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IN DISCIPLESHIP          IN SERVICE          IN NUMBERS

GROWTH PLAN

Name of Parish or Benefice:

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH, NECTON

Incumbent:        The Reverend Stephen Thorp

Readers:           Mr Gordon Copsey

                       Mrs Carole Hicks

Retired clergy:   The Reverend Brian Brown

                        The Reverend Patrick Foreman

                        The Reverend Clive Grinham

                        The Reverend Dee Loxley

Other Ministry Team members:

Completed on: 17th January 2011

IN DISCIPLESHIP

How do we enable the people of Christ to fulfil their part in God’s mission; teaching, baptising and nurturing believers?

What are the good things we are already doing?

• We worship together regularly with services which will appeal to and encourage all age groups

• The monthly Alive @ 10 is an all-age service.  
• The children and young people meet in their age-appropriate groups during the services  
• The teenage group (Necton Navigators) meet twice a month on a Sunday afternoon at the Rectory
• Homegroups meet fortnightly for fellowship and Bible study.  There is 1 group which meets during the day and 4 groups in the evening
• Christianity explored and discipleship explored courses  have been held.
• During Lent there are weekly Lent Communion services with a talk, followed by fellowship
• Men’s Breakfasts are held bi-monthly on a Saturday morning with different speakers talking about varying aspects of faith
• There is a monthly prayer meeting .

• A book stall is held during the year from which people can purchase new books

• Messy Church
• Bi monthly Celebrate at 6 with fresh forms of worship.

• Discipleship aspect of ministry - possibly strongest part of Necton’s ministry; discussion re ministry from the pulpit - good variety of styles/variety of formats

What else is God wanting for us?

• Be emboldened to explore new forms and styles of service to reach out to the community
• Expansion and growth within Alive @ 10
• Form a Music/Singing group
• The children and young people’s work need more helpers
• Encourage Necton Navigators to grow and expand with the addition of more helpers
• Develop the Homegroups further with more members of the congregation belonging to one
• A deeper commitment to prayer with more people seeking to pray together at the monthly prayer meeting and more people seeking a prayer partner
• Development of the book stall
• Faithful and realistic giving including Gift Aid

What can we do this year?

• Celebration @ 6 - informal style service- continue to develop
• Messy Church - continue to develop
• Alive @ 10 – continue to develop all-age worship with a change of emphasis
• Church prayer meeting - Try Thursday evening (not fellowship group night), ‘Coffee and prayer’ (with cakes).
• Giving - to be encouraged this year; faithful and realistic giving.
• Ministry Team of clergy and lay people - possibly form one (wider than just the preaching team)
• Young people - significant difficulties with this work - not able to provide sufficient teachers and  helpers. Pray for leaders to come forward

IN SERVICE

How best can we respond to human need by loving service?  How do we safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth?  How should we seek to transform the unjust structures of society?

What are the good things we are already doing?

• Beginning to explore youth service for the village ie. open invitation on ‘Link’ to join Navigators
• Involvement with the village ie. attending Parish Council meetings
• Social and community activities such as carol singing, coffee mornings held at the church, the yearly Flower Festival,
• PCC members are active on the primary school governing body

• Communion is taken to the Grange residential home if required.

• We are a Fair Trade Church
• Actively trying to incorporate the Diocesan Environmental policy into all the affairs of the church.
• Supporting various mission organisations both in this country and overseas

• Publicising church activities through ‘Link’ and the website.
• Organise village Fete jointly with the Village hall committee.
• Sound system has been reviewed and sermons are being recorded
• New outside Notice board bought

What else is God wanting for us?

• Continue to explore youth service for the village and the church
• Become more involved with the village in every way
• Enlarge our social and community outreach activities
• Continue involvement with the Primary School
• Develop the pastoral care to The Grange
• Develop a Pastoral Committee to help with pastoral care including baptisms, weddings and funerals
• Further attention to our environmental impact
• Make sermons available to Congregation via web site and CD’s
• Inform congregation and visitors about Clergy, Lay Readers and PCC by putting up photos.
• Continue to assess, develop and expand ‘Link’ and the website

What can we do this year?

• Bereavement - possibly get involved in village pub with bereavement group/put on annual     
• bereavement service (Necton demographics show large elderly population)
• Social activities

• stay involved with Village Fete
• stay involved with school
• need to be involved at The Grange again (communion service etc)

• Continue to develop Website and ‘Link.’
• Consider parenting course and/or marriage course - all require helpers   

IN NUMBERS

How are we proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom?

What are the good things we are already doing?

• The preaching and teaching is relevant and practical to help us live out lives of faith
• Our church is open daily with a welcoming light in the porch

• Evangelistic and historical leaflets are available in the church
• Men’s Breakfast is involved in outreach to the wider community
• Personal baptism and wedding preparation
• Work in Necton Primary School (see Service as well)
• Messy Church bimonthly
• Newcomers tea held
• New outside Notice Board and banners to advertise servics and events

What else is God wanting for us?

• Develop different types of service for outreach
• Continue to develop Newcomers’ Teas for those new to the village
• Develop an Enquirer’s corner in church
• Develop the role of the Baptism Secretary
• Continue to develop the work in the school (see Service as well)

What can we do this year?

• Celebration @ 6 - continue to develop
• Messy Church - continue to develop where it is (it will not become a Sunday congregation)
• Christianity Explored - possibly put on another course
• Coffee mornings - possibly arrange more often with a different group of people.  Emphasise social aspect, not the money-making aspect

To download a PDF of the Committed to Growth document click here.