Foundation Sunday service

We meet and start at 7pm, at Cotham Parish Church. We usually finish by at 8pm, followed by (optional) drinks at the church till 9ish. Find out what’s happening this week by checking out our Substack. For information on accessibility, parking etc, scroll down for our practical FAQs. Our services can look really different from each other, but we follow a four week schedule that gives us some rhythm. It goes something like this: 1. Rest Our most ‘church-like’ service, this week has a very simple liturgy (words we say together), inspired by Stephen Shakespeare’s inclusive church liturgy, the Iona Community’s services, and monastic and mystical traditions. It often involves candles, short periods of silence, listening to music - ranging from Taize, to Michael Kiwanuka, to Dolly Parton - and some kind of reflection on a topic. Previous services include: Reflecting on Crip Theology; Exploring meditation; Jesus as the fool; How to do nothing 2. Create Sometimes having a workshop-style-energy, these can be explicitly creative activities, but used as a reflection tool and with no skill necessary. Other times they’ll be services trying to untangle some nuance, or new ways of looking at God and the world, in an experimental way - usually with lots of group discussion. Previous services include: An art gallery of everyone’s favourite art; Making Bible verses out of pipe cleaners; Writing poetry on meaningful moments. 3. Engage Jesus talked a lot about justice, so we want to too. Our engage services are normally on social issues, or exploring ways of better serving people and planet. We really want to reject the power dynamics of ‘saviour’ and ‘saved’ though, so try to do and discuss social action in a way that is empowering, for and with, those involved. Sometimes we use our beautiful garden to reflect on the divinity and beauty of the natural world, the ecological crisis, and how to protect our earth. Previous services include: A visit from a Talk Club Captain; Packing gift bags for foodbank Christmas presents; Writing letters to protest prisoners. 4. Table Embodying our ‘inclusive’ value, these services help us grow closer as a community. This could be us eating together, which is normally a delicious homemade veggie meal. Or it could be sharing the Eucharist (bread and wine) together. We have an ‘Open Table’, which means anyone who wants to can partake. You’re also free not to - whatever is most comfortable for you. Previous services include: Doing a bring and share meal together and talking about hope; Trying a silent eucharist; Eating a BBQ in David’s garden.