feb 07c

Holytown linked with New Stevenston: Wrangholm

1. Coming to terms with history

The Interim Ministry shall:

- Offer an opportunity for the congregations to safely explore feelings of uncertainty, frustration, confusion and anger.

- Help the folk in both congregations to reflect prayerfully on recent ministries.

- Enable the congregations to come to terms with the lack of continuity and direction which they have sensed in recent months.

- Help the two congregations to understand what it means to be linked.

2. Discovering a New Identity

The Interim Ministry shall:

- Explore ways of encouraging young people and bujlding on the strengths of youth organisations in the congregations.

- Help the congregations to begin an audit of community needs.

- Help members to grow and commit themselves to the future.

- Allow the congregations to engage appropriately with new housing in the parishes.

- Work to build a vibrant congregation relevant to the community, using location to the best advantage.

- Develop the potential use of the new hall in Holytown for outreach.

- Help the congregations to reflect on the expectations they have of a minister in today's world.

- Build on the sense of openness apparent in the Aims and Objectives meeting.

3. Transitional changes

The Interim Ministry shall:

- Work with the two congregations in planning a way forward as a linked charge.
- Move towards establishing a stable base for the future.
- Explore the worship of the congregation including appropriate new ways.
- Facilitate the development of strategies for mission and stewardship.
- Establish meaningful systems of pastoral care.
- Identify the resource of skills and gifts and use them in the life of the church.

4. The wider Church

The Interim Ministry shall:

- Affirm the help given by the wider Church on the rebuilding of the Holytown Church Hall.

- Further build on recent positive developments in the relationship with the Presbytery.

5. Planning for the future

The Interim Ministry shall:

- Aim to develop links with the local schools.
- Build community within the memberships of the two congregations.
- Develop links between the two congregations

Winston Churchill described Russia as "A riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma." That's appropriate to describe the Incarnation also.

John Bartlett, Bartlett's Familiar Quotations