PCC Away Days – Time to take the long view

Author: The Ven Keith James

Published on: 13 June 2019

John F Kennedy, visiting the NASA space centre, needed a comfort break – and then got lost.

As he was wandering the corridors he came across a cleaner who was finishing his shift. JFK asked for the way to the bathroom – and then asked him what he was doing at the centre. The cleaner replied: “I am helping to send a man to the moon.”

NASA had a mission – a vision – and it was one that all its employees knew and bought into… They were there to send a man to the moon.

Ask Jesus what he was doing in Nazareth or Capernaum or anywhere else and he would point to Isaiah, where the prophet declares ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18-19)

Of course, it’s not a detailed plan. It’s a dream – vision – it’s a rule of thumb – but it shapes Jesus’ time, action and words.

It’s his version of sending a man to the moon. It asks a question of us and about what vision shapes our life – personally and as a community of faith.

It is easy to get absorbed and even lost in the details of life and church life. And details matter, but it is useful from time to time, to stand back, and take the long view.

And that’s what happens on a PCC Away Day or Vision Day (other names are available); through spending time on Scripture, noticing the gifts God has given us, and exploring what God’s dream for us might be – we begin to discern what the next year or more could look like – and what steps we need to take to get there.

The sage of Proverbs tells us that ‘Without vision, the people perish’ (29:18)

PCC Away Days are a way through which, we allow God’s vision for our patch of God’s Kingdom, to become clearer and to direct our details, decisions and life together.


The author...

The Ven Keith James

Archdeacon of Norwich

This article is from...

Articles in this issue...

The goose is getting fat. Are you prepared?

Christmas time encourages more than double the regular number of people to attend services in our churches, so why do we need to do anymore to reach out to the community?

More

Finding solutions for bats and church buildings

Bats can be found in most historic churches in England, often in such small numbers that they go unnoticed.

More

Going for Growth in Eaton

Last year, 2018, was a very special year for St Andrew’s Eaton: the 25th Anniversary of the consecration of our new church building, and also the 700th Anniversary of the arrival of the first known vicar.

More

Community Library in a Nissen Hut

In 2005 the church here in Sea Palling decided to upgrade a WW2 Nissen Hut to use for all manner of events.

More

Village Car Scheme is a ‘God Send’

The Ludham Village Car Scheme (LVCS), suggested by a previous incumbent, is now in its 8th year.

More

Yare Valley Churches tackles social isolation

Over recent years in Broadland there have been improvements to the provision that many communities offer for the elderly, particularly those who are living alone.

More

Conservation at Hemblington

Churchyards are a sanctuary for our hard-pressed wildlife.

More

Diversity and abundance for visitors to explore

The churchyard of All Saints, Hethel, is a remnant of the ancient meadows, flower-rich grasslands, which were once widespread but are now disappearing at an alarming rate due to development, overgrazing, ploughing or by herbicide and fertiliser usage.

More

Engaging with our local school through wildlife survey

In common with most country churchyards, All Saints’ in Stibbard has its fair share of wildlife.

More

Norfolk Wildlife Trust Churchyard Conservation Scheme

Norfolk was historically rich in lowland meadows and the beautiful and diverse displays of wildflowers that this ancient habitat supports.

More

Keep up to date

Subscribe to our eNews for a snapshot of news, events and resources, usually emailed once a fortnight

Signup to newsletter