A recent mission weekend in Tuffley showed how Christians can share faith through hospitality, community and building relationships.
Mission weekends are supported by Bishop Rachel and Bishop Robert, bringing curates together with local churches to develop their confidence in evangelism while helping local congregations connect with their communities.
In Tuffley, six curates worked alongside local clergy and churches, including St George’s, St Barnabas, Grange Baptist Church and the English Martyrs Roman Catholic Church, to create a weekend celebrating community and offering opportunities to talk about faith.
The weekend began with iSingPop concerts at Grange Primary Academy. Around 300 children from three local primary schools had learned seven songs during the week, before performing them to family and friends in a marquee on the school field.
Saturday brought families together for Messy Church, with crafts, sports and a free community lunch featuring food from different cultures, including Lithuanian dumplings, West and East African dishes, and a barbecue. The afternoon ended with a Christian disco, with music provided by a 14-year-old DJ from Oxford.
On Sunday, ‘REFRESH’ brought the weekend to a close with community choirs, music and personal stories of faith. Among those sharing was curate Laine Lewis, who grew up in Tuffley. She spoke about knowing that she is loved by God and valued simply for who she is. Representatives from Baptist and Catholic churches also shared how faith brings love and hope to their lives.
Bishop Rachel joined the celebrations throughout the weekend, giving encouragement and speaking powerfully about God’s love at each event.
Rachel Beck, Vicar of St George’s Gloucester with Whaddon, said: “The weekend was a wonderful opportunity to build relationships with the wider community. We had families and people who don’t normally come to church asking questions about faith. It was a chance for the whole community to come together, and a wonderful opportunity to share what we believe about God’s love and God’s hope.”
The weekend was made possible through support from the Bishops’ Mission Fund, the Sylvanus Lysons fund and funding secured by Grange Baptist Church. Grange Primary Academy generously provided its field and facilities throughout the weekend.
Rachel continued, “We were so grateful for Grange Primary Academy for the use of their field. It was a wonderful venue, particularly because it was a space that many people already knew. It had such a relaxed vibe. People seemed really comfortable and were dropping in and out throughout the day.
“It was such a great celebration of community.”
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