Business priorities for 2009-2010
In the 3 years 2008-2011, empowered by God’s grace, we aspire to be faithful, engaging and hospitable.
Faithful
- Expand the teaching programme, including adult Sunday School and weekday meetings
- Strengthen the youth programme so that parish children and youth are nurtured and challenged, and links with sixth formers and college students are maintained
- Hold a weekend Parish Retreat
- Develop a Healing service within a pastoral ministry of visiting, prayer for the sick, anointing and reconciliation
- Support and celebrate publicly the groups which contribute to regular worship: bell ringers, flower arrangers, choirs, musicians and organists
- Explore new language and styles of worship to keep the tradition fresh
- Timely, immediate and prayerful responses to national events
- Visible support for national campaigns that protect and care for the marginalised, and promote peace and justice
- Contribute to the Town Centre chaplaincy
- Find practical ways to change our buildings and behaviour, as individuals and as a parish, in response to concerns about creation and the environment
- Maintain our church buildings for future generations, so that they are increasingly valued in the town, and provide suitable resources so that they are clearly “Sacred spaces”
- Invest in the Trinity Centre so that it becomes a quality venue for a wide range of Guildford organisations
- Explore ways of making St Mary’s and Holy Trinity open to the public more frequently, including Sundays, possibly involving those not in the congregation and paid helpers
- Create a dedicated space in St Mary’s for visitors
- At Holy Trinity Church, build ramped access, complete the north doors and renovate the entrance lobby
- Ensure newcomers are welcomed and integrated into congregational life, and support a programme of social events that is attractive and accessible to a wide range of parishioners
- Broaden the range of groups that offer a chance to meet others and that show support for our fellow worshippers