Last night St. Mark’s ran a great event in the local sports centre again. We took over the centre for the local community to come and have a night of fun. People played games, drank in the bar, went for a swim or sat in the jacuzzi.

It was great to see around 180 people come to the event who do not attend the church. Some of these people were parents of children who come to the holiday club, others were friends of people who attend St Mark’s and others were those that we know from the other events that we put on throughout the year.

It was great to see so may familiar faces and some new ones. A real excitement for me was meeting up and playing football with a 20 year old guy called Dave.

I knew Dave when he was 12 when I worked for Gillingham YFC. It was cool to re-new the link and catch up with what he is doing – in the main being a good partner and dad by the look of things. Eight years on and we remembered each others names and were able to continue with old conversations. In addition other people remembered Dave as well and so others were able to catch up and spend time re-establishing old acquaintance’s.

Last light loads of people felt a part of something and I hope they felt valued. Interestingly this is what seemed to be important to people; the fact that they belonged. Maybe there are loads of people that feel they do not belong to anything at all? I have no evidence for that – it’s just a hunch!

This event is part of St Mark’s vision for mission. To be out there, meeting people, interacting and getting to know people and discovering where they are at. Church in the midst of the community listening to the people – that is the sort of church I wish to be a part of.