Our Mission Statement

Updated and Approved September 2009

Barwell Methodist Church seeks to serve God and the community, led and inspired by the Holy Spirit, proclaiming the gospel to bring people to faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Priorities:

Worship :

To increase awareness of God’s presence and to celebrate God’s love.

Learning and Caring:

To help people grow as Christians through mutual support, care and teaching.

Service:

To be good neighbours, challenge injustice and care for God’s world.

Evangelism:

To make disciples of Jesus Christ.

1  Worship Objectives

¨      To continue developing a variety of forms of worship which are appropriate to our community in Barwell.

¨      To work with other churches in establishing better ecumenical relationships through worship together.

¨      To continue to make sure that our services are as welcome and accessible as possible.

Strategies and Initiatives

¨      Praise services aimed at young people from around the Hinckley Circuit area to begin in October 2009 on a bi-quaterly basis.  Band established and first dates set.

¨      Groups from our church family, for e.g.. our house groups and our worship leaders,  now prepare and lead worship occasionally.

¨      Wednesday a.m. prayer service is led weekly by Andrew and others.

2  Learning and Caring Objectives

¨      To continue to encourage small group participation. 

¨      To continue to develop effective pastoral oversight.

¨      To encourage disciples to learn more about their faith and other traditions.

¨      To encourage deeper spirituality and prayer for others and the world.

¨      To ensure that children are nurtured in the faith.

Strategies and Initiatives

¨      Minister and Pastoral Secretary to review current list of members, adherents and pastoral visitors, to consign new visitors and to consider increased ministry to the bereaved.   (Before October 2009)

¨      The Alpha Course to run September to December 2009 on Monday nights with the aim of educating church goers and non church goers alike in a social, informal setting.  Leadership and catering teams are now established.

¨      Our prayer line and prayer tree facility are very well supported and will continue to be a major facility in the spiritual life of our church.

¨      Our church weekend away has become a regular feature and is seen as powerful relationship builder.

3.  Service Objectives

¨      To be aware of local issues and respond appropriately where able.

¨      To increase awareness of world issues of justice, peace and the environment, and to continue our charitable giving.

¨      To work towards environment good practice.

¨      To continue to ensure that are premises are suitable for community activities and to work closely with those who use the premises.

Strategies and Initiatives

¨      To continue with our very well-received community lunches, and also our coffee mornings.

¨      To continue our monthly services at Saffron House.

¨      To strengthen links with the Saplings Playgroup and to improve facilities to enable more stimulating all weather outdoor play provision.

Action: Grant application to County Council July 2009: aim for renovation project Spring 2010, if successful.

¨      To advertise availability of premises for children’s parties, and to maintain competitive levels of fees for room hire.

Action: The letting secretary to continue awareness of current commercial rate. Posters to be drawn up .  Possible newspaper advertisement. Word of mouth.

¨      To address the problem of youth disengagement in Barwell and to explore, with police and local churches, the possibility of street pastors in Barwell.

Action: Minister to continue conversations in steering group at local and ecumenical level, and talk with potential volunteers, with view to possible launch in 2010.

4  Evangelism Objectives

¨      To encourage disciples and church goers to witness to others effectively.

¨      To enable invitation to church with Seeker services and events

¨      To be a witness to Christ through our welcome and hospitality

Strategies and Initiatives

¨      To begin new youth initiative.  Leaders found for new Youth Drama Group.  Advertising through community activities over summer holidays, and now in schools and Cross Keys pub.  Age range 11-15.  Drama group began 17^th September 2009. 

¨      To strengthen the work of the Sunday School.

Action: Continue conversations with leaders and parents; encourage baptismal families more; consider special events.   To consider a Christmas Party for Sunday School Children and those on the Cradle Roll.

¨      To run Alpha Course, with particular aim for those outside of the church (see also under Learning and Caring).

¨      To offer Christmas Carol Services to school children and to groups who use our premises, including our Uniformed Organisations and the Saplings.

¨      To continue sharing a Round the Tree Carol Service in Barwell.

5  Stewardship

In addition to all of this we will continue our stewardship of the church, through regular giving from our members and continual maintenance and repair through the Finance and General Purposes Committee

Strategies and Initiatives

¨      To continue with existing maintenance management structure, with four property stewards appointed to oversee areas of interior, exterior, technical/electrical, and lettings, and report to Finance & General Purposes Committee, who in turn report to Managing Trustees.

¨      To make church members more aware of the rising cost of running the church.  Action: letter from the treasurer to be included in the Church magazine.