Mission Development Groups
Mission Development Groups came about because of the St Dunstan's Mission Action Plan, a three year plan to fulfil the strategic goals of our church. This plan was launched in October 2007.
At St Dunstan's, we have set up the following Mission Development Groups:
Saturdays at Six (S@S)
| Purpose of Group |
The group has kicked off and met twice. So far, we have put together a series on talks that we think the community would be interested in hearing about (e.g. the environment, treatment of indigenous people) and delivered about 1,000 leaflets to homes near the church. We have also built the St Dunstan’s web site.
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| Current Status |
The S@S group thinks about the Saturdays at Six congregation and how best it can reach out into the community and unchurched people in our local area. The group considers marketing & awareness, style of service, music, children’s ministries, and teaching themes.
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| Next Steps |
Further develop some of the marketing and advertising ideas we’ve had. Now that the web site is up and running, put some current content & ensure the site is maintained.
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For more information, please go to the
S@S congregation web page.
8:00am Congregation
More information coming soon. You can also go to the
8:00am congregation page.
9:30am Congregation
| Purpose of Group |
We are a group of parishioners who are passionate about the 9:30am Worship Service.
We meet to discuss the way in which our Worship Services run and to periodically reassess our efforts in maintaining the broad ranging appeal of our Service.
Of special interest to us is how best to reach out to the local community through our worship, teaching, children’s ministries, music, warmth, charity and the various marketing programmes of the same.
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| Current Status |
We have decided amongst others to involve our younger parishioners in more aspects of the service as we believe the youth of today are the future of the Church. We are also intent on maintaining a good balance between conservative and contemporary forms of worship, e.g. increasing usage of the projector in order to be environmentally friendly.
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| Next Steps |
To assist in setting up a creative space for our young parishioners and in updating and enhancing the Church website amongst others.
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For more information, please go to the
9:30am congregation page.
Children And Families
| Purpose of Group |
We have had a vibrant CYF (Children & Young Families) Ministry for some time now but the aim of our group is to expand on our strengths and move forward into different areas where we might expand our outreach and provide activities which can be relational and meaningful to both churched and non-churched families.
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| Current Status |
We have had three meetings since the start of the year. We meet monthly on usually the second Wednesday at 11.30am. Additionally members work together away from this meeting on projects which have been initiated. We plan Family Service content and other events like Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Mainly Music. Many of our activities link into other groups in our endeavour to reach a wider audience.
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| Next Steps |
mainly music was launched in July 2008. This is a huge initiative for our Ministry which will need ongoing prayer and support from the parish as we build in numbers. It is intended to be financially self-sufficient.
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For more information, please go to the
Children and Families page.
Social Activity & Fundraising
| Purpose of Group |
To arrange parish social and fundraising activities, strengthening our parish community by encouraging social involvement and help raise funds to meet financial strategies.
Other groups are also encouraged to become involved in these activities and have functions outside this group.
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| Current Status |
Haven’t had an 'official' meeting but communicated via email and have a list of suggestions which are being worked on. Would like to commence with a 'Book Fair' on 5th & 6th July. Concerted effort in getting more book supplies to make this work. Will serve tea, coffee and cake, with tables set up for people to sit and read if they wish. Money taken at the door so people can wonder between tables and pay as they leave.
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| Next Steps |
To progress the parish calendar to enable the dates to be confirmed. Once this is done, circulate the proposals and arrange the functions. Always open to other ideas and would like more people to be involved as this would make the task less daunting.
We'll need full parish support for group to be successful.
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For more information, please go to the
Social Activity & Fundraising page.
SEAM (Stewardship, Evangelism, And Mission)
| Purpose of Group |
To faithfully develop Giving amongst parishioners, so as to support the overheads of our church and Ministry and to contribute more to our evolving mission and evangelism projects.
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| Current Status |
The group has met several times. Six development goals and a Giving policy document have been developed. The group has also initiated and recently completed a pledge drive. During this four week program, members of the group including Paul Adams and Jan Fitzgerald presented homilies on Giving to all our scheduled services. The group has also researched various international mission projects and made a recommendation to Vestry for endorsement by the parish.
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| Next Steps |
Further progress will follow analysis of the recent pledge drive. It is also envisaged that a specific fund raising effort will be pursued to support our proposed international mission project.
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For more information, please go to the
SEAM page.
Pastoral Care
| Purpose of Group |
We want to set up simple and easy ways that we can help the community of St Dunstan’s show practical care to each other, and hopefully reach out to others in time. We recognise that while the members of our Church do a great deal, there is need for coordination, and there are times we may be missing both the practical needs of individuals and that others are not aware of what we can offer each other in practical terms.
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| Current Status |
We have begun by starting the St Dunstan's prayer tree. We felt that as we are stepping out in faith with these Mission Development Groups that it would be good to underpin our activities with prayer. Because pastoral care is such a big idea, we have decided to focus on 3 items. The prayer tree was the first. Second is a food bank and the third is to organise a list pf people who can help with driving, babysitting and other practical assistances to our community.
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| Next Steps |
Once the Prayer Tree is seen to be well established, we will begin the food bank, with the third task to begin soon after. Extra people willing to help are always welcome with open arms, of course!
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For more information, please go to the
Pastoral Care page.
