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This page has our Vision Statement,
followed by details of our NEW Vision 2008 which builds on this first statement. |
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| OUR MISSION in the Parish of Godalming To build the Kingdom of God by declaring the love of God in and through our community OUR VISION As we build the Kingdom of God, so we will draw living water from the well of Christ who will lead us to:- W Worship which:- = leads to an encounter with God which is both joyful and reverent, = inspires our lives, = draws and holds together the Parish as one family, = is appropriate and accessible to all, with a broad range of Services. E Evangelism which:- = bridges the gap between believers and non-believers, = springs from an attractive pattern of life as God's Christian family within the community and beyond, = includes involvement with all the Churches of Godalming in proclaiming the Christian faith through word and action, = includes the church buildings as centres of activity seven days a week. L Loving which:- = is shared out of an experience of God's love, = puts others first and values each person's individuality, = is characterised by a welcoming, healing, available and prayerful congregation, = includes effective communication. L Learning which:- = recognises that we are a growing Church, = provides opportunities for people of every age and stage of Christian development to deepen their understanding of God, = helps us all to explore the role of prayer in daily life, = develops our daily expression of faith and our contribution to society. A Vision for children and youth in the church As we encourage children to be part of this vision, we recognise that they have a right to expect from the life of the church:- love, forgiveness, security, being taken seriously, affirmation, fun, freedom to develop their God-given potential, a sense of belonging, appropriate teaching of the Christian faith, opportunities to worship which engage with their stage of development, positive group experiences, encouragement to find faith in Jesus Christ, a place where their doubts and questions can be aired without fear of judgement. In this context, we aim to encourage children to root themselves in the love of God so that His love motivates their lives and gives them a sense of their own worth. |
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A New Vision for the Parish of Godalming
Following a series of meetings, both DCC and open meetings, a number of priorities have arisen for the life of the parish. These are broadly under two headings, the life of the congregation and its role in the wider community and the unique resource we enjoy in the form of our buildings - although both overlap. Looking first at our buildings, the Church Council has looked at the wide range of possibilities put forward and agreed that we should embark on a three-stage process. o First, it is acknowledged that we are overdue for a quinquennial inspection and, following the appointment of a new Inspecting Architect, this will be done as a matter of priority. Any urgent repairs required will have a first call on our finances. o Second is a double project to re-order the entrance to the church and to complete the work on the Octagon which was required under the previous inspection more than 6 years ago. Phase 1 of the Octagon project dealt with the more urgent aspects of the requirements and phase 2 will complete it. The Architect has been given a brief detailing a series of requirements we want to see in our new building and we await his proposals which will involve a rectangular rather than octagonal hall. The re-ordering of the entrance to the church is to improve our welcome so that it reflects the treasures, both spiritual, historical and social which lie beyond. It will involve moving the Victorian font, possibly restoring the 16th Century font so that it is mobile and can be used in different parts of the church as the occasion demands. Again, we await ideas from the architect. o The third stage lies in the future as the cost of the first two stages is as yet unknown, although we are aware of the need for major fund-raising. Ideas of a more major re-ordering of the church have been put forward with the aim of making the church more usable as a community space. For example, removing some or all of the pews would create a versatile space and allow for exhibitions, concerts, etc. The point has been made that in enabling this wider use, we should not lose sight of the building's primary role as a sacred space for worship and prayer. At the open meeting on 16th January, we identified some needs in respect of our corporate life. Discussions about how we present ourselves to the world resulted in a desire for changes to our Mission Statement (currently " To build the Kingdom of God by declaring the love of God in and through our community"). It was felt that the language was religious jargon and suitable only for internal use, that it needed to mention Jesus Christ, that it needed to express more clearly the openness of our welcome. Does the following express our intentions? The Parish of Godalming At the same meeting, we also considered the four headings of our present Vision Statement (Worship, Evangelism, Loving, Learning). We were all invited to offer suggestions (see over) and the DCC now needs to identify priorities for our time and resources in the immediate future. |
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