THE VISION

THE VISION STATEMENT  

We are a community of Christians  seeking to share the love of God 
expressed in Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with the world around us.

Within the statement there are four areas that invite the question ‘how?’

1. HOW TO BE A COMMUNITY?

2. HOW TO SHARE?

3. HOW TO ENSURE EMPOWERMENT IN THE SPIRIT?

4. HOW TO OPERATE IN THE WORLD AROUND US?

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1. HOW TO BE A COMMUNITY?

We seek to be a welcoming and worshipping "family", who meet together in church services and in smaller groups.

Clearly the church services should be user friendly, and sensitive to the new comer. 
The existing congregation needs to explore ways to ‘ease’ the newcomer into the church experience. 
The nature of liturgy, prayers, and sermons should be relevant, but should also have elements of the ‘mystery’ of faith within them. 
Choice of music should be sensitive.

Cells need to be alert to the potential of visitors to church.

A clear invitation should be given each Sunday to join cell groups.
 Within Cells the welcome factor already exists and should be encouraged.

Our other smaller groups - Brigade, Youth Club, Mums and Toddlers seek to be open to all.

2. HOW TO SHARE?

We should encourage one another to identify and develop and use the gifts God has given us.

There are a myriad of ways to share the love of God - some we already do, some we do not. 
There is potential to be realized both in the Cells and in being an Anglican Parish Church.

Who does it? Every member ministry is the ideal.

3. HOW TO ENSURE EMPOWERMENT IN THE SPIRIT?

Prayer - corporate, individual, and personal needs to be developed and encouraged.

Both on Sundays and in cells - a partnership in prayer for all, needs to be developed, and time given to listening to the Spirit.

Teaching from the Bible - our doctrine and practice should be derived from the Scriptures.

4. HOW TO OPERATE IN THE WORLD AROUND US?

We should support one another in our witness to others in the places where we live out our lives, work and spend our leisure time.

Each of these areas of witness are ‘personal communities’.

We have formal support for three missionary organizations.

There are also ’fringe’ community projects, which are actively supported by some.

We are aware of and support, where possible, large scale Christian partnership campaigns regarding issues of justice and poverty.

This report and the recommendations were accepted
and passed by the PCC at their meeting 05 July 2005