Bishops’ Mission in Evesham

I wonder how you first heard about the Christian faith? Perhaps it was at your mother’s knee, or at school, or you were introduced by a friend, or perhaps you picked it up in a way that you can’t remember now. I hope that you would agree that being a Christian makes you see life differently, brings you joy and hope as well as challenge. Many people speak about becoming a Christian as being like meeting a new friend because at the heart of our faith is a friendship with Jesus Christ.

We experience Jesus’ presence in our worship, as we read the scriptures and as we break bread. When we pray, when we serve our neighbours, when we care for the most needy and work to transform our communities so that all may flourish.

98% of people in Evesham deanery are not particularly involved with the life of the church. We long that they will become involved and that the joy of the Gospel will be theirs too.

That’s why over the weekend of 15 – 17 June we will be celebrating the life of every church community in the deanery and sharing personal stories about the difference that being a friend of Jesus has made in our lives.
The ‘Bishops in Mission’ weekend follows an invitation by the Archbishop of Canterbury for all bishops to work alongside those training for ministry (ordinands) by spending time sharing their faith in a local context. Bishop John and Bishop Graham will be leading a team of about 20 people spread out in each parish and involved with a whole series of events.

We are praying that more people in Evesham and the surrounding area will hear the good news of Jesus Christ and be welcomed to encounter him through the life of our churches.

So what can you do?

• PLEASE DECIDE which event(s) you will commit to being part of.
• PLEASE PRAY for three people, currently not involved with the worshipping life of the Church, that they might be touched by this mission.
• PLEASE INVITE people to an event – coffee morning, pilgrimage walk, family afternoon, grill-a-bishop pub evening, Fathers’ day service, climbing wall, Songs of Praise – whichever would be the most appropriate for them.

This may feel a little daunting but the church only grew from that small group of frightened disciples, unsure of the future, because people began to say ‘come and see’. Down through the ages people have continued to say those words of invitation. Now, as much as at any time in history, we need to be a people of invitation.
In such a way we will, by God’s grace, reach the 98% who God already knows and loves, and offer a home to see life differently; one of joy and hope.

Bishop Graham