Called and Sent
This year we have gathered as the Mustard Seed Community to reflect on being Called and Sent. We were delighted that over 120 people gathered across the two days in Cleveland and East Riding.
Both our gatherings were full of stories, drawing inspiration from the Mustard Seed parable with Bishop Barry and looking back to the gospels and the book of Acts with Bishop Eleanor (via video) to explore how the first disciples were called by Jesus and sent out to make new disciples.
Our stories of being Called and Sent
We heard lots of stories of how people had first encountered Jesus and said yes to the invitation to follow him. Then how the invitation from their church to join Stepping Up has helped them to grow in confidence to join in with God’s mission to make new disciples. There was so much creativity and inspiration as people explained how they are using their gifts and skills and life experiences to shape mission in their local communities. We heard about all kinds of spaces being created where people can encounter the love of Jesus for the first time, through families work, youth work, community cafes, food pantries, homeless meals and spaces for people with different abilities. We explored how these first encounters can lead to an invitation to find out more, where people of all ages are saying yes to the invitation to follow Jesus and some of those people are now completing Stepping Up to join in with the mission of God themselves.
In the afternoon we worked in our church groups, reflecting honestly on what is working well and all that we are celebrating, but also naming the challenges we face and what might help.
We enjoyed beautiful worship on both days, experiencing afresh that each one of us is loved and called by God. We hope the rich conversations were a gift and that everyone was able to take away something to inspire them.
It was a joy to look across both gatherings and see the growing movement of missional disciples that is growing through the Mustard Seed Community.