Fresh Bread and Mature Wine

For I am anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92.9b)

Fresh Expression of Church Ministry

So, what are Fresh Expressions? They are a Mission initiative to establish new or different forms of church for a changing culture. Fresh Expressions were part of Archbishop Rowan Williams' vision to create a 'mixed economy church' of traditional congregations alongside new approaches in the Church of England. The only criterion of legitimacy is whether they are consistent with gospel values.

A very popular Fresh Expression is the Café church. The café ambience is in contrast to church settings, here a few of the faithful can meet the un-churched with a view gently to introduce them to something that may be loosely related to formal church. Thus, tables replace pews, often in a secular venue such as schools or youth clubs. Advocates would claim that this is keeping with our Lord’s table fellowship. Cell churches are a Fresh Expression that favours the small group. It is claimed to be effective where there are no strong family or community structures, offering people a full-on, seven days a week commitment where every member is expected to be involved in ministry and inducted accordingly. Cell church is not just small groups meeting in one another’s houses but rather a network of small groups that goes beyond the locality. Cell churches can be vague about sacraments and the ordination of ministers. So Fresh Expressions of Church are a catch-all term that includes alternative worship communities, Café Churches and youth congregations that may or may not be about drawing new people into mainstream Church.

So, what is Fresh Bread and Mature wine?

Fresh Bread and Mature Wine is not a replacement for the sacrament of the altar but rather it could be used as a preparation for receiving Holy Communion. Bread is not complicated to make. Go to a supermarket and buy a bread maker. All the instructions will be there. What will not be there are the prayers you will want to say before your purchase the bread maker and prayers you will make when you turn it on for the first time. Now for the wine: homemade wine involves a little bit more and you will need to down load a receipt which will guide you through the process. Wine will take time to mature as we continue to pray our way out of the Pandemic and back to something like normal Church. This is not a gimmick but a serious process of prayer which takes the form of poetry. The author is my mother, Dr Pat Bidmead.

PRAYER

Prayers are said Lord

At your altar,

As we bow the head and wait

For the mind to wake

To your glory.

We sip wine of love to find

It dissolves all hate,

And we offer you our thanks

As bread of life begins

To break within us.

In my book Mission, Anguish, and Defiance I argue that Fresh Expressions are not a school of thought but rather a modus operandi and a way of doing things within the Church – a set of pragmatics. In another book Faith in Unions, I draw readers attention to the idea that God's Word empowers and consoles us and that our words to God urge and implore. For we call the same call and sing the same song: that of redemption, of restoration, of life made whole again, justice and peace. Therefore, the kingdom comes nearer, year on year, until that day dawns when all our pleas shall be answered.

The Revd Dr David Isiorho

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity