Stevenage, Shephall, St Mary version: 2
Our Details
Parish
Stevenage, St Mary, Shephall
Benefice
Stevenage, St Mary, Shephall
Deanery
Stevenage
Archdeaconry
Hertford
Dates
-
Previous MAP adopted by PCC
08/05/2012 -
This MAP was adopted by PCC
15/01/2014 -
This MAP was uploaded to the website on
17/01/2014 -
Our MAP will be reviewed next
31/01/2015
Our Looking
Things seen about our local community
- Pockets of both deprivation and affluence - a great diversity within the parish.
- Divided families, a lack of respect and aspirations - a society of individuals.
- Seven schools.
Three things we have seen about our church
- Growing financial pressure.
- A lot of time and energy spent on maintaining the church building.
- People under pressure (work and/or families) and a decline in church membership.
Our Discerning
Vision (for five years' time)
Friendly, lively, welcoming. At the heart of the community, accessible to all.
Priorities (for the next five years)
- To improve our communication - both within the church and to the local community.
- Develop links with community, especially schools.
- Encourage new ministries, ie. (i) Leading assemblies, (ii) Intercessions, (iii) Bible readings, (iv) Baptism befrienders, (v) Bereavement care, (vi) Children's work, (vii) Prayer chain.
Goals (for the next year)
- Improve facilities within the church, ie. (i) redecorate the interior of the church, (ii) install the planned audio / visual system.
- Create and install new notice-boards.
- Provide fellowship and run outreach groups, ie. (i) Quiet days, (ii) Book club, (iii) Craft club, (iv) Mothers' Union, (v) Friends of St Mary's, (vi) Study group, (vii) Prayer group, (viii) Messy church, (ix) Holiday club, (x) Easter Journey.
- Review our current service structure, ie. (i) Establish a review team, (ii) Get feedback from the congregation on current services, (iii) 1st Sunday service, (iv) Pattern for services in general, (v) Service themes.
- Implement a Lay Ministry Development Team (every member ministry).