Three things

A message from Bishop Rose

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

I want to invite you to pause for a moment, to take a breath in the midst of all that fills your days, and to join me in thinking about Three Things.

Three steps of faith. Three ways your church can make a difference for the Kingdom of God in this season.

We all know how quickly life fills up. Our diaries overflow, our minds are pulled in many directions, and the same is often true for our churches. Our buildings can be havens of peace, stillness, and prayer — yet they are also alive with energy, full of people, projects, and possibilities. The needs around us are great, and our hearts long to meet them. But when everything feels urgent, it can be hard to know where to focus, how best to serve, and what God is calling us to do now.

That’s why this autumn, I’m asking every church in our diocese to prayerfully discern your Three Things.
If you could only do three things in the coming season — to love God, to love your neighbour, and to live out the Gospel — what would they be?
 Would it be deepening links with your local school? Offering a warmer welcome to those exploring faith? Planting a new midweek worshipping community? Or perhaps something else entirely, born out of the unique gifts and needs of your parish?

By the end of this year, we would like every parish or benefice to share their Three Things as part of their parish mission action plan.

Now, you might be thinking: “Bishop Rose, this sounds like one more thing for the to-do list!”
But my hope is the opposite. This is not about doing more — it’s about doing what matters most in the place where God has placed you. It’s about laying down what no longer bears fruit, and allowing the Spirit to guide us towards what will. Sometimes, faithful mission means pruning so that new growth can flourish.

Perhaps you already know your Three Things. Perhaps your PCC has been living them out for years. If so, this is an opportunity to celebrate, to share what you’ve learned, and to encourage others.

When we share our plans, we help one another. We focus our energy and resources. We strengthen the bonds of our deaneries and our diocese, and we equip ourselves to work together towards our Three Bold Outcomes for 2030.

You’ll find more details on the Three Things webpage, and we will be hosting online and in-person events to explain more. Your Archdeacons and diocesan staff are also ready to answer questions and walk alongside you in this process.