Mission Statement
We are a family of people who seek to embody the loving ministry of Jesus Christ. Through God's Spirit experienced in worship and witness, we are discovering what it means to be a united, caring community. In partnership with others, we pray and work for the world that God intended.
Our aims are to be a congregation:
whose worship enables people to praise God and deepen their awareness of God as their creator and guide;
whose practical caring and pastoral awareness gives people confidence that here are Christians who practise what they speak, weeping with those who weep and rejoicing with those who rejoice;
whose outreach to the community shows people the meaning of Jesus' ministry and enables them to share in it;
whose eagerness for justice and peace makes people think deeply about how they can live as citizens in a troubled and unfair world;
whose probing and celebrating of the Gospel helps people appreciate what Good News is for the poor, the handicapped, the lonely, the stranger and the wounded;
whose laughter and humour lightens people's lives and shows them that Jesus has come to give us all a richer fuller and more joyful life;
whose love of the children and care for young people is a model for cherishing future generations;
whose search for partnership with other Christians and people of other faiths means anyone can belong to a people whose faith is inclusive and welcoming;
whose belief in travelling rather than having arrived assures people that here is a congregation who believe they have much to discover and learn, and who welcome other pilgrims on the journey;
whose overwhelming desire to give glory to God is a sure and certain sign that Christians are not looking for rewards – their encouragement comes from their delight in belonging to a worshipping and serving community.
TWO YEAR PLAN: SEP 07 TO SEP 09.
This plan is a very simple record of the goals of the Elders and the Teams/Groups in the church. These are the areas of work we intend to address in the next two years. We hope and pray that a minister will be called before the end of this period. The plan will obviously change when that happens.
PART 1. ELDERS' GOALS
Worship
Support worship planning with Water Lane
Support the Worship Team in identifying leaders of worship in the vacancy
Develop the leaflets suggested by David Jenkins before his retirement.
Implement the recent decision about introducing more Bibles in the church.
Introduce a new format for collecting the offertory which is compatible with the arrangements for serving communionEvangelism
Following on from the session in June 2007, with Revd Mike Walsh, the South District evangelism advocate,
Review the arrangements for welcoming newcomers to Sunday worship and for ensuring that a welcoming environment is maintained for these people.
Examine with the Worship Team the implications for the structure and the publicising of Sunday worship
Set up a small group to review the literature recommended by Mike to identify new approaches to evangelismMorley Green
Further develop the present arrangements for joint worship.
Ecumenical
Continue to develop the Covenant Council into an effective instrument for strategic work between Chapel Lane and Water Lane
Support the Children and Family Worker at Water Lane and devise a method of contributing financially to reflect any work she does for us.
Work with CTiW to create an effective Christian influence in the town.Vacancy
Support the Vacancy Committee in its work.
Ensure that church members are involved in the whole process.
Work with the Synod in the arrangements for the induction of the new minister.
Ensure that the new minister is fully consulted about the redecoration of the manse.
Spiritual Life of Congregation
Ensure that Elders are aware of correspondence from Synod etc. about Spiritual matters.
Ensure that there is an opportunity at least once per year for people to become members of the church.
Ensure that links between pastoral elders and the pastoral team are sufficiently strong to pick up concerns of a spiritual nature.
Develop short prayers for use of pastoral visitors.
History of the Church
Support Malcolm Lovibond in the production of his history of the church building
Prepare a companion volume on the history of the Church Community.
Ensure that the URC advice on the keeping of church archives is followed.
Establish a Memorial Book to record the details of all gifts to the church in memory of someone.
Establish a book in which photographs of church events will be mounted for all members of see.
Church Meeting
Ensure that the proposals of the Church Meeting Review Group are fully discussed and that any decisions are implemented.
Church Building
Support the Dais Furniture Group in its work.
Ensure that decisions of the Church Meeting with regard to furniture for the dais are carried out.
Complete the development of a marketing leaflet and distribute it effectively in the town.
Review the accommodation needs of the new Scout Troop and bring appropriate recommendations to the Church Meeting
Officers
Identify a new Church Secretary and a new Church Treasurer to take over once the new minister is established.
Other
Support the Church Family weekend in April 2008
Support the visit to Kerzenheim in 2008.
Support all the Teams/Groups in their work.
PART 2. TEAMS'/GROUPS' GOALS
Worship Team
Plan and find leaders for worship during the ministerial vacancy.
Encourage members of the congregation to be involved in planning and leading worship.
Encourage greater congregational participation in worship; including more use of the projection facilities.
Try to ensure that the first part of morning services is suitable for all members of the congregation, especially the children.
Continue to encourage and support the second Sunday services.
Young Worshippers
Ensure that our teaching sessions for young worshippers include effective Christian teaching and are enjoyable
Persuade the elders to improve the quality of the period when the children are in Church
Spend more time with the children teaching them suitable hymns and songs, and explaining why some Sundays are very important to us.
Second Sunday Service Group
Continue to use as many different Worship leaders as possible to ensure a variety of Services.
Encourage people of all ages to attend the Services through improved publicity.
Encourage the children and young people to continue to be involved by making full use of their skills and talents
Christian Education Team
Identify and promote opportunities for the development of Christian Education as they arise, and set up groups to discuss current issues.
Continue the Supper Club event with no changes to format as that works well
Continue our involvement with the Lent Course and somehow encourage more people to be involved.
Youth Team
Encourage and assist the young people moving between the two groups (11-14's and 14-17's)
Capture and strengthen the programme ideas developed so far
Link with the Family Worker at Water Lane
Pastoral Care
Review, and improve where necessary the lines of communication between pastoral carers, the PCC and the minister, to ensure that the sick, bereaved and housebound receive the best pastoral care that we are able to give.
Continue the programme of study days on relevant topics to the pastoral care team to maintain and build on pastoral care skills.
Hold regular meeting between the pastoral carers to maintain communication within the team.
Review pastoral care with the new minister, when the vacancy has been filled, and incorporate his/her wishes and ideas into the existing system.
Global Outreach Team
Work to consolidate the Global Outreach Group as part of CTiW – a member of “GO” will attend the CTiW meetings.
Work on extending representation of all churches in Wilmslow and improving communication with CTiW
Continue to review problems on need worldwide in order to make a decision on which project would be best served for the CTiW Harvest Appeal each year
Promote Fairtrade Fortnight in the town – especially Traidcraft food – either by tasting or selling on a market stall
Fellowship Team:
Continue to organise the Christmas Fair.
Monitor the support given to the New Year Party as to its continuing viability.
Continue with ad hoc events between the two churches.
Identify and introduce new activities as and when the need arises.
Identify some YOUNG people to be on the team.
Property Team
Continue to carry out general maintenance, most jobs being carried out by our DIY team of Ron Fawkes, Brian Owen, Brian Towndrow, Stuart Burns and others as required.
Administration Team
Continue to identify further opportunities for improving our performance as a Green Church
Conform to existing and possible future government legislation
Continue co-operation with Water Lane in administrative matters, wherever appropriate.
Finance Team
Encourage the membership to review their offertory giving annually and promote the use of the Gift Aid Scheme.
Encourage an increase in general giving to provide funding to build up the Development Fund.
Consider the level of financial support we should offer to Water Lane towards the expenses of the Children and Families Worker.
