Our Vision - Life and Hope for All
The two words ‘life’ and ‘hope’ are important for Christians. These words and the ideas they communicate can be found throughout the Bible from the broad over-arching ‘salvation story’ to the detailed teaching of Jesus, Paul and others. They are foundational words for our mission to all in Jesus Christ. They will shape all that our churches will plan and do into the future.
Our Shared Vision and Mission
St James and St Edmund’s church council’s have agreed the following;
Our Vision: Inspired by Jesus, we are helping people live lives to the full, giving them hope for their future - ‘Life and Hope for all’.
Our Mission: United around a common vision of ‘Life and Hope for all’ and energised for mission, we will offer places of welcome and belonging for all ages and cultures, where people can explore life and seek God. We will do this by:
Helping people to become followers of Jesus Christ and to grow in their Christian
faith
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Nurturing leadership to match our vision
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Loving and supporting those in need, helping them to flourish
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Being an active voice for justice, peace and reconciliation
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Encouraging creative living and living that reflects care for our community and the planet
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Providing resources available to all in our community
We will commit to bring ‘life and hope’ to all in many different ways.
Hope for people
New life for new people.
We will tell God's story, our stories and tell of God’s promises. We will pray for people to find new life in Jesus Christ.
“I have come that they may have life to the full” Jesus words in John 10 verse 10.
Better lives for people who struggle. Hope for their futures.
We will do this through loving service, developing our relationships with people in our parishes, looking for ways to make new contacts and friends. We will offer pastoral care,
practical support, advice, friendship and encouragement to people in our communities.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13 verse 34
Hope for our communities
for Whalley Range, Moss Side and the other communities we support.
We will respond to God’s calling to loving service to all people in our parishes. We will be improving our buildings and facilities and working in partnership with community agencies who share our values.
“Love your neighbour as yourself”.
Matthew 22 verse 39
Hope for our planet
We will live well and carefully as part of our God-given environment. This will shape our thinking and our life together as Christians.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1 verse 31
Hope for our churches
We will work and pray for a missional Christian presence in our parishes into the future. We pray that God will bring new life and hope to our worshipping communities.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29 verse 11