St Mark's Mission Programme
The St Marks Mission Audit is developing a number of valuable projects. To indicate full assimilation into the life of the church the PCC proposes to change the name to the St Mark’s Mission Programme.
These are the current projects.
- St Mark’s Little Fishes on Monday mornings 10-11am continues to thrive.
- St Mark’s communication group will start to produce information sheets shortly.
- The mission to young people – Information gathering meetings have been held with Andy Saunders, the Diocesan Youth Officer for Winchester and Portsmouth. The next steps are being considered.
- Parish visiting. There are seven volunteers from St Marks and two from Hinton. They were blessed at the Morning Service on 15 March. The course has proved to be excellent and it is intended to repeat it for more volunteers on a different evening if there is sufficient interest.
- Informal links with the Bournemouth Women Refuge are being maintained by the Mother’s Union
- Links with the young people’s outreach – The Impact project continues to develop with the leasing of the ‘old lighthouse building’ being converted into a drop-in for coffee centre for young people. Joan Lewis would welcome anyone who wished to join her in attending the monthly prayer support group for the young people’s programme in Highcliffe and Christchurch. Greater involvement from members of Highcliffe Churches in this valuable work for young people would be welcomed.
- A ‘Lifts to Church’ initiative has been started by Michael Clode (01425 275398). He has already had several requests for transport to the Sunday 9.30 service from people who otherwise would find attending difficult. More offers from members willing to give lifts are urgently needed.
If you are interested in joining any of these initiatives please speak to any PCC member or contact the project leader.
A GENERAL REVIEW
It was suggested that there would be benefit in revisiting both short and long lists compiled after the original Mission Audit to see where further projects might be stimulated if willing leaders can be found. Those ideas in italics/underlined need leadership and work to make them happen. Please contact Dr Bob Gilbertson (01425 275686) if you think you could help.
SHORT LIST
- Review and reorganize Junior Serving Team and Sacristan Team
- Consider employing a Youth Worker to support mission to children, young families and young people
- Develop a Young Mother’s Drop In or actively support existing services
- Review and Refresh Link/Care scheme by linking with similar schemes
- Consider possibility of Parish Nursing schemes or similar
- Support and befriending of the impoverished and/or lonely elderly
- Develop direct links with other Parishes and elsewhere with greater needs
- Develop Church Magazine as a local information resource for community and Highcliffe and Christchurch churches.
- Develop better two way information sharing links with other Churches in Highcliffe and Christchurch
SELECTED FROM THE LONG LIST.
Ministering Team,
- There is a need to explore the meaning of ministry among the whole congregation with appropriate training
- Potential on occasions for 'Long Church' ie preparation-worship-workshop-worship, possibly focused on particular themes and needs.
Emmaus and Alpha Courses
- May be value in exploring joining with other churches to offer local Alpha Courses. Successful joint programmes have been and are being run in Christchurch
Teenagers and young people. Young people in Secondary School
- Probaly impossible for older people to decide what these young people want-there is a need to seek advice and also to support existing projects that are based on success (Joan Lewis is already attending regular prayer meetings in Christchurch and keeping us informed.)
- The good relationship between the local churched could be built on music and supporting a youth band/group with te help of or at outside agencies might be of interest to this age group. (The church might consider sponsoring work being done elsewhere.)
- IT Expertise might of benefit to the church and speak the language of this generation-potential for developing and using the internet and the church website.
Homeless and impoverished
- Discover and understand the size abdnature of the problem.(St Marks has no initiative in this area)
- Retired people living on their own many conceal impoverishment. There are other forms of impoverishment besides that caused by lack of finance. For example loneliness and the need of someone with whom to discuss problems-finance,family home repairs etc.
As has been emphasized before, committed leadership is essential for a project to develop as part of a sustainable programme. It is understood that many members of the congregation are already heavily involved in work in the community both formally and informally reflecting in their commitment God’s love for us all. Please pray that if it is His will, current leaders are supported, new leaders found and the outreach of this Christian mission widened. Thank you.
Dr Bob Gilbertson
