Parish Profile Final
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values The Diocese of Chelmsford | Profile | Spring 2016 People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North 1 Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North I�����������……………………………… 3 O�� N�� P�����-��-C����� ……….8 A Message from Bishop Stephen Person Specification What We Offer O�� V�����, V����� & H����……….. 4 O�� P�������……………………………. 10 O�� B�������………………………………. 5 St Mary’s Church, Salcott-cum-Virley About The Area St Mary’s Church, Tollesbury Our Faith Tradition St Nicholas Church, Tolleshunt D’Arcy Transforming Presence St Nicholas Church, Tolleshunt Major Our Ministry Team Benefice Committee A���������……………………………….. 19 Services & Worship Appendix 1 - Finance Separate attachment Safeguarding Appendix 2 - Services and Information Sheet Separate Information & News Appendix 3 - Thumbnail of the future three parishes A Ministry for Everyone C������� & Y���� P����� A����� 2 Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North To this end we are looking for priests who are excited by this Ÿ We are developing missionary discipleship, so that every vision of becoming a church which is itself transformed, and church in the diocese is a place where Christians are formed which is becoming a more visible and effective presence in the in order to be sent out in witness and service. huge diversity of communities that make up this most exciting and energetic part of England. There are many challenges ahead Despite planning for a future with fewer stipendiary clergy, we of us. remain as committed as ever to the local church. And what is the local church, but that community of men and women Ÿ We are a diocese generously subsidised by the national gathered around Christ, and living and sharing the gospel in the church. We need to become financially self-sufficient. networks and neighbourhoods of their lives? But we need priests to lead and to serve. Ÿ Leadership often seems distant. We are creating patterns of leadership that are closer to the parishes. And we are We know we need to change. We can only be a transforming looking to develop missionary leadership at all levels of presence when we have allowed God to transform us. Therefore church life. Nearly half our clergy will retire in the next ten at the heart of all we do is a longing for intimacy with God and years. We need to find out how to minister with fewer a renewed life of prayer. First and foremost a priest is a minister stipendiary clergy and with a re-imagining of how of the word and sacrament. All ministry flows from this. But a stipendiary ministry works. We need to re-organise the way priest shares the ministry of the bishop, therefore presbyteral In the Chelmsford Diocese we believe that God is calling his parishes relate to each other in what we are calling Mission ministry will increasingly be a ministry of oversight, guiding, church to be a transforming presence. Our vision is that the and Ministry Units. nurturing and directing the mission of God's church in the church - that is the people of God here in Essex and East London communities we serve. Ÿ - should be a transforming presence in every one of our parishes. Some of our congregations still think ministry is what Vicars do. We have a vision of ministry where the whole people of It is an exciting time to be part of God's missionary movement God are involved in the whole of God's ministry. We are also for the world, and the Diocese of Chelmsford is an exciting place experimenting with new forms of authorised lay ministry. to serve. We have a clear vision and we are looking to appoint These are our priorities – clergy who will share this with us. In every parish we long to see Ÿ Ÿ To inhabit the world distinctively Church must be a safe place. All those in ministry will be each person and each community grow in faithfulness and Ÿ To evangelise effectively expected to undergo training that will equip them to ministry so that together we may serve in the world and Christ respond well in situations associated with safeguarding. may be made known. Ÿ To hold ourselves accountable to one another and to God for the stewardship of the gospel Ÿ Levels of church going are below the national average. We Ÿ To re imagine the way we minister so that need to get evangelism on to the agenda and into the each ordained minister and each individual lifeblood of every church. We encourage and train churches to put on weekends of mission and outreach. One of our The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell Christian discovers their part in God's ministry Bishop of Chelmsford and so that each church flourishes. aspirations is that every benefice should have a trained lay evangelism enabler. 3 Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North Our Vision Our Values Our Hope We work to serve the They are the way we try to live out our vision: That we may: local communities in the Ÿ Enjoying worshipping with, and encourag- Ÿ Continue working to share and capitalise spirit of love and compassion as ing, people of all ages and backgrounds; on the talents and skills of our members set out in the words of Jesus: ‘I came that offering them welcome into our churches so we can meet the needs within our you might have life and that in fullness’. communities Ÿ Having the courage to build on what we know and take forward new and different Ÿ Encourage more families into church and ways of engaging with people make all ages feel welcome; so we can not only find the missing generation but Ÿ Respecting each other’s tradition and also enable the young to have a chance form of worship to grow their faith and in so doing, the Ÿ Partnering with other denominations to older church family may both learn with learn and share wisdom them and share their experience as all come to find the love of God We do this: Ÿ Through authentic relationships Ÿ With integrity in everything we do Ÿ By being bible-centred and spirit led Ÿ Through continuous personal growth 4 Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North We currently consist of four parishes:- Our Faith Tradition Our Ministry Team Ÿ This area has a long Christian tradition, dating back to before We recognise that all our team members need to be supported St. Mary the Virgin, Salcott the arrival of St. Cedd in 653AD. Our parishes embody and their roles developed. Our Team is made up of two Locally Ÿ St. Mary the Virgin, Tollesbury different aspects of the Anglican tradition, including the Deployed Self-Supporting Ministers (3�� year curates), two Ÿ evangelical and the catholic. We value and respect each other Readers and one Authorised Local Preacher. One of our curates St. Nicholas, Tolleshunt D’Arcy and are united in our wish to develop the place of the is the Archdeaconry Adviser for Women’s Ministry; one of our Ÿ different churches within the local community. Readers teaches on a local Certificate in Christian Studies St. Nicholas, Tolleshunt Major course and is a member of the General Synod. Our Team meet regularly to plan services, including organising We are country parishes with communities of varying sizes with Transforming Presence two quiet days of prayer and reflection for the Benefice, open big personalities. Tollesbury, in particular, will see more We fully support the transforming presence initiative outlined to all and found to be particularly helpful. Our Team are eager housing in the future and there is currently a working group in Bishop Stephen’s message. We welcome and support those to work actively with the Incumbent to explore new ways of within Tollesbury Parish Council who are finalising the who wish to develop their ministry. We hope for a further developing the role and activities of the parishes and Neighbourhood Plan which deals with this. The area is one of strengthening of the teams of clergy and laity that have developing opportunities for worship. outstanding natural beauty and scientific interest, sited on an emerged, which are needed for the church to become the estuary which is popular with naturalists, sailors and artists living presence of Christ in the community. During our services the Team are supported by members of alike. The main employer is the light industry business followed the congregation who prepare and lead intercessions, serve by leisure although farming remains of substantial importance. within the sanctuary and administer the chalice and select hymns and read lessons. The population in all the villages is a mixture of commuters, professional trades and crafts; there are long established families and newcomers but all share a strong sense of S�. M��� ��� V�����, community and pride. S������ Our Benefice is very likely to incorporate three additional parishes in the future, Goldhanger, Great Totham and Little S�. N�������, Totham. Further details of the three parishes can be found in T��������� D’A��� the appendix. S�. M��� ��� V�����, T��������� S�. N�������, T��������� M���� 5 Jesus Worship Community Initiative Focus on values People Forgiveness Restoration Truth Love Truth Restoration Forgiveness People North Blackwater Parishes Blackwater North Benefice Committee Safeguarding Information and News This is made up from representatives from each parish.