Building the Vision (Continued)

Stewardship
There has been in progress since Easter a small team to meet and discuss
the format of a possible Stewardship Programme. The main item of this will take the format of an exhibition – as one would attend at a museum or art gallery. In place of presentations to the congregation on a Sunday, there would remain a static display which would always be available.
There would be trained a few ‘guides’ to take through small groups of people of up to four members and a commentary of the display would be given. The displays would highlight the use of our time, talents and resources, and in tandem with events and needs of St Gabriel's.
We would want to have a very high percentage of St Gabriel's electoral roll
to go through the display. This would allow chance to ask questions and for
time to make a response. For those with a long memory, this was one of the
targets that we agreed to for the Archdeacon.

Communication
One of the comments by many of the groups made on more than one occasion was our ability to communicate. This included communicating with each other, those on the fringes of the church and the wider community beyond.
A small team is now required to look at how we communicate and how this
may improve. Already suggestions have included, improving the Sunday
Sheet, street deliveries, use of e-mail and our website.

Education
A request has been made from the feedback for greater amounts of
teaching for the congregation. This might be for knowledge of Bible Study,
Doctrine, Prayer. Ways to encourage this might be through afternoon and
evening courses, also series of sermons, teaching mid-week Holy Communion Services. These might be the Alpha Course, Emmaus and use of other teaching materials. A small team is required to continue with some prayer and constructive thinking for these events, format and timings.

Buildings
The groups all seem to recognise that we have very versatile and attractive buildings and garden. Some thought was requested as to how we might make better use of such plant in the scheme of life of St Gabriel's. A small group is required to use the ability to ‘think outside the box’ of how we might use such gifts. In particular a request was made as what the outside of the building says to the wider community – and here there may be required some joint thinking with the Communications group.

Liturgy
Our present Parish Communion booklets have now been in use for over six
years. Since that time there has been made available much material in the Common Worship family and also many new sung settings of the Eucharist have come forward. The clergy team (Frs Keith, Callan and Paul) have made themselves responsible for a review and implementation of a new set of liturgical books and settings.

All of this requires a great deal of hard work, and can only be accomplished
by everyone taking their part in this. Before the summer some of the
congregation volunteered to take part. In addition to them, further recruits will be sort to supplement the Communication, Education and Buildings groups. When approached please be very positive in your response as we need everyone to assist in the task of taking part in Building the Vision of St Gabriel's.





 

A Lamp that Shines in the Darkness

A lamp burns night and day in the St Gabriel’s Lady Chapel by the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. A lamp also burns by the image of Our Lady of Walsingham. The lamps remind us of the constant presence of Jesus and of the prayers of the church.
Each week there is the opportunity to sponsor a lamp and to give thanks or pray for something in particular.

Sponsorship costs £5 and Mrs Despie McKay now keeps the records for this service. Please do see her if you wish to participate.