Blog:
Stepping into a new season

Posted by Will
on 4th November 2024

Autumn is such an incredibly beautiful season, dramatic skies, changing colours, falling leaves, appreciation of new smells, tastes and warmth. Having been travelling to India during autumn for the last 8 years or so, we miss out on autumn. This year I’m making an effort to mindfully take it all in. I’ve got a sudden love for flavours such as ginger, cinnamon, cooked apples, and hot cocoa at night. These have been my autumn highlights so far, what about for you? 

It also feels like a new season for our church family.  Since planting a church over in East Leeds and sending much loved and gifted families with our blessing, it feels like a re-fresh and an apt re-visit of what it means to be church, which is our preaching series at the moment! 

After prayerfully looking ahead to what God has in store for us this season, a vision of hospitality was cast as we have faith for new faces, and a hope and desire to be a loving, hospitable people. 

This vision was brought to life with three areas of Open Hearts, Open Tables, and Open Heavens. 

Open Hearts links with our value of being a spirit led people. A people keen to lean into God's word and nudging; being ready to be shaped, guided and led by His will. 

Open Tables re-visits our roots of being hospitable in getting together. The Oak Church was initially planted by a group of people in a front room of a house. People getting together, eating together, praying together, encouraging each other and seeking God together. 

Open Heavens is our desire to see the kingdom of God breaking into our day-to-day lives. Seeing and sensing God at work, praising Him and glorifying Him in the way He is transforming lives.

I’ve really felt people get behind and enact this vision of hospitality, not with a burden of hosting but an eagerness to connect.  We’ve seen the beauty of hospitality unfold in ways that have deepened our relationships with one another and opened new doors for the Spirit to move.

Here are just a few examples of how we’ve witnessed this vision in action:

Crafting together 

Cyndy and Becky recently started gathering people for crafts and cake in their home.  What a wonderful way of connecting with others and building relationships. Cyndy and Becky have a real heart for connection and relationship so they gather around a table to create and share. It’s a great space for those who work during the day, but still want to get together during the week. Drop us an email if you’d like the details or keep an eye on Whatsapp.  No need to be an expert either, you could just come along and journal or doodle! 

Getting together for a walk

People have connected during some autumn walks, which have provided times of conversation, accountability, encouragement, and wrestling some of life’s big questions. I’ve always felt that there’s something profound about the conversation when walking with friends, putting one foot in front of the other somehow enables us to talk through life in a special way. 

Breakfast meet-ups

It’s been great to see some chaps meeting for breakfast and chat. Whether in Swinnow community centre on a Thursday or getting together during an early morning to eat together and pray - what a great way to start the day!. 

New prayer spaces forming

We’ve been encouraged to see a new prayer and bible study group form in LS13. Local people gathering together and reading God’s word together. It’s so exciting to see people stepping into a new life with Jesus.

Connect Café 

Our wonderful Connect Café has been buzzing with life! Record numbers of toasties have been served this season. It’s such a wonderful environment where hospitality is lived out on a Monday lunchtime hosted by a fantastic team. Our short bible study which happens afterwards has also welcomed new faces. 

People gathering to read the Bible together

An appetite for God's word has led to a new study forming on a Friday at 10:00am at The Oak. This is an open and welcoming space, where people open their hearts to God’s word. 

Setting a table in a family home!

A small but significant shift happened when Michelle removed the breakfast bar and replaced it with a table. That family is now eating together more often, and the table is being used to read scripture with others. 

Fuel and Monday morning worship

Our reflective, intimate Fuel gatherings have been filled with people seeking God together. Worship and prayer spaces are ways to open our hearts and worship God together.  Monday morning worship and prayer times have also seen many long-time members and newcomers are warmly welcomed. These times of worship have become a place of unity, hope, and expectancy where we are seeing God’s kingdom breaking into everyday life.

Support for those in a tough season

We’ve seen meal trains filling up for those in recovery from operations, people gathering to pray for healing in homes and a real sense of community for those facing challenging times. 

New Youth initiatives launched 

A great team has formed to launch two new youth initiatives; one for high school children and one for primary years 3-6. What a great way of having an open table by bringing young people together to worship, hear the gospel, and of course have a load of fun. 

I’m sure there’s so many more examples and I share these as an encouragement and a celebration, not to ask or nudge anyone to ‘do’ more. 

If you’d like to connect more at church, just drop me an email at will@theoakchurch.co.uk and we can meet and talk about this.

As we continue into this new season, we are grateful for how God has been moving among us; through creativity, shared meals, new prayer meetings, and the simple act of welcoming others into our spaces. We are excited to see how this culture of hospitality continues to shape our community, as we create more opportunities to gather, grow, and see God’s kingdom come in fresh ways during this new season.

We invite you to join us as we keep living out this vision to be hospitable with one another and to the Spirit’s leading. Let’s continue to pray for more people to join us and connect into a community of people who love God, His People, and His World.

Will 

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