MISSION ACTION PLAN

Transcription

1 MISSION ACTION PLAN

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3 MISSION ACTION PLAN Mission St. James the Apostle is a Christian community that invites and welcomes all people on a journey to meet and to follow the Risen Jesus. Aims To be a Worshiping Parish To be a Welcoming Parish To be a Discipling Parish To be a Serving Parish

4 AN INVITATION One of the great pilgrimage destinations in the Middle Ages was the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The pilgrim s route is known in Spanish as the Camino de Santiago, or in English as The Way of St. James. The patronal saint of the cathedral in Compostela is the same St. James whose name we are honoured to bear. Each pilgrim who sets out on the Camino has his or her own reasons for their journey, and each likely imagines how the pilgrimage will go and how it will end. They have a vision of the end of the journey, and that vision helps to sustain them on the way. What is your vision for St. James the Apostle parish? Our Mission speaks of inviting and welcoming people on a journey to meet and to follow the Risen Jesus. This Mission Action Plan sets out some concrete, practical and achievable steps as we begin this journey. But, as the poet Robert Browning says, Ah, but a man s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what s a heaven for? This plan is the starting point. What are your dreams for St. James the Apostle parish? Can you imagine a thriving youth ministry? A varied music ministry? An enhanced engagement with our community? An effective connection to young families? This Mission Action plan sets out some first steps for us to follow. But it is never too early to dream dreams about the next steps, and the next, and the next, and the next. But every journey begins with the first step. Come. Join us on this pilgrimage. Malcolm+

5 THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR JOURNEY To be a Worshiping Parish Schedule an Instructed Eucharist twice each year March and October Improve the worship experience by strengthening the music ministry through the appointment a Music Director Establish an additional weekly worship service Sunday evenings using a variety of creative and alternative approaches to worship (ie, Evening Prayer / Compline; Taize; Praise and Worship; a less formal Eucharist) Enhance the worship space by removing the choir stalls and renovating the chancel to create a flexible use area Worshiping Parish Ministry: Contact: Anne Marie MacNeil / annemacneil@accesscomm.ca

6 THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR JOURNEY To be a Welcoming Parish Create a welcoming / newcomers package and display it prominently both upstairs and downstairs Develop a small card for distribution to guests / newcomers, smaller than a welcoming / newcomers package but including contact information, website address, worship schedule and ongoing / upcoming activities Establish a process to capture contact information from guests / newcomers and follow up first time guests with the gift of a loaf of homemade bread Install a feature at the coffee hour using pictures from the new directory to tell the stories of parish families, allowing parishioners to know each other better Initiate a parish presence at the sports facilities such as Evraz Place as a means of connecting with young families and youth Design a new unaddressed admail piece for small scale distribution Strengthen our social media presence, including producing an online video about parish life in St. James the Apostle Welcoming Parish Ministry Contact: Jerry Sherk / geoshe10@sasktel.net

7 THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR JOURNEY To be a Discipling Parish Enhance Core Programs o Continue Prayer Groups, Bible Studies, Book Studies o Conduct an annual Confirmation / Refresher Classes Strengthen Youth Programs o Link with Diocesan and Regional Youth Programs o Ensure Youth are integrated into all Discipling programming o Establish a Mentoring Program pairing youth with faithful adults Establish a Sharing the Story Program o Assist parishioners to develop an elevator speech about their faith, and to feel comfortable responding to questions and criticisms Develop a one-page elevator speech resource Consider these issues in sermon development Change Parishioners Expectations of Themselves o Specifically and deliberately encourage parishioners to practice regular prayer, Bible reading / study and other disciplines o Provide tools and programs to create a framework for success o Distribute Forward Day by Day to all parish households Provide Training and resources for Discipling Leaders Discipling Parish Ministry Contact: Jennifer Jacobs / jjanejacobs@gmail.com

8 THE NEXT STEPS IN OUR JOURNEY To be a Serving Parish Partner with REACH (Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger) to support the St. James Camino Cocina Community Kitchen program o St. James will provide a $5,000 per year grant for five years to REACH to enhance the existing Community Kitchen program o This grant will more than double the capacity of the program in the first year and may lead to further expansion in subsequent years o The program will continue to be run from St. James the Apostle and will be rebranded to reflect the parish s support o Parishioners will be encouraged to volunteer to support the program o REACH will continue to staff and administer the program Establish a Helping Hands Ministry to assist parishioners and others with things like minor household repairs and maintenance, assistance with errands, rides to appointments Reboot (and rebrand) the Pastoral Care Committee to identify and visit parishioners who are in care or shut-ins or simply need a visit Develop a Did You Know regular bulletin feature describing the various ministries the parish is involved in Serving Parish Ministry Contact: Jamie Halpenny / jhalpenn@sasktel.net

9 EXISTING GROUPS, ACTIVITIES AND MINISTRIES As of September 2014 Sunday Eucharist with Children s Liturgy Wednesday Eucharist Altar Guild Pub Church (Monthly) Tuesday Senior Men s Coffee Group Blessed Circle Lectio Divina Group Prayer Chain Regina Anglican Youth Group (Participating Parish) Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Garage Sale Fall Supper Snowflake Tea Mother s Day Tea Parish Fair Care Home Services Pioneer Village Weekly Eucharist, Monthly Service of the Word, Pastoral Care Committee William Booth Monthly Eucharist Regina Village Twice Yearly Service of the Word Rosemont Ecumenical Group (Lay Led) Faith, Hope and Charity Stitchers (knitting prayer shawls etc.) Holding Prayer Cross Makers Representation on the Board of Transcona Housing Study Groups Including book studies, Bible studies and other study groups OTHER GROUPS REGULARLY USING PARISH FACILITIES REACH (Regina Education and Action for Child Hunger Food Education Programs (no charge as part of partnership) Alcoholics Anonymous Helping Hands Group Happy Hearts Square and Round Dance Club

10 NOTES What are my dreams for St. James the Apostle Parish? What can I contribute of my Time, Talent and Tithe?

11 A NEW PARISH MISSION PRAYER O God, watch over us, your servants, as we walk in the love of your name, following your companion and apostle, St. James. Be our companion on the walk, our guide at the crossroads, our breath in our weariness, our protection in danger, our shelter on the journey, our shade in the heat, our light in the darkness, our consolation in our discouragements, and our strength in our intentions, so that with your guidance we may arrive safe and sound at the end of our pilgrimage, enriched with grace and virtue, and filled with joy in the company of our fellow pilgrims, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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