Who and What?

 

Challenged by Graham, Bishop of Norwich at the start of 2008, all churches in the diocese were invited to consider the three key aspects of church life. So, like many others, we at St John’s thought about being ‘Committed to Growth’ in Discipleship, in Service and in Numbers. What did this really mean for us? Initially it meant reflecting on the positive and specifically identifying the good things we were already doing in each aspect. But it also meant more than this; it was about searching for what else God wanted for us and deciding when and how we would do it!

 

When and How?

Talking and praying over many weeks was important for us as a PCC, but we wanted to find out more and to seek the views of others in the congregation. To do this we analysed a questionnaire (which had been offered to all young people and adult members) and invited everyone to come along to a special day, set aside to focus on the key issues.

 

Our ‘Committed to Growth’ plan was finally completed in the Autumn when it was shared at a deanery service, along with other Growth Plans. This was an opportunity to corporately commit our future work to God. Since then related events have taken place in Norwich Cathedral.

 

There’s more…

Believing that our Growth Plan is ‘a work in progress’ we are working through our planned actions, but aim to regularly review how it’s all going.  This will help us to keep us freshly focused on the vision expressed in our Mission Statement:

To bring others to Christ, to grow in unity,
fellowship and prayers and to serve our community,
to recognise that all people are of equal worth.