Healthy Habits

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Written by Jenny Tebboth, August 2026

It is almost a year now since we launched the ‘All In’ service with the aim of worshipping in creative ways across the entire age spectrum of the church family so that we learn and grow together. 

Highlights for me have been the use of art for reflection and the opportunity to give and receive prayer as a way of responding to what God has been saying to us.  It has been a joy to see whole families serving in different ways; on the AV, welcoming, leading prayers and giving the notices by news reel!

Starting in September we have a new series for the All In service which will take us right through to next July.  It is based on a short passage from Acts which give us Luke’s portrait of the very first community, of followers of Jesus and the way they behaved toward each other which was like nothing anyone had seen before and stood out in that society like a light on a hill!

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common.  They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.   Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and generous hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2: 42-47

We are using the book ‘Holy Habits’ by Andrew Roberts as our guide.  He selects ten characteristics of the early church which, as we practice them will build a healthy and thriving community of faith which has an impact on the communities we live in.  We have decided to call them HEALTHY HABITS to stress the life-giving nature of each of them.  All of them can be practiced equally by all of us of whatever age or culture.

The first great North African theologian and lawyer Tertullian imagined outsiders looking at Christians and saying, “Look . . . how they love one another; and how they are ready to die for each other.” 

He contrasted this way of living with what he observed in his own society at the time; people who often hated one another and were even ready to kill one another.

Month by month we will focus on one of the characteristics described in Acts; work out how to apply them in ways that are contemporary and fitting to our context.  Then we will use the following weeks to apply them at home or at work.  Our aim is that we all grow deeper in faith – not only in understanding but also in the way we live so that we become gradually, as Jesus taught us ‘the light of the world’ and the ‘salt of the earth’.  A high calling indeed but one that can be nurtured through practicing what Jesus taught and living in imitation of him.

We have linked some of the practices with events in the church calendar.  For example, in October, ‘sharing resources’ is linked to our celebration of harvest.  The Sunday on ‘Prayer’ is adjacent to the week of prayer between Ascension and Pentecost.  ‘Eating together’ in July 2027 would ideally be followed by lunch all together after the service.  Our useful space in the North aisle makes this an opportunity not to be missed!
Most Sundays we focus on our own personal faith and life; but this series will encourage us to focus as well on the faith and life of our church community.  The way of living we will try out month by month nurtures a discipleship that will spill out into the week.  It will shape the way we are at home with our families, at work or school as well as in our church family and as individuals.  It is a way of life that, when lived faithfully day by day, will encourage others to join the adventure of following Jesus because it is a life-giving way to live.