We meet every Sunday at 10.30am at St. Paul's Church, Roundshaw and on our YouTube channel

Our God-given Vivid Vision

Below is our ‘Vivid Vision’ of what fulfilling our God-given could tangibly look like. Please read through it slowly and prayerfully, and ask God how you are to respond to what you read.

Imagine a field, bursting with life from the natural spring waters that bubble up from deep below the surface. Imagine a landscape overflowing with this water, being transformed as a diversity of plants and animals grow and thrive, all playfully enjoying safety and freedom as the land is lovingly nurtured and cultivated.

This thriving ‘Spring Field’ is a picture of God’s transforming work in our communities.

Imagine a thriving courageous community, overflowing with abundant life as we obediently follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. ‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ [2 Timothy 1:7]

Prioritising the presence of God
Imagine a time when we regularly experience the tangible, undeniable, awe-inspiring presence of God in our midst, where we cannot move because the Holy Spirit is so thick in the atmosphere. Humble hearts overflow with fervent passion and increasing expectation of Jesus moving among us. The seeds of awakening are sown in the soil of our communities, homes and workplaces. Our worship breaks free from constraints – characterised by deep, authentic and wholehearted surrender of our lives – everyone has an unshakable certainty of having encountered the living God, radically altering our life priorities.  As we yield to the wild, and untameable Spirit, the boundaries between heaven and earth begin to blur, and a beautiful holy chaos streams out – as the crafted ‘plan’ becomes fluid, flowing to the divine promptings of Jesus.

Practising the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Picture a time when miracles burst out in our community like Spring wildflowers, defying explanation. In our gatherings and beyond— in offices, neighbourhoods, and meeting places—God’s supernatural power is clearly present. Broken bodies heal, troubled minds and hearts find peace, and family feuds fall away into reconciliation.  The extraordinary becomes ordinary as news of God’s healing presence spreads, drawing young and old, from all walks of life. Addictions to drugs, alcohol, unhealthy relationships, materialism, success and money, all dissolve under the power of the Spirit, revealing each person’s true identity as God’s beloved. Our imperfect but steadfast community welcomes back those who stumble, offering limitless mercy. Through life’s stubborn situations, we hold space for lament and hope, acknowledging suffering as part of following Jesus, while boldly daring to pray for His kingdom to more fully unfold on ‘earth as in heaven’.

Taking risks to share our faith
Inspired by the tangible work of God in our lives, our faith ignites, growing bolder as we take more risks. Stepping beyond our comfort zones, we witness a remarkable transformation—colleagues, friends, family, and neighbours increasingly experience a supernatural touch of God. Through open conversations and offers of prayer, we sow seeds of faith that take root in unexpected places. Whatever our daily tasks may be, we carry a profound awareness of God’s presence, equipping us to thrive in every situation.

Imagine a thriving compassionate community, where everyone genuinely feels they can belong, as we’re moved by the tender heart of God
‘The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate.’ [Psalm 103:13]

Celebrating the gift of diversity
Envision a community that thrives in its diversity, reflecting the rich tapestry of God’s kingdom. Our doors swing wide so those from every walk of life are welcomed in: whatever life they lead, racial origin, age, physical ability, stage of life, relationships, level of education, the amount of money in their pocket, how they identify, or what their faith journey looks like. Our culture (such as worship styles or those leading our gatherings) increasingly reflects the diversity of those present. Those who are trodden down by life – the marginalised, overlooked and disempowered – experience mercy instead of judgement and are given space to discover God’s freedom and purpose for their life – recognising the unique contribution everyone brings to our community.

Sharing lives deeply together
Imagine a community where our friendships flourish so that absolutely everyone feels valued and known. Life is genuinely shared together, with no one left to navigate their journey alone—unless they’re choosing solitude. Midweek groups are always springing up in peoples’ homes and cafes, as more people joyfully embrace the role of host or offer a spontaneous invite for lunch or a cuppa. Our bonds are close-knit yet open as we enjoy a culture of speaking well of one another even when we get on each other’s nerves. Misunderstandings and conflicts lead to compassionate and clear conversations, addressing the person directly rather than resorting to gossip or running away, as we all experience the delight of being part of an imperfect but reconciling community, flowing in the forgiveness of Jesus.

Practising radical generosity
New faces to our gatherings always have friendly and interested conversations with regulars. Many eventually choose to follow Jesus and enter the life-transforming waters of Baptism, but always at their own pace. No one slips through the cracks—a gentle check-in follows any brief absence. Our community becomes a sanctuary where emotional and mental wellbeing flourishes, with compassionate companions walking alongside those struggling. A culture of robust safeguarding wraps everyone in protection and love, with paperwork embraced as a labour of love. Serving on teams becomes a delight, not a duty, as radical generosity of our time, gifts and money flows freely in response to all we’ve received from God.  We fervently pray for peace and justice in our aching world, and we stand in solidarity with our persecuted church family and other mission partners, drawing inspiration from their sacrifice and passion.

Imagine a thriving creative community, where many find their hope in Jesus as we’re caught up the new thing God is doing.
‘The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created.’ [Colossians 1:15-16]

Dynamic worship & prayer lives
Envision a time when our wonder levels are so high that our prayer lives are always fresh and flowing, with dynamic worship reflecting Christ’s creative renewal among us. Our faith is nourished by new liturgies, songs, artwork, and poetry that expand our spiritual imaginations. We dance in exuberance one moment, reflect in silence the next and experience the wonder of reverent communion, all in response to the Lord of all creation. Prayer gatherings extend late into the night, and we regularly declare blessings over our community, creatively weaving together ancient and emerging prayer forms that track through the Christian seasons.

Deep connections with the Bible
Picture a time when everyone in our community is immersed in the Bible, and finding themselves within the grand narrative of God’s redemptive plan. We don’t just know the Bible; we live it, weaving its wisdom into our daily lives. Curiosity, not judgment, guides our approach to differing perspectives, especially on sensitive issues; we prioritise our ‘relationships’ over being ‘right’.  We mix up our Bible teaching, seeking new ways to creatively engage and challenge everyone present, mindful of inclusive language and illustrations, always with a healthy dose of humour—taking God seriously, but not ourselves too much. When talking to friends, colleagues and neighbours, we seek to creatively connect our conversation to the ancient wisdom of Jesus.

Pioneering & up for trying new things
Imagine a time when everyone in our church community feels part of God’s pioneering work among us, as we keep experimenting and trying new things. Fresh expressions of worship bloom across the area, as we get used to always offering our seats to newcomers. We continue to nurture spaces for those who struggle with traditional church, seeing younger generations flourish in faith through innovative gatherings co-created with local partners. Our pioneering continues to ripple through wider Wallington, Carshalton, Beddington and beyond, as we’ve become a hub of creative innovation. We see new initiatives growing from the seeds of existing groups—sports clubs, pub quizzes, nature walks, café meetups—but only if the name alliterates! Our pioneering overflows beyond our walls, sparking creative renewal in the wider church.

Summary
We believe this is who God is calling us to become. We cannot dream of fulfilling it on our own. God alone is the master gardener who makes things grow, not us – but we are part of His hands and feet in this community – alongside many other churches and partners – and we can only hope to see even some of this fulfilled if all of us here, and everyone who joins us along the way, digs in, to play their God-given part in the vision.

So how might you respond in the season ahead?

It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the centre of this process but God, who makes things grow. [1 Corinthians 3:7]Categories: Announcements, Blog