The Way Ahead

I am pleased to provide a further progress report on the Session strategy initiative “The Way Ahead”

 

Recap
To help achieve our mission “to grow as a worshipping, loving community actively seeking to bring others to Christ”, Session identified 4 priorities:  worship, young people, communications and pastoral care, all of which were areas of concern highlighted at the Mugdock conference on 30 August 2008.

 

Worship:  Colin Hepburn
Regular meetings are being held with good ideas for special services and family services.  There are plans for the introduction of drama and a third evening service was held in February.

 

Young People:  John McLean
The CoSY café is running well with 15-20 teenagers in regular attendance.  Sunday Club and Crèche are going well but all youth work needs additional support from adults.  Please speak to John if you can help.

Communications:  Clark Brown
With special thanks to Debbie and William, the website is now in operation and going well.  The communication Corner is under construction in the east transept of the church and will be fully operational in the near future.

 

Pastoral Care: Peter Carrotte

 

PASTORAL  CARE  AND LEADERSHIP  IN  BALFRON

On Saturday, 27th February, members of the Kirk Session and the Congregational Board held an “AwayDay” at the conference centre in Mugdock Park to consider all aspects of leadership and the pastoral care of our congregation. We are very much aware that over the last few years, especially since the introduction of cell groups, some of the traditional elders’ districts have become confused and we have slipped in our regular visiting of members. 

The day started with two formal presentations from invited speakers, both of which were excellent and provided a very good spiritual and pastoral basis for our discussions.  We worked in three groups and the conclusions of each group on our present strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and on the way we would like to move forward, were remarkably similar. There was a great feeling of excitement and achievement as we finished the day with Holy Communion.

The conclusions and recommendations of the group will now be written as formal proposals for approval by the Session and Board.  Once this has been done a full report of the way forward will be in the next Magazine. Watch this space!!

 

 

UPDATE  ON  “THE  WAY  AHEAD”

I am pleased to provide a further progress report on the Session strategy initiative “the Way Ahead”

Recap
To help achieve our mission “to grow as a worshipping, loving community actively seeking to bring others to Christ”, Session and Board had a further awayday meeting at Mugdock Country Park on 27th February where the emphasis was placed on how we could develop and improve our pastoral care activities.  After much debate the following action plan has been agreed.  To facilitate progress, a small team of Elsie Andrews, Jean Browning and Clark Brown has been set up and Margaret Sparkes has agreed to investigate and help with the training actions.

N.B.  If you would like to explore being a part of  the visiting team please speak to Elsie, Jean, Clark or Margaret.

Pastoral  Care  Action  Plan

Phase 1  Church Roll (completion by September 2010)

1   Bring Church Roll up to date.
2   Build pastoral visiting team (from Session, Board and
     congregation)
3   Allocate main roll members to ream (by discussion/agreement)
4   Communicate to congregation.

Phase 2  Training for visitors (ongoing but started by Sept/Oct 2010

1   Investigate training options with Presbytery
2   Plan and schedule training
3   Communicate to congregation

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Phase 3  Village Newcomers (started by October 2010)

1   Re-establish visiting team
2   Set up street contacts to supply information re new people.
3   Bring church welcome material up to date.
4   Communicate to congregation.