History: Mosaic started (1999-2000) when a group of Glasgow University students desired to gather as a community in a way that would resonate with them and their non-Christian friends. Over the years Mosaic has been finding it’s way and has attempted to articulate its approach to ‘church’ and unite over a set of life practices and values. It is a diverse group of people both in terms of faith background but also ethnicity. Mosaic continues to evolve in an effort to keep the Christian faith alive for the people of the community in which we reside.
Locale: Mosaic meets in Partick, an area in the West End of Glasgow. We hold regular gatherings at the Annexe Healthy Living Centre, a local community centre. Partick is unique in the landscape of the West End. Traditionally a working class area, Partick, which sits along the banks of the Clyde River, suffers from economic poverty and associated lifestyle issues. Situated a few blocks from Glasgow University and tucked against some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods, Partick has not experienced the trickle down effect of prosperity. In fact, the affluence of the surrounding area is seeping in but not in productive ways. Property values, taxation, and the cost of living are increasing and driving up occurrences of the poverty that already besets the community. Despite these factors, the people of Partick are some of the friendliest and certainly proud of their local history.
Mosaic Emerging: The Christian faith has always had an emerging church or a church that is changing as it moves through time. However, the church in the West has also settled into models and assumed practices that aren’t always relevant for today or for the future. In some contexts, what was done in the past is quite appropriate and relevant for today and perhaps even the future. In Europe, the church is dying and society is moving into a post-Christendom culture. The church no longer is the centre of influence and it marginalized to the point of extinction. Recognizing this, Mosaic is trying to re-articulate the Christian faith and it’s practices for today’s generation. It would be our desire to continually changing to keep up with the times but even Mosaic will fall back to models or assumptions. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will be prompted to pick up the tent stakes and strike new territory on a continual basis.
Through our values and life practices we believe we have some guides for us as a community and some aids (practices) to help people in the community journey with God in unique and relevant ways. Mosaic isn’t for everyone and we don’t try to be. God has given this little band of sojourners a desire to be a unique church not for novelty sake but out of an abiding presence in Christ Jesus and our desire to follow Him wherever He will take us. Check out the Life Practices link at the top of the page. These are some practical ways that Mosaic is trying to re-articulate the Christian faith for our context.
