give reactively or under compulsion ⎯but to pray about it. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
You may not be able to give financially, but your support could be standing with us in prayer and with your time. It might be that you've been in a time of waiting, but now could be the time to consider if you are ready to build with us. You might have been faithful with your time, resources and prayer for years, but God might be stirring you afresh.
We want people to do this carefully and prayerfully. Would you help us close the gap? Are you one of 50 people who could give £50? Are you one of 25 who could give £100?
If you are not yet in a place to stand with us financially, we'd love to have you pull along side us in other ways.
Get involved
There are several key ways you can get involved!
Small groups - Our small groups are a fantastic way to build friendships and delve deeper into what is shared on a Sunday. If you are not yet in a small group, we'd encourage you to chat with our Assistant Pastor Hannah, who will be able to get you connected to a group at a time that is convenient to you!
Our men's and women's ministries will be themed around discovery, too. They will be fantastic opportunities to have fun, build community and intentionally explore discovery in our own lives.
Discovery groups - We will be launching several focus groups after Christmas that will focus on different aspects of church and ministry to prayerfully and practically evaluate where we are at now and where God is leading us over the coming years. We recognise these groups might not be for everyone, but we will be providing more information about these in due course. These groups are specifically for those who lead or feel stirred to action in these areas and will encompass different areas of church such as compassion, prayer, worship, evangelism and family.
Whatever season you are in on your journey of faith, we'd encourage you to prayerfully consider how to actively engage in being the church. We each have a role to play, whether directly or indirectly, but our prayer is that we come together as the body of Christ, seeing the church continually move into action to bring Jesus to the least, the lost, the near and the far-off.
May the grace of God be over you in all things.
Julian & Libby Arnold