The Parish of Prenton The Congregation of St Stephen & St Alban We commit to Worship, Share & Care

Growth Action Plan Combined Parish Worship 27 th September 2009

The GAP Prayer Lord Jesus Christ, you command and inspire your church to make disciples: May our church become a joyful and vibrant community of welcome, worship and service, spreading hope to those around us and attracting others to the fire of your love; May your Spirit be at work through our Growth Action Planning, helping us to catch a vision for your church and to serve you faithfully, to your glory and honour. Amen

So what have we all achieved? 5 Categories have been identified – Worship, Teaching, People, Outreach, Resources Developed a Wish List Set Key Dates SWOT tested the Categories And there’s more....

What’s happened since 3 Specific Goals have been identified A questionnaire has been put together, returned and analysed The Parish Vision has been formed QUITE A LOT! So lets have a look.....

KEY PLAN DATES – Initial Proposal to PCC Develop the Questionnaire Questionnaire distributed – Questionnaire return date – GAP Strategy presented to PCC – Combined service & presentation to Congregation – GAP Steering Committee meeting to be arranged – Plan served to Diocese

We commit to Worship– our Lord & Saviour Share – our faith & resources and Care – for each other & our community PARISH VISION Extend our worship and fellowship with each other and nurture spiritual growth through teaching, bible study, prayer and courses Promote outreach by engaging in the support of youth and adult activities in church and in the community Share and develop the use of our skills and resources Improve our church facilities and buildings Become financially viable Mission Statement

3 S.M.A.R.T GOALS Preparation of Year end Financial Accounts done in-house with a Finance Committee in place to provide regular reports to the PCC To improve fellowship & encourage more people to come to church by holding 5 themed combined services a year. To improve access into church through main entrance & Wevill door and to improve access at Noble/Coronation Room entrance

Preparation of Year end financial accounts to be done in-house with a Finance Committee in place to provide regular reports to the PCC S pecific to have financial accounts done in-house rather than employ outside accountants M easurablean active Finance Committee will provide regular reports to PCC & Congregation A chievablea software package is available for use by the Treasurer R elevantTreasurers skills, together with other members of the congregation can be utilised T ime-framedto be completed by end of January 2010 How to make it happen....

Preparation of Year end financial accounts to be done in-house with a Finance Committee in place to provide regular reports to the PCC STEPS Finalise 2008 accounts to ensure all outstanding issues are resolved & presented in accordance with guidelines Elect a Finance Committee Utilise the software package to negate the need for accountants Produce a regular monthly suite of reports to PCC & Standing Committee Have year end accounts audited rather than examined. The 2009 Reports & Accounts to be available before APCM 21 st March 2010

To improve fellowship & encourage more people to come to church by holding 5 themed combined services a year S pecific to bring together different congregations with the emphasis on worship, teaching & fellowship M easurableby holding relevant services & assessing attendance levels A chievableby reviewing our worship services and fellowship R elevantcombined services will involve all people and all ages T ime-frameddates have been set through the year and are in the diary

To improve fellowship & encourage more people to come to church by holding 5 themed combined services a year STEPS Firm up dates, advertise on the back of the Notice sheets, on posters and display boards in the back of church, in the parish magazine, on the website and introduce fellowship diary Emphasize worship by arranging speakers; the sharing of faith stores Increase Junior Church Encourage involvement with interactive services and fun Create an outreach team to make contact with church playgroups, children’s activity groups, local schools and uniformed organisations Develop fellowship with more social events, bible studies and groups

To improve fellowship & encourage more people to come to church by holding 5 themed combined services a year Annual General Meeting -21 March 2010 Confirmation Service June 2010 Holiday Sunday Family Fun-day-8 th August 2010 Harvest Festival-3 rd October 2010 Christmas Day service-25 th December 2010 Other suggested themes are: Mothering Sunday-March 2010 Patronal Service-2 nd week in June How to make it happen....

To improve access into church & to provide accessible toilet facilities for all users S pecific to comply with the needs of people with mobility problems to encourage attendance and develop fellowship by providing a sense of belonging M easurableto provide stepped and ramped access at the main entrance to Church, improve approach to halls for people with mobility problems and buggies A chievableby obtaining appropriate faculties/tenders R elevantenabling sense of belonging & improving access for everyone T ime-framedsubject to funding How to make it happen....

STEPS Consultant with Architect & Builders Design the project according to the need Seeking funding & obtain appropriate permission/tenders Build To improve access into church & to provide accessible toilet facilities for all users

176 are registered on the Electoral Roll 62 completed the questionnaire (4 have not yet been entered on to the results as many questions were unanswered) 44% of those that completed the Questionnaire were aged between % support the church through gift-aid 67.2% said they attended once a week GAP RESULTS

37.9% (22) read the Bible occasionally 75.9% (44) wanted Preaching & Teaching to be Bible based. 48 people cited Bible Study groups as being a “4” or “5” on the list of importance. Interestingly most people failed to answer the question about what would encourage attendance in terms of alternative services. The most attended course was Alpha at 34, with Home Groups, Confirmation Classes and Healing Service all in 2 nd place with 25 votes

Where does this leave us? Community – what does it mean to live in community? Stages of Community discovered by M.Scott.Peck, M.D. There can be no vulnerability without risk; there can be no community without vulnerability; there can be no peace – and ultimately no life – without community.

Community? If we are to move forward as a COMMUNITY, we need to address certain issues that reveal themselves within community life. Stages of Community … Pseudo-community Chaos Emptiness Community

Community? "Christians cannot maintain Christian values in society unless they are part of a community that reinforces those values". "If Christians cease to act like Christians, sooner or later they will stop believing like Christians". "We cannot conform to the Kingdom without becoming detached from the world's culture". Howard A. Snyder

Pseudo-community- Thinking we are there already and being ‘nice’ to each other because we are ‘Christian’. Chaos- The reality of a community made up of individuals acknowledging our differences but not sure of how to proceed Emptiness- prejudices, judging, gossip, slander, ‘my way is the only way’.

Jesus = Way – Truth - Life "If the world hates you remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to this world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world" (John 15:18-19) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2) "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either one or the other! So because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:15-16)

Community The Fellowship of the Believers 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Where to now! "Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord.“ Amen St. Ignatius Loyola