Over 200 parishioners and clergy were present at the roadshows.
Over the past two weeks, Bishop Patrick has travelled across the diocese to share the ‘Go, Make Disciples’ Diocesan Mission Plan with our local communities. These roadshows provided a welcome opportunity to gather in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire, bringing together over 200 parishioners and clergy for prayerful reflection on the future of our diocese.
During these gatherings, we were able to distribute 1,000 copies of the full Diocesan Mission Plan, alongside a shorter summary designed for parish use. The focus of each evening was simple: to listen to the Bishop’s vision for renewal and to consider how we might begin to walk this path together.
The roadshows offered a quiet space for those attending to look through the practical toolsincluded in the Plan. These resources are intended to help parishes move from theory to practice in a way that makes ‘mission’ feel manageable and sustainable.
Many of those present began to discern the first three steps their own communities might take in response to the plan. These steps are not meant to be a burden, but rather a way to begin a gradual process of renewal, tailored to the unique needs of each parish.
We invite everyone in the diocese to join us in this period of discernment. If you were unable to attend a roadshow, or would like to refresh your memory, there are several ways to get involved:
• Read the Plan: You can download the Mission Plan and Parish Summary here to read at your own pace.
• Consider Your Three Steps: We encourage all parishes to identify their ‘three first steps’ and submit these to the Bishop by June. The tools within the plan are there to support you in this process:
o Parish Describe Your Destination Tool
o Parish Ideas for Action Tool
o Youth Ministry Ideas for Action Tool
• View the Roadshow Photos: A collection of photos from the four events is available to view in our Flickr album here.
We are grateful to everyone who hosted and attended these events. To stay updated on our progress and to see how other parishes are responding, please follow the Diocese of Nottingham on our social media channels. And do make sure you are signed up for our weekly E-News if you’d like to join our upcoming 8-part deep-dive into the Diocesan Mission Plan.
As we look toward June, we keep all our parish communities and chaplaincies in our prayers as they begin to take these first steps forward.
For more information and resources, please visit www.dioceseofnottingham.uk
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