MISSION ACTION PLAN

Given the challenges we are facing, the aim is to agree a direction on the essentials, and shorten our PCC meetings, making them more focused.

  • These are things we've agreed to that don't require action
  • These tasks are things we've agreed that require action but are not an immediate priority
  • These tasks are priorities that require action
  • These are decisions to make
  • These are actions we've decided not to do - possibly with date for review
  • These actions are completed

GROWING

Increasing Sunday morning focus and organisation (25 April) (separate section)

  • Just use inner frontal when setting up high altar
  • Deputy Wardens with clear roles
  • Romanian church now cleaning in lieu of room hire
  • but ask them to leave chairs out (14 April)

Welcoming, including & encouraging all ethnic, cultural & other diversities to participate in the life of the church—as a blessing!

  • posters to advertise services in Farsi and English
  • apply for grants to Oldham Parish Children Education Fund, Diocesan Racial Justice Grant, then Benefact Trust Grant for wall-mounted TVs to remove need to move them around and connect them and apply for a faculty (4 May)
  • offer a Bring & Share meal every 6 to 8 weeks Easter Day 10 May after Confirmation (25 April)
  • consolidate our Sunday morning worship (i.e. no more changes, except possibly introduction of servers)
  • continue to choose a reflective hymn at the beginning of the service: a gathering song
  • continue to add Farsi words to Psalms and Liturgy (Nick, Zahra)

Offering and developing All-Age Services

  • Continue to offer Youth Service on 4th Sunday, asking the young people for more input.
  • Introduce altar servers

NURTURING

Nurturing Farsi/Dari speaking congregation members

  • discussion in Farsi with Zahra now by request

building up the Children’s Work and leaders

  • regular offer training for volunteers with Children & Young People Oct/Nov 2025

supporting young people as they move to, and at, Secondary School

  • start group for Y9+ with Laura Tebay, and recruit a volunteer to run it once a month with an assistant
  • regular offer training for volunteers with Children & Young People Oct/Nov 2025
  • offer altar servers for Y7 and Y8

supporting people into other roles / ministries in the church

  • recruit more people to read and lead intercessions (4 May)
  • support Sidespeople in their roles
  • recruit leaders for work with youth and children

servers’ training

  • introduce this, robes? girdles?

seasonal / weekly discipleship Bible study groups and services

  • Stations of the Cross in Lent 2027 (4 May)
  • Discussion Group in Lent 2027? (4 May)

visiting Care Homes

  • continue to visit Coppice Care Home

end of life care for the dying and the bereaved

SERVING

hosting activities for all members of the community (run by ourselves or others)

  • continue to work to increase use of the church building Mahdlo - discontinued Family Fun Day - 16 Feb HAF - Holidays Baby Bonding - January
  • purchase chair dolly to reduce risks of stacking
  • continue to offer English Classes

improving our buildings better to serve the community

  • put access signs up and then consider installation of bollards instead of gates at church gates (due to cost) if we can get a faculty? and white lines at entrances to prevent cars blocking access? (revisit in March, if grant for gates successful)
  • apply for grant for new gates (19 Jan)
  • apply for grant and commission a modest amount of repointing work

moving forward with eco church

  • complete the new Eco Survey
  • establish next steps
  • See if we can reduce electricity usage
  • Try a system for picking up litter
  • Consider the Decarbonisation Audit

education, visits to church, collective worship & school governance

  • continue St. Thomas' School Thursday morning Collective Worship
  • continue hosting visits from schools, nurseries, etc

SUSTAINABILITY

integrate teaching on giving into Sermons etc

increasing Venue Hire / Income

  • obtain a grant for the English Conversation Class
  • work to increase our hosting of social events for local community
  • look at feasability of grant for a job club

building maintenance to prevent deterioration

  • continue to organise gardening and cleaning days
  • complete some stonework and repointing