Church of Hitchin, St Mark
« Mission Action Plan »

Two years of prayer cards being delivered to every house. Positive feedback, particularly in first year.
Furthering relationships with people in care homes – we’ve now got regular contacts with 4 homes/day centres/sheltered housing complexes in our areas, doing at least 3 services year in each (Harvest, Christmas, Easter).
Alpha courses begun, with team now running them.
Messy St Mark’s at Oughton Primary School – 6 times a year – contact with 70-100 non-church people each time.

Informal evening service- this was started and ran for a couple of years but never really got off the ground. It has now stopped in order to put energy into other areas.
Holiday at Home – explored the idea but decided it was not right for us at this time.
Short talks – didn’t happen due to lack of capacity.

We wish to be
– A place which draws people in, where everyone feels welcomed and strengthened; where worship is accessible, and where friends from outside the church want to venture.
– A growing church which relates to the communities of Westmill and Bearton, that is better connected to other churches, and is a force for good in the town.
– A place where faith in God is central and exploration of it is actively encouraged, enabling us to become better educated in our faith and knowledge of the Bible, and to be a source of helpful guidance and spiritual direction providing stepping stones to God.

We wish to be a community characterized by love, forgiveness, acceptance and compassion.

To establish a new worshipping community at Oughton Primary School meeting on a Sunday afternoon.

Within the next 12 months to engage with the Reaching New People Project to gain support and training.

Within the next 12 months to begin conversations with the school and those already connected via Messy St Mark’s.

Within the next 12 months to build a team to make this a reality.

To improve our welcome, and particularly, our integration of newcomers into our church family.

This has a dual focus, helping those with faith already to go deeper into God by engaging in a church community, and to help those new to faith to integrate into a church community.

To create a team of ‘Greeters’ who are different from our ‘Welcomers’ and whose role is to look out for newcomers, help them find seats, books, invite them for coffee etc.

The Ministry Team to systematically visit all newcomers.

To hold a newcomers supper at least twice a year.