What has a cardboard boat got to do with theological knowledge? Quite a lot it seems.

At Tea & Toast (our 5pm service) this summer we are using the Animate: Faith discipleship series, which focuses on spiritual growth through exploration and conversation, rather than by offering rigid answers to life’s big questions. This Sunday the theme was how faith is a quest, asking the question of how certain are we about the things we believe.

As the congregation arrived, in addition to getting their regular tea & toast they were offered the chance to make an origami boat; a paper creation which would act as a visual reminder of a key theme of the service. We then shared in a quick game of two truths and a lie, to remind us of the need to discern between what we think is true and what we think is false.

A short video was played to present the idea of two extreme views of faith that can be held. On one side, faith is a mighty fortress of “correct answers” that need defending against ignorance. On the other side, faith is all relative and anyone can believe whatever sounds right to them. The Tea & Toast congregation explored the idea of a middle ground between these two extremes where faith is more like a boat! We are all sailing on the “waters of God”, and each plank in our small boats represents those faithful beliefs which we cling to, even if the water can be choppy! Rather than seeking to build an enormous boat of unchallengeable knowledge in order to get to the destination, the idea instead is that faith is a journey. A journey we have all embarked upon whether we realise it or not.

Our young people offered their energetic services to build a large cardboard boat, which enabled the whole congregation to tag the boat with those solid planks of faith they hold onto.

The Tea & Toast service continues to explore deep questions about faith, in creative and active ways, and is greatly enriched by the diversity of people who are there. Tea & Toast is a space where God is worship through our questions and discussions, through our craft and service, and through the act of some of our youngest and oldest congregation members sharing the afternoon together. Even though Tea & Toast might not sound like a traditional church service, do know that you are welcome to join us. You can start by listening, but before long you’ll be up wanting to make the cardboard boat!

The doors open at 4:30pm for food and conversation, before the service begins at 5pm.

Love, Revd. Lewis & all the Tea & Toast congregation.