THE PARISH
OF
Trusting that
As Christ’s Body, we
aim to listen, to serve the needs of the growing community and to encourage all
to
use their varied
talents.
Process
The Mission Action Plan (MAP) is reviewed annually.
The following is our agreed Plan for the next three years. This Plan is not intended as simply a paper
exercise but
document are those aims that have been met and those that we have
shelved for the time being.
To God be the glory!
Please Pray:
Father, we pray for this our parish and its people, that we may
share, to the full, in the work of your Son,
revealing you to your people, and reconciling people to each other
and to you;
that Christians may learn to love one another and their neighbours,
as you have loved us;
that your Church may reflect more and more the unity which is your
will and your gift;
through Jesus Christ our Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit.
O God, make the door of this parish wide enough to receive all who
need human love and friendship, and a heavenly
Father’s care; and narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and
hate.
Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling block to
children or straying feet,
but rugged enough to turn back the tempter’s power;
make it a gateway to your eternal kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
(We are waiting for a new parish prayer to be written by
church members).
GROWING TOGETHER IN WORSHIP AND PRAYER
Aim: To ensure the Worship at
of the congregation and community.
We will do this by
1. Looking at new ways of
expressing Christian spirituality.
We have started an All Age worship
service on the first Sunday of every month.
Who will give a lead: Priest
Finish by: Ongoing
What we will do:
We will explore the place of healing in
the context of local church. The first stage will be a teaching day on 5th
February 2011.
Who will give a lead: Priest
Finish by: Ongoing
2. Vision
for the future – to further improve our welcome and hospitality for
parishioners and visitors.
What we will do: Arrange training and guidelines for welcomers.
Who will give a lead:
Finish by: Ongoing
GROWING UP THROUGH TEACHING AND NURTURE
Aim: To inspire life-long learning on the Christian journey and
encourage the pastoral care of one another
and our local community.
We will do this by:
1.
Inspiring the members of the
Church community to develop their spirituality and use their talents to
grow
the Kingdom.
What will we do: Invite someone from the spirituality department of the Diocese to
come and talk to us.
Who will give a lead: Priest.
Finish by: Ongoing.
2. To further develop our mission to families
and young children.
What will we do: Support and develop the Junior Choir through the use of our
existing contacts with the school.
Who will give a lead: Priest and Organist.
Finish by: Ongoing.
3. Launch ‘Messy Church’ on Easter Sunday on
What will we do:
Aim: To reach young families with no
church connection with Good News of Jesus Christ.
Who will give a lead: Priest.
GROWING THROUGH OUTREACH AND EVANGELISM
Aim: To reveal the Good News of Jesus to an ever wider group of
people.
We will do this by:
1. Introducing a Seeker’s
Course.
What will we do: Agree on a suitable course.
Invite parents from
Who will give a lead: Ministry Team.
Finish by: We aim to begin leading courses in Autumn 2011.
2. Building on the Monthly
Services held in the Scout Hut in Copthorne.
What will we do: Deepen our relationship with the congregation. Raise awareness of the services in the area,
in the hope that this will be the foundation of a new Church Plant.
Who will give a lead: Worship Group.
Finish by: This will be ongoing.
3.
Launch Messy Church
GROWING OUT THROUGH JUSTICE AND CARE
Aim: To raise awareness of the wider Church and issues in the
world.
We will do this by:
1. To
look at possible links with African churches
What we will do: Look at forging links with African churches. To partner with areas where
there is real social need so that we can make a greater impact through our
potential partnerships.
Who will give a lead: Priest initially
Finish by: This will be ongoing.
2. Supporting other charities and their
work.
What will we do: Give financial support to three charities a year, one local, one
national and one international. We will
also continue to support Christian Aid Week and the Children’s Society
Christingle Service. Hold special
services every year, such as Harvest, to receive information on the work of a
particular charity as we aim to support the weak, the poor and the oppressed.
Who will give a lead: Our Christian Aid Co-ordinator, Wendy Bailey, who will
oversee our work during Christian Aid Week.
The PCC will decide on the three annual charities. Various people will be involved in the other
activities as appropriate.
Finish by: Ongoing and annually reviewed. (Also currently supporting: Self
Help Africa, Basics Bank, Shoeboxes at Christmas)
GROWING STRONGER THROUGH FINANCIAL SECURITY AND SHARING OUR
BUILDINGS MORE WIDELY
Aim: To raise sufficient finance to achieve our aims and to use our
buildings to the Glory of God and for the use of all his people.
We will do this by:
1.
Raising the community’s awareness of the
need for regular giving.
What will we do: Send a thank you letter to those who contribute on a regular
basis. Publicise our need to increase
our income by 10% to meet our current expenditure, by using Oxon Link and Pew
News. Promote Gift Aid, legacies
through church website and Link, solicitors and funeral directors, and Age
Concern.
Who will give a lead: Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Finish by: Ongoing, reviewed throughout the year.
2. Raising capital sums for repairs and
development
What will we do: Investigate grants and hold regular funding campaigns.
Who will give a lead: Finance and General Purposes Committee.
Finish by: Ongoing throughout the year.
3. Develop the Old School Hall for Church and Community Use
What will we do: In January 2010 we will begin to investigate the current and future
use of the building. Take advice on how
the building can be developed to provide a kitchen, extra storage and an
office.
Who will give a lead: Initially the PCC then a Hall Development Group.
Finish by: By end 2012 have plans and funding in
place.
ACHIEVEMENTS
We have:
1. A New
full time vicar.
2. Paid
the parish share in full.
3. Held successful Flower Festival.
4. Held a very successful Christmas Fair.
5. Improved the layout at the west end of the
church by installing new cupboards and bookcase.
6. Continued
the regular monthly services at the Scout Hut in Copthorne.
7. Seen the
Junior Choir Club grow in numbers and maturity.
8. Held a
Worship Review, and introduced a new pattern of services. First Sunday of the
month is All Age Worship.
9. Repaired the Community Hall roof and installed
double glazing.