Purpose

Three elements of church life:

1. Our Worship "The Gathering" - our worship is an expression of our love for Jesus. How we do that together is an expression of our love for each other. Our worship is characterised by being biblically founded, authentic, intimate, informal, flexible, natural and simple. We use the arts, music, song, prayer, liturgy, film and whatever else that will help us to communicate our love to God. It is our expectation that as we worship God, that He will graciously release His presence.

2. Our Action - "The Going" - our mission takes place in the suburbs, workplaces and wherever our daily lives take us. We use the term "naturally supernatural" to describe how we engage with people we are in community with. We want to live out the gospel of Jesus in the relationships we have and to always be serving the poor and marginalised people within our community.

3. Our Discipleship - "The Growing" - our discipleship is what defines why we do what we do. By being disciples of Jesus, we want to do what He did and love as he loved. We learn biblical foundations through studying it together informally as well as through corporate times of teaching and bible study. Our discipleship then takes shape as we live it out together. In 2010 we are meeting intentionally in smaller groups called 'DUST' groups. All three aspects of our church life support and influence each other. Without one the others lack. We recognise that WORSHIP, MISSION and DISCIPLESHIP will happen apart from this community of Christians. And we encourage that ! What we do as a community should bless and encourage us in our faith apart from this community, just as what we do outside of community life should be a blessing and gift to our corporate expression of faith in Jesus.

Vision

To be a community that worships God, celebrates life together, and bringd people into a healing relationship with Jesus through Kingdom and fmaily life.

Values

1. Kingdom Theology and Practice - knowing, living, demonstrating, and inviting people in to the reality of God's generous rule and reign that has come.

2. Worship - Loving God with our lives both individually and corporately through song, theb arts, service and spiritual growth. Worship is authentic, relevent, honest, passionate and spirit-led.

3. Healing - having compassion for the sick, hurting, lonely, and people who are 'stuck', bringing the healing power of Jesus to them.

4. Family - Being a family that nutures, supports, protects, heals, and encourages one another with a spirit of fun and generousity.

5. The power of the Holy Spirit - Knwing the reality that God is real and interacts with us in natural and supernatural ways. The Holy Spirit enables us all to prophesy, heal, encourage, serve, teach, evangelise and grow.

6. Children - We value the place of children in our lives, families, community, and the Kingdom. they are young deisicples who interat with God and serve Him out of love.

History

SCVC has been together as a church plant since July 2006. We were released from Yarra Valley Vineyard Christian Fellowship to be an automonous community in July. Previous to this, we were all together as a small group of YVVCF. Lead by Mike and Rochelle Hamilton, this small group sought to build community and exist as a discipleship group within the context of YVVCF. At the end of 2005, Mike and Rochelle were called by God to move this group forward to becoming their own church. After a period of prayer and visioning as a group, most decided to continue this journey. We met a few times in houses/backyards/parks but soon started to meet for worship at Mitcham Community House. We started with 13 adults and 9 children under 5 with two on the way. Together, we have seen God form our community to be a worshipping family who are seeking to live out a kingdom life in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne.