Early Sunday

Sharing our prayer needs during the service enables us to support one another in prayer. We now serve refreshments after the worship every Sunday and encourage people to stay and chat. In the new Sunday morning program this will be extended to a simple shared breakfast.

We plan to meet together for an evening in someone's home a few times each year, to relax and talk together.

Mid-morning

Ensuring that everyone is cared for within a large community is a challenge. Mutual care works most effectively for those who are involved in the numerous formal and informal groups and groupings within the church community. We need to work towards greater mutual care, especially for those who are new to, or isolated within our church.

Liz Sands, in her role as a Pastoral Assistant, is seeking to encourage and develop informal groupings within which people will know and support each other. The links between these networks and the ministry of the Welcome Team will need continuing attention.

Brenda Thomas, in her role as a Pastoral Assistant, takes Holy Communion to those who are unable to come to church. She also hosts monthly Sunday lunches in the church to bring together members of our community.

Late Morning

We have resolved to contact one another if we notice that someone has not been around for a few (3 to 5) weeks, and understand that this is a responsibility that we all share. We are getting into the practice of keeping one another's phone numbers. We have started having lunch together after our worship, once a month, and would like to get together from time to time to learn something together.

Sunday Evening

Within what is currently a small worshipping community, it is not difficult to get to know one another and to offer practical support and care.

Godspace

Because Godspace is small and more intimate we know more about each other, and so can care and pray for each other naturally. It is difficult to get the right balance between caring and intruding by ringing up people who have not come. All of us should be responsible for follow up, especially whoever knows the person best. We will put together and share a list of one another's phone numbers.

Overall

We will continue to support and encourage the many existing groups and organisations within which members of St John's care for one another. We recognise that it is better to nurture these networks of care, and that they should not be too tightly organised. Tony Sheffield is currently planning to set up a programme of events specifically for the men within and around our church community