Emerging Church - Features

The Emerging Church

Many seekers after authentic spirituality avoid 'one-shape fits all' Sunday-only churches. In a multi-choice society they need the freedom to choose from a range of good things that meet the need of people of different temperaments, cultures and ages. In a twenty four hour society they need places that are open most of the time. In a pressured, packaged society they want churches where they can be themselves.

Celtic Contributions

The first churches in Britain and Ireland were seven days a week faith communities without walls - villages of God - which catered for all of life. Emerging Celtic- style churches today are seven day a week faith communities which have some or all of these features:

These features make up a "Village of God". They may be on one site, or on different sites but linked through pilgrim or web site trails. As well as these features, a Celtic style "Village of God" faith community has living links with the social hubs in its area. These hubs are linked with the faith community, not just with a single minister or priest. The link takes the form of being a supportive presence within the cultural pattern of the hub.

If a cultural hub is directly anti God it is still related to but, the anti-God thing is confronted as something that will damage the well-being of those concerned.

Typical hubs include:

The the core features of a Village of God are like a circle. The living links with the hubs are like spokes reaching out from the inner circle and forming a wheel. It is inclusive, as depicted on the Godly Village Chart: (To download the chart in pdf-format, click here.)

Villages of God - the shape of the emerging church

Chart showing the villages of God concept

In emerging Godly villages congregations of different denominations and new newworks combine to provide some of the following features, which may be linked by pilgrim trails or websites. They draw on the Celtic monastery model. Like a rainbow they bond the Channel Isles, England, Irish Republic, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and eventually span the world.

The book Church of the Isles: a prophetic strategy for renewal, by Ray Simpson explores this vision and provides a practical ten session study guide for cells and groups.

 

Which Churches are doing it?

We offer lists of churches who have some of the features of a Village of God.

If you know of a church, please email us with the name of the church, which features they have, and its email contact. We are not able to check these entries - please let us now if any are incorrect.

City Temple, London

...is an evangelical charismatic United Reformed Church which is engaged in becoming a seven day a week community, with a twenty-four seven prayer room.

A core community has already drawn up a covenant and is considering more precise commitments. Plans are under way to turn the ground floor into a cafe and exhibition area, and to locate worship on the first floor.

Rodney and Karen Woods, The City Temple, Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2DE

 

Nashoba Grace Community Church

One thing that God has done in us is to give us deep sense of the necessity of community prayer. God gave Mike, one of their leaders, a vision for a House of Prayer, a literal place to be built someday for the purpose of contemplation and seeking God. But meanwhile, until they are able to secure land, He is building His House of Prayer using the Community as Living Stones. They meet every weekday at a local park in the gazebo for morning prayer at 7:00am (until winter drives them indoors...) and again at noon in their church office. Nashoba Grace Community Church uses 'Prayer Rhythms' as their guide for prayer - and many of their people are discovering it to be a wonderful tool in their personal and family prayers as well.

Picture of a cross

In this community, there is a deep appreciation for the beauty and sanctity of creation and they have just begun to do nature/prayer walks together. One member is a naturalist and brings interesting interpretations as we walk. We hope someday to create Spiritual Walks with special activities at various points along the trails.

Members generally love spending time together in their 'K-Groups' (K stands for Koinonia) More than home Bible studies, these are groups that share life together. They are family, and it is deeply moving to watch them grow in love with one another.

On Sundays all join together for corporate worship - the Community has been given the use of a local school cafeteria for that purpose, at reduced cost. In summer, they are meeting outdoors.

The Community has created their own cross logo which represents beatifully who they are: the upper end of the cross is arms upraised in praise, the lower is arms entwined in prayer, the sides are what the artist calls 'the double hug', they represent loving others both in the church and outside. Thus the vertical beam is all about loving God, and the horizontal about loving our neighbors.

Nashoba Grace Community Church
17 Stevens Street P.O. Box 602
Littleton, MA 01460 USA
www.nashobagrace.org

Churches Plus!

Churches with cafes or cafe churches

Churches with Arts or Exhibition Centres

Churches with accommodation

Churches with health or fitness facilities

Warehouse or multi-facility Churches

Date Stamp

Updated 20-01-2011

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