Mission is at heart of the Transforming Church agenda.

Mission is done in a number of ways. We are ‘doing mission’ when we welcome people or lead collective worship in schools. We are also doing mission when we offer a food parcel to someone, sit with someone who is bereaved. Sometimes mission has to be done by shar-ing our faith in more overt ways.

This is why a team from the Lee Abbey Movement has been

invited to Bartley Green and will be with us from 27 November to 2 December 2012.

Who will be coming to Bartley Green?

The Revd Annie Naish, a Church of England priest and Lee Abbey Missioner writes, “The team coming to Bartley Green will consist of about 10 people of different nationalities and ages, all practicing Chris-tians from a variety of traditions. They all are part of the Lee Abbey Movement which is a charity consisting of four international Christian communities based in Devon, London, Bristol and Aston. In total there are about 130 individuals and families brought together from across the globe to share life together as they serve people in these different con-texts. Most of our team will come from the main community which hosts a conference, retreat and holiday centre set in a beautiful estate on the North Devon coast.”

What will they be doing in Bartley Green?

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the school day, they will be working in schools leading assemblies, being involved in RE lessons. Members of the team will visit most of the schools in the parish, but concentrate much of their time on Bartley Green School,

They will also visit Hasbury Court and Walford Green, meeting residents, listening, as well as sharing their stories of faith.

On the Friday 30 November, the Team will hosting a Cabaret Evening, with a mixture of songs, sketches, film clips and stories.

This will be a good opportunity to invite friends, family members, neighbours to come to.

On Saturday 1 December there will be workshops held in church for children, looking at craft, art and drama.

There will also be the opportunity to host coffee mornings, after-noons and evenings to which friends can be invited to meet with team members and hear their adventures of travel, England and faith.

You may be able to offer a bed for one of the team members

You may be able to offer an evening meal to one or two team members.

Bartley Green School are offering lunch on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for the team members.

Hopefully, we can all join in:

 working with the team

 Praying for the team and their leader, Annie

 Inviting friends, family members and neighbours to come along to events

 Host a coffee or tea event

 Telling people that something is happening.