Parish of Bedford, St Mark
« Mission Action Plan »

Since the previous MAP there have been considerable changes with the partnership at Putnoe Heights Methodist church coming to an end. Through the changes people have continued to appreciate the life and worship of St Mark’s which has continued as an Anglican church. We will be reviewing and updating or MAP in the coming months in the light of these changes.

A Mission weekend in September 2018 with Bridget and Adrian Plass was very positively received by those inside and outside the church with another mission weekend planned for September 2019. This is an evolution of the strong home and overseas mission focus of the church.

To be acknowledged as a church where all are welcome, the living Christ can be encountered and worshipped, and as a people of God, we are seen to reflect His glory in the world through the manner in which we engage with, support, and care for the broader global community in which we live. In so doing, all who encounter the church in our worship, mission and weekly activities are welcomed, encouraged, equipped and enabled to realise their true and transformed God given potential. We want to enable all people to Go Deeper into God, and so Transform their Communities and make New Disciples.

Welcome and hospitality
Worship and learning
Openness and inclusivity
Pastoral care and concern

To enable and empower the church and its people in the community through worship, mission and service as we go out into the community whilst enabling and empower the community and its people in the church through community involvement and use of the church plant as they come into the church all in a way which enables responsible stewardship of God’s church and resources to ensure all our activities are sustainable, properly financed, resourced, and empowered as we engage with God in His transforming work of redeeming His people and all creation through Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

1. To enable spiritual growth through offering quality, variety, depth and breadth in our welcome, teaching, preaching and worship as we live out our lives in the manner in which all people who come into contact with our church and its people can encounter Jesus. This includes not only our Sunday worship but also Fresh Expressions and other activities such as Open House, and William Harpur House, and the broader activities which take place in the church and outside through our social action, missional outreach and the enabling of the wider community use of the church plant and premises.

2. To continually resource and facilitate our multi-generational and strong pastoral support; to the older generation; to those who encounter church through the occasional services such as baptism, weddings and funerals; to the younger generation of parents, carers, youth, children and families who we meet through our regular church worship and wider activities including Pre-School; and to the disadvantaged.

3. To continually review our physical and online welcome and hospitality in a manner which is open, engaging, attractive and generous whilst ensuring compliance with guidelines such as GDPR and Safeguarding.