Oases of joyfulness: missional communities commissioned for the year
An increasing amount of people within our movement are choosing to live in missional communities, centred around corporate prayer, hospitality and mission to those who are vulnerable.
Rev. Philippa Young of Urban Vision presides over Eucharist at the Missional Communities Commissioning service at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, Sunday the 14th of February 2021.
On Sunday 14th of February, over 280 people gathered at Wellington Cathedral of St Paul to be commissioned for a new year of living in a range of communities including Urban Vision, Renew Communities, the Community of the Transfiguration, the Anglican Order of Transformation, and AYM Houses.
Last year, Archdeacon Scottie Reeve told the gathering of about 200 that living missionally was becoming the "new normal," and based on this year's increased numbers, it appears he's right. Joining the existing communities being commissioned this year are two new communities, based in Taita and in the Cathedral's own Cafe Church community. Rev. Richard Apperley, one of the Cathedral's Cafe Church leaders, told the congregation that his new community is focussed less on a Sunday "event," and more on providing a welcoming environment in which people can go on a deep discipleship journey in an intergenerational setting.
All of the communities combined now represent a missional presence in 22 neighbourhoods across the diocese, and whilst they all have their unique flavours, each community looks for ways to bring the power and presence of Jesus into their neighbourhood in ways that are contextually relevant. Tabea Braun from Whanganui's Anglican Order of Transformation told us that they are passionate about transforming themselves and their neighbours. "A big part of it is energising our parish," Tabea said. One of their initiatives started as a small community meal and now includes 200 regular attendees. The group has also learned to say "yes" to almost everything - when the nation went into Level 4 lockdown in 2020, they agreed to present the diocese's livestream service online and on television.
Further south, the Community of the Transfiguration centres around service to over 20,000 students at Victoria University of Wellington. Rev. Mel McKenzie shared how the experience of being at uni can be a difficult one, so the community's focus is on serving students and helping them them to avoid feeling "lost." A similar theme drives the young adults of Renew Communities, which incorporates Blueprint Church chapters, The Freestore, Blueprint's Brooklyn church plant and Lyall Bay Community Church. Esmé Putt told us that whether it be via large-scale activities like beach clean ups or a simple cup of tea with someone in need, the Renew teams "fight against a spirit of loneliness."
It is this move of compassion to alleviate poverty and loneliness that echoes through the Scriptures read at the commissioning service too, according to Bishop Eleanor. Rose Morris read from 1 Kings as Elijah experiences God's presence and power before being commissioned to anoint two kings and his successor, and Jeremy Long spoke of the Transfiguration from Mark 9 - where Jesus' true identity is revealed before he descends the mountain to give His life for his beloved people. In each reading, and in our missional lives together, Bishop Ellie believes we get to see the love of the Trinity at work. She shared a prophetic picture in which Jesus wept over the poverty of the world, and the Father and Holy Spirit leaned in to honour and dignify His grief. Yet out of that love, we and all creation are restored to fullness. Bishop Ellie told us that where life began to emerge, she saw "an oasis of joyfulness."
The service concluded with the physical invitation to say yes again to Jesus, as we shared in the bread and the cup, before feasting on the biggest supply of tortillas, Mexican bean mixes and salads one might imagine could be possible! The Cathedral garden became the scene of many a joyful conversation and heartwarming meal as the calm Wellington evening descended towards dusk.
