Our church is a cellular church.
Within the congregation there are a number of samll cell groups which meet at various homes on Tuesdays Thursdays and Friday.
One is made of women only, newly formed as a growth from this year's Alpha course. Trx is in that. There are six others, all except two are new Christians.
There is one group of older people, lead by the vicar who is th eyoungest by twenty years.
There is another new Youth cell, which only met for the first time last month and has five members.
Then there are the three most established groups of mixed adults, includng the one I co-lead with Mrs Vicar.
Just got in from a meeting tonight of cell leaders and it was very encouraging.
For m, joining a cell ahs probably been the scariest, most intimidating thing I have ever done - and so of course its the most enlightening and rewarding. Comfortbaly say that I have grown more inthe last 18months through cell than through the wider church - particularly in terms of opening up and becoming more receptive to others.
But I belong to a cell that is now getting too big.
Two years ago, just before the curate and his wife left for ministry in France, they led the cell to its first 'split' - the first split of any cells since the model was first introduced to our church five years ago.
We are growing fast, and now at fourteen members I feel we have lost the intimacy that I enjoyed at the beginning.
There is less opportunity to lead, speak or read in a larger group and I think one or two of our newer members would benefit from these challenges.
I think a smaller group of seven is more attractive to newcomers and of course has more growth potential.
Suggested we think about this at the meeting tonight, and Mr Vicar was very encouraging, suggesting that by the time we resume in September we should have 'multiplied' (or divided??) into two groups, giving myself and Mrs Vicar the next half term to think about how best to do this.
It's quite a challenge, and we prayed tonight for guidance with this and some open-minded, clear vision for the best way to proceed. It's easy to put the best friends together for insstance, but we need to think about potential leaders in the future. Who can take the cell into 2007 with a view to having the same dilemma two years from now.
Who needs the challenge? Who really doesn't?
Who is ready? Who isn't?
Who has the strongest theological knowledge, the best vision. Interpersonal skills, spiritual maturity.
Scribbling a few notes just now I notice that I have, on every list, put myself and Mrs Vicar as each being leaders of a new cell.
Why's that? We get on brilliantl and work well togetehr I think.
But I also think I rely on her too much and need to face the responsibility of having my own group.
God is calling me to break out from under her wing now, and face a new more independent future.
So who comes with me, and who goes with her?
I am tempted to put the younger people in my group, but at the moment we enjoy a good balance. Is it wise to suggest married couples start going to different cells?
Probably not.
I'd want CB in my group because she's already stated that preference. She wouldn't come to cell at all if it wasn't for me. Thats easy. I want her there too.But not as a co-leader. Clare would be best for that.
Wow - there's a fox barking outside…
And I'd like to keep DT with me because we are getting on well now and I think he would find that more comfortable.
That's four already. Only two more. Hmm. D and S are the obvious choice, S being 'bezzzies' with Clare and the new baby on the way.
Six. Pete would then fit in well.
But then seeing who that leaves we have our three newest members with all the teachers??
It's going to be hard to make these choices. I'll arrange to talk about this in Wales with Mrs Vicar. Pray for some inspiration.