2020 Vision

Committed to Christ, His Church and our Community
For better or worse the past is the author of the present, but we should not let the past dictate our future, only that it should be part of who we become in Christ Jesus. It can be difficult to deal with the echo of negative experiences, but also we know the power of positive influences and memories. Thank God for all who have brought grace, generosity and love into this fellowship over the years. Praise God for His glorious witness in this parish and look forward to a great outpouring of God's Holy Sprit as we dedicate ourselves to His obedient service, walk in His vision and do His will.

It is the vision of a compassionate church that reaches out to people, actively working in the community in partnership with others, to meet social, physical, emotional and intellectual as well as spiritual needs; transforming many lives with the power of the love of Jesus Christ.

It is the vision for networks of relationships and friendships through which the good news of Jesus Christ can be shared with the people who live in the parish and the surrounding area; bringing them into a personal relationship with the living God.

It is the vision of a caring family, where the unfulfilled, confused, discouraged, hurting and broken can find satisfaction, guidance, healing and help in an environment of acceptance and love; finding hope for a meaningful and fulfilled life.

It is the vision of a contemporary church in which all unnecessary barriers to true spirituality are torn down, centred on God's Word and re-inventing Christian culture and re-defining Christian worship for the 21st Century; engaging with God in various styles in a renewed Anglican pattern.

It is the vision of followers of Jesus Christ in authentic and edifying fellowship, meeting weekly in church and in small groups throughout the week to learn from the Bible and prayer, sharing our highs and lows, laughing and crying, forgiving and loving one another; growing in spiritual maturity to become like Christ.

It is the vision of every member ministry, discovering God's purpose for our lives and our unique spiritual gifts and talents and to serve enthusiastically, take risks and make mistakes; sharing the load to fulfil God's mission.

It is the vision of a growing and healthy church to help build God's Kingdom.

It is the vision of a church building that is well-designed, welcoming and warm, both flexible and comfortable to cater for the wide range of needs of the church and wider-community; acting as a sign of God's Kingdom.

This is a vision of a growing, healthy and vibrant church in the year 2020 that is great to be part of. It is a vision which God has a purpose in calling you to help fulfil, together with helping you to grow in faith in Jesus Christ and so find life in all its fullness now and the assurance of eternal life. This is a vision that will become a reality because the power of God by his Holy Spirit is at the heart of it, bringing glory to His name, not our own, and making it happen.

I promise you that you will be challenged, because God is a God who calls - He calls us out of slavery into freedom and the glorious liberty of the children of God. He transforms us!

Vote with your mind Will you reflect on what is written? How can you make a difference in this church so the Gospel is proclaimed in our parish? Vote with your mind.

Vote with your heart Will you get your heart connected to some other loving hearts, so that all that we are doing here will flow out of community? Vote with your heart.

Vote with your feet Will you commit to coming regularly to Sunday Worship and joining a Small Group to become more involved as a disciple of Christ, creating community, evangelising and encountering God? Vote with your feet.

Vote with your hands Will you reach out to lost people? Can you hold a hand out to others at work, in your family or in your neighbourhood? Can you roll up your sleeves and work with your hands and find your spiritual gift and use it. Vote with your hands.

Vote with your diaries Will you rearrange your priorities and your schedules so that you seek first the kingdom of God? Give God your best shot - you will never be disappointed. Vote with your diaries.

Vote with your wallets and purses Will you tithe your income for the mission of this church? With the membership we have here we should be able to support all we plan to do, it is vital that we all commit to give sacrificially to the work here. It is essential that we do not rob God or His church of the resources necessary to carry out His will. I make no apologies for talking about money - Jesus did! Vote with your wallets and purses.

If we do vote this way - with our minds, our hearts, our feet, our hands, our diaries and our wallets and purses; with that kind of commitment, God will do something marvellous among us.

Christ will be honoured and you will be blessed; and when we look back in a few years we can say, "Wonderful; we did it together; all for the glory of the risen Lord Jesus Christ!"

Revd. Clive Pooley