Strategy For The Marshfield Benefice

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain (Psalm 127:1)

The churches of the Marshfield Benefice agree in principle the following priorities:

1. PRAYER: Lord, teach us to pray … (Luke 11:1)

Prayer is the bedrock of the Christian life and our principal means of communication with our heavenly Father. It should already part of our Christian life (personal devotions, services, weekly prayer meeting) but we need to learn to pray more.

AIM: Establish a prayer diary to help to give greater coherence to our prayer life together.

2. FELLOWSHIP: As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34)

As Christians we are united in Jesus Christ. We need to deepen our sense of community and fellowship. This will in turn encourage our corporate life, deepen our faith and attract others.

AIM: Organise events and groups where people can get to know each other.

3. MINISTRY: We all have different gifts, according to the grace given us (Romans 12:6)

Christians have the Holy Spirit within each of us to empower us for the service of Christ. We need to enable the use of the God given gifts and talents of our church members so that the church can function to its full potential.

AIM: Encourage more people to become involved in church life, services and pastoral care.

4. BENEFICE: Although we are four distinct parishes the role of the benefice is important in providing mutual support and strengthening the congregations.

AIM: Encourage more frequent joint services and people to attend them.

5. CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE: We have begun the process of providing groups for children and are seeking to make them an integral part of church life.

AIM: Review, and improve upon, what we already do.

Please Note: This is the initial version agreed in 2005. It will be reviewed over the next few months.