Christianity: Knowing GOD personally through Jesus Christ As part of the Church in Taunton

1. Christianity: Knowing GOD personally through Jesus Christ As part of the Church in Taunton We seek to know Christ better, and to make him better known We do this through varied and lively worship, learning to apply God’s word in the Bible, and being filled with his Holy Spirit

2. Be encouraged! Answers to prayer from last year: • Sunday morning worship increasing rate of growth in regular numbers • Keen new singers and instrumentalists • Sound system a great asset • Kevin Brewer – his continuing development • Geoff Treasure and Edward Hosken added to those regularly leading or preaching • Practical sermon series and linked homegroup notes • Continuing invaluable support from Mike, Ken, Nic, Ken and John

3. Answers to prayer (continued): • Increase in homegroup regular membership from 90 in 10 groups to 125 in 15 groups • Grown new leaders • Ministry among men beginning to thrive; expand from pastoral to mission • Special interest groups as ‘belonging places’ - example of Easter Experience in 2012 • Church structures: No longer a ‘revolving door’. Exciting plans for structures which allow for growth • New kitchen(thanks to large legacy gift) • Wise prioritisation of spending • Porches, essential repairs

4. Answers to prayer (continued): • Development of Sunday Club, new leaders • Messy Church, and All Age Worship • The demographic gap hits the over 11s on Sundays… but • The Sunday Night Project continuing until Summer 2012 • 11+ group continuing • Massive amount of input to ABC school continuing – especially Julie and Jenny • Alison’s paid role extended until end of 2012

5. Children and Families Work What’s Planned for 2012? The usual family coordination, visits, Sunday Club, weekly groups etc, plus:

6. Special Focus • The focus for this year will be to ensure that volunteers are in place to cover all of our existing children and family work and prepare for continuing growth in the church amongst young families • To work with a C/YP coordinator to form teams and plan

7. Planned Special Activities • Further training for Sunday Club and Messy Church Leaders • Toddler Group outing • Sunday Club Summer outing • AAW led by Sunday Club children • Summer Holiday Activity morning with a sports theme? • Light party in October • Prayers, prayers and more prayers for 2013 and onwards!

8. Be encouraged! • ALL people he calls are vital • longest serving and newest • most and least knowledgeable • those with lots of big questions and those happily trusting • whatever lifestyle history • wherever on the journey of discipleship • God will surprise us with new mission opportunities

9. The vision I believe God has given us this year: • Keep focussed on enlarging God’s Kingdom • Then we will find that we grow individually as well • As he uses our gifts and abilities • Develops new ones in us • And brings people in with gifts he needs

10. What draws people to God through St James’, and what keeps us here? It’s God’s Holy Spirit, + all of us (each other), + what we offer / content Our job: to discern what God wants This year in particular: Sunday worship as the focus and barometer of our church life

11. People who have a mission • Genuine, authentic, wanting to be disciples “Something to offer me in my situation” • Lots of different ‘situations’ Unashamedly spiritual – The Lord is here! • Natural to pray; no dumbing down of the Gospel Interesting / comforting / challenging • I.e. not (usually) boring! • But different things interest / challenge different people

12. Quality of all that goes on, consistent • People used to professional presentation • Music • Displays • Young people’s work • Coffee… Friendly • That’s down to every one of us • Speak to people you don’t recognise first, before chatting to friends • “People care about me” • “I am missed if not there on a Sunday” • Unusually inclusive and welcoming

13. Enjoyable / worthwhile • How frequently do youwant to be at Sunday worship Good facilities • Building • Maintenance • Warmth • Cleanliness Seekers’ perspective • Welcome • The peace??!! • Can I see and hear? • Can I easily find seating which suits me? • Predictable timings • Easy and informative web site

14. Feeding and discipling the faithful • all on a journey of encounter “Somewhere I / my family might fit in” • Encouraging • Valuing • “Someone bothers to find out about me” • “My gifts able to be used – I feel needed”

15. That’s why the emphasis is on: • Pastoral care • Worship content • Teaching • Outreach and welcome • Buildings • Administration • Finance • Hospitality

16. The vision drives all we do: • Integrates the whole • All of us who do things in church should be conscious of the overall vision • Coordinators as vision-keepers • PCC as vision managers, monitors, and resourcers • Every church member responsible for being a part of what God is wanting to achieve • Mutual encouragement, accountability, support ‘Quick to listen slow to speak, slow to become angry’

17. Phil 1:3-11 Hear it as though from Jesus himself to you. Phil 2:1-11 ‘THEREFORE…’

18. “Ready and willing for what God might want to do through us”