Pastoral Letter: Rev Ulrike Bell

Dear friends,

What did the first disciples in the early church do after Jesus had risen and ascended into heaven?
How did they live? How did their faith shape their lives, especially in the hostile environment they had to live in?

In the book of Acts we find a summary which may be more an idealistic image rather than a factual historic account. Either way, it was written down to encourage other Christians (us!) to do the same:
“All the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met. They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, ever meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2, 42-47)

From January on, over a 2-year period, we will re-learn those “Holy Habits”, until hopefully, (that is the aim), these habits really do become second nature to us in the Forest Group:

• Biblical Teaching
• Fellowship
• Breaking Bread
• Prayer
• Sharing Resources
• Serving
• Eating Together
• Gladness and Generosity
• Worship
• Making More Disciples

How?

1. We will start together and have a big launch at a joint worship on January 6 (Chingford URC).
2. Every 2 months a new habit will be introduced by Ulrike at your church worship. June Colley will also preach on that habit in between. With the exception of Lent/Easter and Christmas, learning all the habits will take us about 2 years.
3. The habit theme is to go through all our groups: We will practice at Elders meetings, at Shell and Staff, at Playgroups, Coffee mornings, Bible Study, Jubilee Club, Pilots and Messy Church.
4. All members are invited to practice in new house groups: June and I have arranged you all into suggested house groups of 8-10 people who live geographically close to each other. We have identified a person who may be willing to host once/month, and one person who may be happy to facilitate the group, with the help of the Holy Habits booklet. These meetings will be a great opportunity to talk, to make new friends and deepen our faith experience.

We hope that as many of you as possible are willing and will join in! Feel free to switch house groups if another one meets at a better time for you and you don’t mind the drive.

None of the topics are new to us, of course, but maybe they are not habits to us yet?

June and I are very excited about this joint Forest Group journey! I hope you are intrigued? More soon…
​
Yours in Christ,
Ulrike