Houghton Regis, All Saints version: 1

Things seen about our local community

• There are increasing numbers in our population due to new housing developments.
• The congregation numbers at various services are changing due to to work and family commitments.
• Newcomers can find it hard to feel involved immediately.

Three things we have seen about our church

• We are in a central position in the town.
• We are seen as pivotal to the town centre and central in their logo to demonstrate this.
• We are needed and used by the whole community, especially for baptisms, weddings and funerals.

Vision (for five years' time)

We would like to be seen as welcoming and inclusive, catering for all ages, and with our planned programme of nurture and teaching to have produced understanding of Our Lord's teaching and fellowship with our members and the wider community.

Priorities (for the next five years)

• Attract more people to the congregation by improving our advertising.
• Broadening people's faith by the planned nurture groups.
• Develop our caring, nurturing, inclusive ethos so that all feel cared for and supported.

Goals (for the next year)

• To start our nurture groups.
• To increase our support for the sick and bereaved.
• To improve relationships with the schools, especially our two Church Schools.
• Increase contributions from the congregation and wider community towards the Parish Share and church maintenance.
• Provide a welcoming leaflet for people new to the church and provide more information by website and notice boards.