Home Page
How to find us
Activities
Services & Times
How can we help?
Church Hall & Bookings
Who's Who?
This Sunday's Bible Readings
Parish News - May 2008
Parish Gallery 2001
Homilies: October 2001 - February 2002
This Month's Calendar
Thinking about Baptism
Thinking about Marriage
Faith & Action - inclusiveness and opportunity
Aids to Prayer
Children & Holy Communion
Homilies: Easter-tide 2002
Homilies: May - November 2002
Parish Review 2002
Photo Page 2002
Homilies: December 2002 - February 2003
Celebrating 2003 - people in pictures
Homilies: Lent & Easter-tide 2003
Ordinary Time - Sermons 2003
Pictures - summer 2003
Sermons - Advent 2003 - Epiphany 2004
Annual Reports 2007 (APCM 2008)
Sermons - Lent & Easter-tide 2004
Sermons - Ordinary Time 2004
Sunday School
Sermons - Advent + Christmas 2004, Epiphany 2005
Sermons - Lent & Easter 2005
Sermons - Ordinary Time 2005
St. Paul - a series from St. Cuthbert's
Sermons: Advent 2005 to Trinity Sunday 2006
Sermons - Ordinary Time 2006
Sermons 2007
Sermons 2008
Contact Information for Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Benfieldside
Links for Parish of Saint Cuthbert, Benfieldside
Guestbook
Mail Form
|
Parish Review 2002
 Our Programme of Action is to be found further down this page - the outcome to our Parish Review process! Here we explain something about the Review Process.
The parish of St. Cuthbert, Benfieldside gave itself a "Parish Review" between September & November 2002. As in a previous review in 1998, we were working in partnership with John Roberts, Stewardship Advisor for the Diocese of Durham.
A "Review Day" in September sought to bring together as many people as possible to identify issues of common concern, and to develop a sense of how we may move forward in effective action. We have since shared as effectively as possible the findings of this day and have deliberated upon them in topic groups and with our Steering Committee.
At the end of this page you can read of one way we can carry on the review process. But now read on to share our hopes for the future...
|
Put Yourself in the Picture
This is the name we have given to the stage in our Review process which invites a response of commitment to our hopes. Here you can read the Programme of Action we have formulated - and we invite you to ask yourself how you can play a part in it.
Christ has no body now
on earth but yours;
no hands but yours;
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes
through which must look out
Christ’s compassion on the world.
Yours are the feet
with which he is
to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands
with which he blesses now.
St Teresa of Avila
|
Introduction
Martin Jackson, Vicar of Benfieldside, writes:
On the 21st September 2002, we held our second Parish Review Day – an opportunity for a number of parishioners and friends to share their concerns and vision for our way ahead as a parish. We took three topics for discussion: Growth and Nurture, Needs and Resources, Service and Outreach. The occasion was both encouraging and stimulating, and we hope you have enjoyed reading our Report on the day’s findings.
Since the Report was published, teams of parishioners have been working hard to plan a course of action which will build upon the insights of the Review Day. In this second review of our parish’s life, we have worked out what our priorities are now and for the future, and identified the resources we need to make them a reality. We hope that in doing so, we will be reaffirming our Parish Vision, which was adopted by our PCC at the time of our first Review in 1998.
ST CUTHBERT’S CHURCH AIMS TO:
# BE A WELCOMING PARISH CHURCH, SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE WHOLE PARISH AND COMMUNITY
# SEEK TO MEET PEOPLE’S SPIRITUAL NEEDS BY ENCOURAGING CHRISTIAN VALUES THROUGH OUR WORSHIP, PRAYER, TEACHING AND FELLOWSHIP
# USE OUR GOD-GIVEN RESOURCES, BOTH HUMAN AND FINANCIAL, TO HIS PRAISE AND GLORY
All of this now needs to be put into practice. In the following pages you can read how we have addressed some of the concerns put forward at the Review Day, identifying aims which are feasible and the response we need to fulfil them. These are our broad areas of concern. This document will now be used by our PCC to help it to move our church and our parish on into the next stage of its future. Obviously, some of the suggestions are going to take longer to realise than others. The important thing is that we have a clear sense of direction, and that we continue to move forward and grow.
The Next Step
Within this booklet you will see listed under each of our headings some of the ideas and suggestions that we would like to act on. To do this we need you, our members and supporters, to share this vision. We need your readiness to play your part in helping to realise that vision. We need your prayers for God’s guidance in our lives together. We also need definite offers of support – in terms of time, talents and money.
These are things that come to us from God in the first place. I would like to invite each of you to respond to our request for your support by offering back to God some of those blessings which He has so freely given to you. This is central to our Christian discipleship. This is your opportunity to review your discipleship, and to see where you can make a personal commitment. We need the faithful support of everyone if we are to help God to continue to help us and others in our community!
|
A CHURCH FOR A PEOPLE AT PRAYER
- how we can best use our church in worship
Worship and prayer are at the heart of our lives as Christians. We have a beautiful building – but how can we use it most effectively?
Our aims:
· to build upon our provision of traditional and new forms of worship appropriate to all ages
· a regular review of issues in worship – its length, times of services, united acts of worship, and effective participation
· to enable full participation in our church’s life by making provision for young and old, and for people with special needs
· to make the church an open and welcoming place, where people may know the reality of God’s presence
· to consider how we might use the church more flexibly for worship
To do this we need:
· continued involvement of both lay people and clergy in development, planning and participation in worship
· to be aware of the importance of atmosphere in worship and to consider the use of different musical styles, prayer board, candle stand
· to consider some appropriate changes to church furnishings to enhance worship, extend participation and improve provision for people with disabilities and children
· to review issues of accessibility, such as more frequent opening of the church, our sensitivity to other people’s needs, increased community use of the church
· finance for the improvements we want to make
|
PEOPLE MATTER
Fellowship and mutual concern are fundamental to our church family. How can we help people to get to know one another better and give help where it’s needed?
