Cotton Mill, St Julian version: 1

Things seen about our local community

• We are richly blessed to live in a peaceful and very pleasant part of a beautiful world.
• Our parish is situated in an affluent area, but has a diverse population, including people who face considerable hardship.
• We live in a place where there is a lot going on. People are busy with work, family & other commitments - pressure.

Three things we have seen about our church

• Our people are gentle, friendly and faithful Christians, who are often rather shy about sharing their deep, quite faith.
• Majority of our church community worship in a building that has been active for 1,000+ years - blessed resource, with challenges
• Our church community is constantly coming into contact with many new people.

Vision (for five years' time)

We hope that we will be described as a friendly, welcoming, church community which does all that it can to mediate God's love to the people of the parish and the surrounding area.

Priorities (for the next five years)

• Looking Out - improving our ministry of Welcome.
• Looking In - encouraging more confident disciples.
• Looking Up - improving our Worship.

Goals (for the next year)

• To revise & increase usage of Welcome Pack, set up system of street wardens to welcome newcomers to parish & assist with care.
• Identify and use resources to build people's confidence in using their gifts in God's service.
• Develop strategy for keeping in touch with those we encounter through Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals.
• Consider establishing greater links with Schools, Children's Centre and uniformed organisations of the parish.
• Consider improving the main entrance to St Stephen, and explore keeping church open for private prayer mid-week & during Advent.