Harpenden, St John the Baptist version: 2

Things seen about our local community

• An affluent communter town, something of a bubble
• People live pressured and demanding lifestyles
• The geography of the church building isolates us from the community

Three things we have seen about our church

• We are a welcoming and well attended church with a large number of families with young children.
• Our mission is to welcome everyone warmly and enable all to grow spiritually - nourished and transformed by reverent and relaxed worship and inspired to live and share God's love.

Vision (for five years' time)

Our vision is to sustain and develop our vibrant all-age worshipping community, living out our faith in Jesus Christ in all we do, so that more and more people in our parish are touched by his love.

Priorities (for the next five years)

• Worship, Mission and Evangelism
• Fabric, Welcome, Social and Fundraising
• Discipleship, Fellowship and Pastoral Care

Goals (for the next year)

• Worship, Mission and Evangelism:- new orders of service, new hymn book, additional musical setting for the Eucharist, - themed all-age services, - refreshed website, - work towards employing either a youth worker or a children's worker, - explore new forms for worship, such as Cafe Church.
• Fabric:- more flexible seating in the Lady Chapel, - work towards replacement of Church Hall with mission-enabling Parish Centre.
• Discipleship, Fellowship and Pastoral Care:- sermon series on the letter to the Hebrews and on Medieval Mystics, -arrange visit from Vocations team, - parish retreat at Launde Abbey, Leicestershire, - parish weekend at Lee Abbey, North Devon, - develop link with Embrace through trip to Israel / Palestine.
• Welcome, social and fundraising:- Action of Promises, - Parish Open Day, - Fete and / or Art Exhibition.