27th January 2018

Purchase
We had a really encouraging meeting this week with the current owner of the building.   Although we have all been a little frustrated by the time taken for this process, we have now agreed a revised timetable going forward.  This is very helpful to us, in terms of our planning and project development.  We are just waiting (patiently!) for a couple of administrative processes to be resolved in the coming days, at which point we can then exchange contracts for the purchase.

Due to the nature of the owner’s business, he is restricted to being able to move out/relocate his business at certain times of year.  The next opportunity for this is summer.  We have agreed to pencil a date for moving in at the end of August.  This is actually good timing for us.  Having exchanged contracts, we will have good access to the building, and so we can really begin developing firm plans for the renovation and development works we wish to undertake.  We will be able to have meetings, planning sessions, develop plans with the architect, and really start to understand the shape of things to come.  During these next few months, we can hopefully identify individuals and teams who will be leading different elements within Vineyard House, and these people can take a key role in shaping the building and the space within.
 

• Pray that we learn patience and trust in God’s timing for this project!
• Pray that we will identify individuals and teams to take a leading role in this project’s development in the coming months.  Pray that these people will hear God’s voice, and have the confidence and conviction to stand up and respond to this exciting opportunity.

Research

We are now just about to begin the research project.  This will take the form of professional researchers being out on the streets of Headingley over a period of a couple of weeks.  They will have iPads in hand, and will invite people to take part in a pretty quick survey.  This will include questions to determine where they live and how frequently they come into Headingley.  We need results from people who live and work around Headingley – those with a vested interest in, and understanding of the local community.   Any very occasional visitors will be excluded from our results on this basis.

The survey results should help inform us why people come into Headingley.  It will also inform the changes people have perceived over the last 10 years or so.  We have also set questions to determine the local availability and accessibility of community services and support for different sections and people groups within society.

Finally, the questionnaire will invite people to consider what new service/provision they would want to see created, if there were an opportunity for such a thing.
 

• Pray that, through this research, we can gain valuable insights into the real needs of local people within Headingley.
• Pray that, as people provide responses, and as we analyse the results, we can really hear God’s heart for Headingley, and we can be in a position to provide an effective response to these needs.

 

Design
We have identified and had initial discussions with our architect, but we are now waiting until exchange of contracts before we pursue/develop this process further.

We would welcome input from the all of you at this point!  We are not committing to any particular concepts at this stage, but rather gathering ideas and inspiration.  If you have thoughts or assumptions for the space/facilities we woud hope to have, then let us know using the details below.  How do you imagine things? How do you picture the space?  This may be simple ideas of specific things like colour schemes, pictures, furniture, or a complex design concept or arrangement to facilitate a particular project.  We welcome all at this stage!
 

• Continue to pray that we would all be inspired with innovative ideas, to make the best possible use of the space available in the new building.
• Pray that we can identify and recruit amazing, inspired people to take a lead on projects within the scope of our Big Rocks (and even the ‘Little Rocks’ within those!).
• Pray also that those whom God has inspired with ideas and creativity will have the boldness to step forward and give voice to their thoughts and dreams!

 

• If that happens to be you – we look forward to hearing from you! If you have your own ideas and dreams for how we could use the space, and how you envisage the appearance/function of the building, then please contact us.  You can send these under the heading DESIGN to phil.hicks@leedsvineyard.org.

STEPS
We have seen such generosity and faithful support for this project already.  This is very heartening indeed, as it demonstrates the level of commitment and belief shared within our community for this incredible journey we are taking together.  There will continue to be many opportunities to give and pledge time, money, expertise, support and ideas towards Vineyard House.  Please do get in touch with us directly, to provide the details of what you may be able to contribute, as we move through different stages of seeing our ideas take form.
 

• Pray that we, as a community of faith, will have confidence to lay claim to the many promises God has given us, individually and corporately.
• Pray that we will be wise and responsible with all that God has already provided us, and we will remain dependant on Him for all our needs going forward. 
• (If you haven’t quite managed to submit your own pledge, you can still do so via the website, or as most people have, by filling in the forms available from either Headingley Methodist on a Sunday morning, or from the church office through the week.)

 

Phil Hicks