Our aims:
· Develop a stronger sense of community. Be more aware of each other’s needs and improve our practical support to those who need our help
· Enable people to meet together for prayer, study and discussion
· Strengthen fellowship by arranging opportunities for more social contact
· Be a church which is concerned for the needs of children and young people in our community
To do this we need:
· A pastoral care team whose members are properly trained to make and maintain contact with people in the parish who would appreciate our support
· Commitment, opportunities and venues for prayer, bible study and discussion
· Willing volunteers to take the lead in organising social activities and events
· To consider how we might work in partnership with other organisations or churches to engage in work with children and young people
|
LOOKING OUTWARDS
- making use of the Church Hall and community outreach
We aim to ensure that our church and hall are fully accessible and welcoming and that we reach out to the community around us – but how can we do this?
Our aims:
· Increase awareness of what the church and the hall have to offer to a wide range of individuals and organisations
· Complete the internal and external works to the hall to provide flexible, well-equipped facilities
· Run a luncheon club in the hall on a regular basis particularly for older and less able members of our community
· Provide an increased range of activities and events in the hall to benefit people from church and the wider community
To do this we need:
· To make more information about church services and activities available to the community around us
· To place a notice board outside the hall and provide information leaflets for users of the hall and the church
· To secure the resources necessary to complete the outstanding work and furnish and run the hall
· Volunteers to assist with the luncheon club and other activities
· Contact with Derwentside College, Durham County Council and other educational organisations to explore the possible use of the hall for community education courses
· To develop further links with local voluntary and community groups through Derwentside CVS, to raise awareness of the facilities the hall can offer for meetings and events
|
THE RESOURCES WE NEED
- paying for our present and for our future
Generosity Is Vital In Nurturing Growth
Our aims:
· Ensure that everyone in the church understands how the church is funded and is aware of our financial situation
· Explore ways of increasing our regular income and of raising funds to meet the cost of specific projects
· Make the best use of all the resources at our disposal – money, buildings and people
To do this we need:
· To provide information on a regular basis in a way that is easy for people to understand
· To encourage people who are committed to the church to consider an increase in their regular giving
· To encourage more people to join the Planned Giving Scheme, giving as much as they can afford each week or month, by envelopes or standing order
· To encourage taxpayers who have not already done so to sign a Giftaid declaration. This increases income to the church by around 28% at no extra cost to the giver
· People with new and imaginative ideas about how to raise funds, and the energy to organise activities and events
· To find new sources of financial support especially to assist in maintaining and improving the fabric and furnishings of the church and the hall
|
MONEY MATTERS
Our Outgoings
This is what we think it will cost to run St Cuthbert’s Church each week in 2003:
Parish Share: An essential payment to the Diocese of Durham which represents our contribution to central costs, including clergy pay and pensions and the training of new people for ministry £486
Running Expenses: The costs of heating, lighting and insuring the church and ministry expenses £279
Charitable Giving £23
TOTAL £788
_______________________________________________________________
Our Income
This is what we think we will receive each week during 2003, if giving remains at the same level:
Planned Giftaid Giving: This is giving which people covenant so that we can reclaim the tax. Our tax reclaim is included. £412
Other Giving: Non-covenanted envelopes, collection plate, donations £139
Other Sources of Income £149
TOTAL £700
Our weekly expenditure will regularly be £88 more than our weekly income
|
How You Can Help
The next step is yours.
Please consider carefully the plans that we have set out and think about the part you can play in our future together. It may help to remember that there are at least four ways in which we need to express our Christian commitment.
The first is in prayer. Without that, none of our plans will come to anything good. So please commit yourself to pray for our church.
The second is in committing your time. We need to spend time together, not just on Sundays for worship, but also to work together and pray together, and have fun together, as members of this Christian family.
The third commitment is that of your skills. They are given to you by God and the church needs you to share them. There are many things to be done and we need everyone to help in some way.
The fourth commitment is of our money in regular giving to the church, as a sign and measure of thanks to God for all the good things He has given us. Remember that giving enables ministry.
When you have decided your response in each of these four ways, please complete a response sheet, and return it to the church, with your jigsaw piece, as soon as possible.
|
Service of Thanksgiving
St Cuthbert’s Church
Sunday 24 November 2002 at 10a.m.
Please join us for a Service of Thanksgiving as we express our commitment to the future of our church.
|
Continuing the Review Process
To enable e-mail discussion of our hopes, we have set up a list using Yahoo Groups. To join all you need to do is send a blank e-mail to this address:
saintcuthberts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
This will get you automatically subscribed. Instructions should follow on how to join the discussion. Basically all you need to do after subscribing will be to send a single e-mail to this address:
saintcuthberts@yahoogroups.com - and all the other subscribers will receive your e-mail. You'll be able to respond to any e-mails, joining the discussion by clicking on your "reply" button. It's really easy.
Added benefits of the group include having a Yahoo Groups page through which we can upload files, photos and other material which we wish to share.
Our hope has been to facilitate discussion, to identify issues of concern, and to allow inter-action between members of the church and others who have an interest in its work.
Members of the group can post freely. Now that the Review process itself is complete, we hope more generally to provide a forum which will enrich our common life and develop our sense of Christian calling.
If you have any problems in subscribing, please let us know.
These are the commands which will make it possible to join in discussion with each other.
Post message: saintcuthberts@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: saintcuthberts-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: saintcuthberts-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: saintcuthberts-owner@yahoogroups.com
Of course you need to subscribe first of all!
|
|
