Mission

Mission

We have a Mission Action Plan...

The church of Jesus Christ is dynamic and seeks to respond to our local situation and needs. Here is a PDF of our Mission Action Plan - the ways in which we seek to develop the church of St Mary and its ministry to West Moors and the wider world.

The Five Marks of Mission

In 1984 the Anglican Consultative Council began to develop a “mission statement” for the worldwide Anglican communion, and the bishops of the Lambeth Conference adopted these “Five Marks Of Mission” in 1988. They were then adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in 1996.

To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth

With the Police van at the Village Carol Service

The Anglican Consultative Council notes, “The first mark of mission… is really a summary of what all mission is about, because it is based on Jesus' own summary of his mission (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22; cf. John 3:14-17). Instead of being just one of five distinct activities, this should be the key statement about everything we do in mission.”

The Seven Marks of a Healthy Church

1.	Energized by faith rather than just keeping things going or trying to survive
-	worship and sacramental life: moves people to experience God’s love
-	motivation: energy comes from a desire to serve God and one another
-	engaging with Scripture: in creative ways connect with life
-	nurtures faith in Christ: helping people to grow in, and share their faith.
2.	Outward-looking focus with a 'whole life' rather than a 'church life' concern
-	deeply rooted in the local community, working in partnership with other denominations, faiths, secular groups and networks
-	passionate and prophetic about justice and peace, locally and globally
-	makes connections between faith and daily living
	responds to human need by loving service
3.	Seeks to find out what God wants discerning the Spirit’s leaning rather than trying to please everyone
-	vocation: seeks to explore what God wants it to be and do
-	vision: develops and communicates a shared sense of where it is going
-	mission priorities: consciously sets both immediate and long-term goals
-	able to call for, and make, sacrifices, personal and corporate, in bringing about the above and living out the faith.
4.	Faces the cost of change and growth rather than resisting change and avoiding failure
-	while embracing the past, it dares to take on new ways of doing things
-	takes risks: and admits when things are not working, and learns from experience
-	crises: responds creatively to challenges that face the church and community
-	positive experiences of change: however small, are affirmed and built on.
5.	Operates as a community rather than functioning as a club or religious organisation
-	Relationships: are nurtured, often in small groups, so people feel accepted and are helped to grow in faith and service
-	leadership: lay and ordained work as a team to develop locally appropriate expressions of all seven marks of a healthy church
-	lay ministry: the different gifts, experiences & faith journeys of all are valued & given expression in and beyond the life of the church.
6.	Makes room for all being inclusive rather than exclusive.
-	welcome: works to include newcomers into the life of the church
-	children and young people: are helped to belong, contribute and be nurtured in their faith
-	enquirers are encouraged to explore and experience faith in Christ
-	diversities: different social and ethnic backgrounds, mental and physical abilities, and ages, are seen as a strength.
7.	Does a few things and do them well focused rather than frenetic.
-	does the basics well: especially public worship, pastoral care, stewardship and administration
-	occasional offices: make sense of life and communicate faith
-	being good news as a church in its attitudes and ways of working
-	enjoys what it does and is relaxed about what is not being done
Source: The Healthy Churches’ Handbook Robert Warren Church House Publishing 2004 (Appendix 4)

What We Believe - The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Aldhelm Pilgrimages 2005-11

Andrew has taken one week per year to support the Aldhelm Pilgrimage. Parish Missions have now taken place in six Dorset parishes.