What shapes our vision
The unfolding of a Mission Action Plan for 2025-2030
Lately we have begun the groundwork for our next five years as a Church. There are some exciting and big challenges for us as a community. At one level we need to have an intensely practical approach going forward. We need to be fiscally responsible and financially viable to be able to live out God’s mission effectively. A healthy community is one where we seek to deepen our relationship with God and one another. Part of our vision is framed by the wider church’s Strategic Vision for the Diocese of Christchurch, through our Mission Action Plan, and the 5 Marks of Mission.
In this time, we will all be asked to think about what this may look like lived out in our various areas of ministry. Your prayers are deeply appreciated as we forge new pathways towards spiritual and numerical growth, and financial sustainability. Some of the thinking behind this vision is outlined below.
Ephphatha! Deep and Wide - A Vision for the Parish of Merivale St Albans, All Souls Church.
“Ephphatha,” is a command given by Christ in Mark chapter 7 where, having healed the haemorrhaging woman, and raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, he concludes with a third healing.Here Jesus returns the hearing and speech to a man whose world has become small and bereft through his inability to hear what is said or communicate with those whom he loves. Jesus heals the man, restoring him to fullness of life by crying out the word “Ephphatha!” meaning to “Be Opened.”
This call to be opened underpins all of Christ’s messages, beseeching us to be open to God and each other in a deeper way – to listen for God, to see and be God’s action in the world, and to speak God’s love to all those we meet.
When we are open to the concept of coming closer to God, we both deepen our relationship with God, self, and community, and widen our capacity to welcome those into God’s Family.
The concept of ‘deep and wide’ calls us to live out Christ’s imperative to love one another as God loves us in practical and prayerful ways; to love deeply and share that love widely.
The concept of depth speaks of an intentional commitment to deepening the spirituality of the All Souls community. This will occur through prayer, preaching, education, retreat opportunities and Anam Cara – small groups where people are invited to journey together, deepening their understanding of where God may be working in their lives. This then calls us to build relationships with those in our community (beyond small groups), to be a place of accommodation, of hospitality and intentional welcome. To grow our community and share the love of God boldly.
Driving factors for creating a Misson Action Plan
As a part of the body of Christ, we are guided by the areas that are discerned as a critical part of Christ’s calling on the wider Church.
This includes:
Diocesan Mission Action Plan (MAP)
There are three main areas of focus in the Diocesan MAP which we are called to make an integral part of our focus at All Souls. We are also called to integrate the five marks of mission as outlined below:
Five Marks of Mission
Tell - To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.
Teach - To teach, baptise and nurture new believers.
Tend - To respond to human need by loving service.
Transform - To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
Treasure - To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and to sustain and re-new the life of the earth.
Finally, we have our own Parish Review recommendations to adhere to and grow.
Here is a reminder of what they were. Parish Review Recommendations - Please note that some of these recommendations have been completed and may be amended.
The regularity of the 11:30am should not normally be interrupted because newcomers’ first impressions are the only impression that really matters. Honouring
Continue to develop your Mission Action Plan so that you become more accountable about how your ministry and mission is being developed. In Process
Run a Stewardship Program which casts a vision for growth, raises the issue of financial needs and encourages everyone to go on the planned giving programme – preferably by AP. (This also calls us to look at fundraising in new and effective ways. Priority
Establish a fortnightly rhythm for Vicar and Wardens’ Meetings so that there is good communication, mutual support and prayer. Done
Rationalise and improve parish communications so that a cohesive feeling of being one parish family is developed, an exciting vision of the future is cast and stories of faith shared. Ongoing
We have seen some of this occurring in the updated format of the mail chimp – thank you Victoria!
Our Pew Sheet and Messenger is being up dated.
Our website is currently being up dated.
Develop a disciple making process or ‘spiritual pathway’ so that all parishioners can access suitable resources for growing Christian disciples. Priority
Combine the 8am and 9:30am services to become a new 9am service with choir, hymns and excellent liturgy. Done and ongoing
Plant a new 10:30am congregation specifically for families, children and young people with contemporary music and an excellent children’s programme. Done and ongoing
Rev Megan
