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THE WAY FORWARD Shaping the future together & seeking God’s vision for the next five years
From the
We are at a challenging and exciting crossroads in the life of our Church(es). We live in a time when many children and adults have had little, if any, contact with the Church or the Christian faith, and are experiencing a ‘brave new world’ with challenges and opportunities unlike those faced by previous generations. I believe the hunger for God is as great as it ever was and there is a real crying out for some kind of spirituality… just look at the growth in new age religion. Sadly, people often only turn to the Church as a last resort because of what they think Churches, the services, and, indeed, the people them-selves are like (just read the press or watch the ‘soaps’ to see how the Church is portrayed). Our Church in Buckingham needs to be relevant to present-day needs and attitudes… and that doesn’t mean throwing out everything traditional! Rather, it means facing the challenge of allowing each other to be different, but still working and worshipping together! It means building on what others have built in the past. I believe that Jesus is still ‘the Way, the Truth and the Life’ for our present world, just as he has been in the past… let’s share that ‘Good News’ with our community. May I invite you to join us as we explore God’s ‘Way Forward’ for us over these next five years? We live in challenging and exciting times! Kevin Ashby
St Peter’s & St Paul’s, Buckingham
As the people of God worshipping in this place, we have decided after prayer, discussion and seeking God’s will that… We want to be a Church: • where everyone feels that they are accepted, where everyone is valued and loved and can take part in the life of the church family. • which is growing, reaching new people with the good news of Jesus Christ and drawing them into God's family. • where everyone can grow spiritually. • which serves the community.
Our ‘Building Blocks’ are: • work with children and young people; • serving the community; • nurturing faith; • outreach; • greater lay involvement in ministry.
A PRAYER OF COMMITMENT
O Lord, almighty God of the past, present and future, we thank you for the way you have blessed your Church in the past. We continue to look for your blessing in the present and into the future. We want to be your Church, serving your people in our community, and sharing the ‘Good News’ of your Son and his love for us. We commit ourselves to seek your vision for our Church and community, and will strive to be a welcoming, active, relevant, challenging and loving Church so that, through our ministry, others might come to know and love you as their Lord and Saviour. We ask this in the name of him who died and rose again for us; your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen
Targets for Year 1
• Open a weekday club for 5 – 11 year olds • Begin a marriage enrichment course • Appoint a Local Ministry Team for the Parish / Benefice • Review the pattern of services • Review our use of small groups and look at training for small group leaders • Appoint the Wycliffe Mission 2006 planning team • Research Community needs to use our resources / facilities and help meet them. • Continue the Alpha programme and consider a pre-Alpha nurture group • Continue to develop the prayer life of the Church • Work on welcoming new people • Teaching on work / home / church life balance • Parish Weekend Away: 7 – 9 October
Buckingham Benefice
There are some things we can do better as a benefice…
1. Children and Young People's Work Sharing big events, training & resources. 2. Pattern of Services A review will take place in 2005. 3. Church and the Community How can we serve and be relevant to our communities? 4. Communications How can we improve? 5. The Web Site This is an important tool. 6. Teaching is needed as we move forward. |