Making God’s Love Known in Windsor
What Next? – A Year of Listening
Now our three parishes have so successfully come together as one parish for central Windsor, the question arises, ‘What next?’ How does our new community formed from four communities grow into becoming a network of missionary disciples who listen deeply, grow in faith together, and step outward in service to the wider community?
To discover where God is calling us, we are embarking on a Year of Listening - a structured, prayerful, and participatory process that involves the whole parish family and its wider community.
In this first year we are asking individuals and groups to use the Dwelling the Word process to support that listening. Everyone is invited to take part and to share what they understand God is calling us to do and be as churches, communities and as a parish. That includes grown-ups and children, regular and occasional worshippers, members of our various groups, those who value what we bring and those who simply are happy to know that there is a Christian presence amongst various others here in Windsor.
Gathering reflections
Please submit the results of your thoughtful, prayerful, biblical reflections via the website form below. It doesn’t need to be massively detailed. Just some notes, words or phrases will be great - whatever communicates the feeling and flavour of where you discern God is calling us to journey.
Outcome of the year:
By the end of the year, in order to inform our parish’s focus for coming years, we will deliver
- A parish “Listening Report” summarizing themes and priorities
- Proposals as to how to widen the circle of those who else should be heard in this process of listening
- Clear identification of two or three areas where the parish feels called to act in unity.
Dwelling in the Word: What next?
Dwelling in the Word is a way of listening to scripture, those around us and God which has been used in this diocese and parish for ten years or more. It’s not about finding the ‘right’ answers. It’s a way through the Bible of paying attention to God and each other and discerning what God is up to amongst us. We suggest that it is done in a way that suits you best way for, say, five or ten minutes at the start of each of the groups, committees and meetings in our parish. You can do it in families or friendship groups or with people who volunteer together or go to church together. We want to hear from as many people as possible! Doing it several times spread out over a period can allow God to speak to us in a developing way, building a picture.
Here is the basic process:
- Start with the prayer below*, inviting the Spirit to guide your attending to the Word of God.
- When everyone is ready, begin with one person reading the passage out loud to the group. It can be useful to have the text printed out for everyone.
- Let silence unfold. Notice where your attention lingers. This might be a word, an image or a phrase.
- Ask a second person to read the passage out loud once more.
- In groups of two or three, listen to each other as you all describe briefly what you heard in the passage. What captured your imagination, and what would you like to find out more about? Each person should listen well as you will be invited to report what was shared with the rest of the group.
- Ask a third person to read the passage out loud once more.
- What have you heard that might be significant? Why? Discuss as a group what God might be up to for your group on that day.
- Make sure someone in the group makes a brief note of what the group’s reflection has rested on. Keep these notes to build a picture of what God through the Scriptures and through the group is saying about where we need to go.
- Close the time with a short prayer§, perhaps including some of the themes raised in the group.
*God of gentleness and love
Draw near to us as we draw near to you
Dwell in every heart and conversation
Fashion in us the likeness of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Help us to discern together all that you are calling us to be
And all that you are calling us to do.
Assist us, by your Spirit, to become a more contemplative, more compassionate
and more courageous Church
For the building of your kingdom and the glory of your Son.
Amen
§Lord, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Thank you that we can live in Your light and walk in Your truth.
May the things that you have revealed and thoughts that we have shared
dwell in our hearts and stir us to action.
Amen