St Andrew's Church, Bournville
Methodist and Church of England
Our 5-Year Mission Plan

At morning worship on Sunday 23rd May 2004 the ongoing mission of the church was discussed in small groups by the congregation .

The following 44 suggestions were made by congregation members in order that St Andrew's Church should continue to thrive in the Health Living Centre. These suggestions became the backbone of a five-year mission plan for the church. Some suggestions are very similar to others (as one would expect if the suggestions have been obtained from many people), some are quite original and others are quite ambitious.

Those achieved already are written in normal type. This yet to be achieved by 2009 are in italics.
Suggestion
Current Status
1. Bring a friend
Ongoing. Church growth indicates some success
2. Bring young people
Ongoing. More young people now attending indicates some success
3. Sponsored events
Sponsored 'slim' raised over Ł500 for church funds. Annual sponsored walk raises large amounts for Leprosy Mission
4. Picnic afternoons in summer
Picnic services now monthly during the summer months of June, July and August.
5. Printed leaflets to residents on estate
Whole of parish now reached with a greetings card to every home at Christmas and Easter. A street a month targeted for prayer with a prayer request form dropped in to each door
6. More social events to encourage non-church goers to come through doors
Friendship Group providing more trips out. More trips scheduled for whole church family. 2007 summer trip to Exmouth overbooked. Record number wishing to attend October 2007 Lee Abbey weekend.
7. More worship leaders
Worship group formed (now six people) who plan and take worship each quarter.
8. Singing group with young people
Yet to be achieved
9. Notice board for events
New notice boards outside church and in  the foyer of the Healthy Living Centre. Flyers placed on café tables advertising events.
10. Personal contact with residents
Ongoing, but more development work needed here.
11. Enlarging prayer list
A street a month targeted for prayer with a prayer request form dropped in to each door. Whole church family presented with a prayer card on which each person, each street and each organisation is prayed for weekly or monthly.
12. Use magazine to more reach people
Magazine circulation is up 208% over last three years. Pages now average 36-40. Now over 12,000 people are estimated to have sight of a magazine over the year. Magazine continues to be free, partially paid for by advertising.
13. Helping people with church for the first few times
Ongoing, although team of 'helpers' yet to be formed.
14. Use the new church building as an attraction
Ongoing. Unique nature of building has attracted many visitors including whole of the cohort post-ordination training curates from across the diocese.
15. Open air services
Picnic services now monthly during the summer months of June, July and August.
16.Advertise in local press
Some advertising for special events, but regular advertising of services is too expensive at the  moment.
17. Put leaflets in new church/ HLC inviting people
Flyers placed regularly on café tables advertising events.
18. Leaflet drop on estate
Whole of parish now reached with a greetings card to every home at Christmas and Easter. A street a month targeted for prayer with a prayer request form dropped in to each door
19. Invite parents of children baptised in previous year for an anniversary service
Not yet achieved.Although a new 'Start' course about the Christian faith will be started soon with these parents as a target group for invitations.
20.Publish sermons weekly
Not yet achieved due to high cost in terms of time, transcription services and reprographics for production
21. Evangelisation - Invite an evangelist or team
Not yet achieved
22. Publish a church website to publicise the church not only in Weston-super-Mare but world-wide
Website up and running and regularly updated
23. Get someone famous to visit to attract people such as a local Christian football celebrity ?
Achieved in the visit of Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on July 20th 2007.
24. Twin with an African village
Not yet achieved, although discussions with the diocese are already underway
25. Approach TV/Radio to get Songs of Praise service here or similar
Not yet achieved, although this is currently being looked at.
26. Get a Gospel group to visit
Not yet achieved, but concert provided by Salvation Army choir and band in 2006 was a close match.
27. Be a local venue for the "Bible Comes to Life" exhibition
Not yet achieved, although this is currently being looked at
28. Carols in the HLC Foyer at Christmas
Carol event took place in Christmas 2005 and 2006. Last Christmas the numbers attending were increased by around 50%
29.  Expand Brownies/Guides/Rainbows /Cubs/Scouts provision
New guide leader appointed, and a waiting list now for Brownies. However, further expansion depends upon whether or not new leaders are available.
30. Get involved in Drop-in Café
Most church members now involved in café, which provides them with coffee and lunches. Church sitters regularly have lunch in the café.
31. Musical evening to attract younger people
Not yet achieved
32. Quiet incidental music in church each day when open
Music now playing daily- in various styles such as classical, some Christian music like Graham Kendrick hymns and some Taizé to name but three.
33. Expand the magazine to people who don't come to church
Magazine now in the foyer of the Healthy Living Centre. The majority of copies are now distributed in this way or by people taking them for neighbours and friends who o not come to church
34. Identify the mission needed in the area (e.g. drug problems)
Two groups of Narcotics Anonymous now use the church space for their meetings, around 40 or so strong for each group. Church members attended a 'listening course' to help listen to the problems of those coming into church from outside. Further work now needed in this area.
35. Encourage Tuesday fellowship (coffee morning) people to share church with others
Ongoing, although several members have attended church services as a result of coming to the coffee morning
36. Have a service at another time in the week - Sunday often blocked by football
Midweek services and Tuesday evening available. Also special events (like Lovesnacks on St Valentine's Day, Ascension Day etc) take place midweek.
37.Make church activities attractive to others
Church door always open and welcoming. 'Quiet Area' available with a bubbling water feature, prayer request cards and votive candles for those who wish to sit quietly to pray. Church 'sitters' always available to chat and 'put the kettle on' for visitors.
38. Sunday lunch club monthly open to all
Sunday lunch club now disbanded because the sad deaths of several of the club members over recent years has meant that the club is no longer viable.
39. Holiday club at Easter etc
Holiday club for children was done a few years ago, but this has yet to be achieved as a regular thing.
40. Involve brownies etc in a "thinking day" inviting them to morning service
Holiday club for children was done a few years ago, but this has yet to be achieved as a regular thing.
Brownies have attended some services but more work is needed here in order to make this a regular commitment both for the church and for the Brownies/Guides.

41. More services outside
Already achieved through the picnic services
42. Homegroups/inviting neighbours
'Second Monday' home group now well established. However, more work needs to be done in this area over the next two years.
43. Ask the people who don't come what they want at the new coffee centre in the HLC
Some questionnaires already been used but on a small scale. More work needs to be done in this area over the next two years.
44. More social groups - whist drive, quizzes etc
More social events have been planed and enjoyed. Joint social events (skittles evenings, beetle drives etc) have been enjoyed as joint events with our friends at St Peter and Paul church, Bleadon.