All other aspects of the plan, our mission and our worship grow out of these, informing our actions and activities. As a reflection of our mission the PCC committed St James’ to Inclusive Church in 2004.

The plan is kept under regular review by the clergy and churchwardens, and by the PCC. Progress against the plan is reviewed by the PCC.

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we are all baptised into one body, male and female, Jews and Greeks, Slaves and Free”
1 Corinthians 12

All people who respect one another and our church are welcome here, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities or economic circumstances.

For more than 140 years St James’ Church has lived for, prayed for and served our community in Hampton Hill and far beyond. Our Mission is God’s Mission. We are sent out to live God’s love in every part of our lives and so to bring healing, justice and compassion to all.

Our resources of people, buildings, money, time, intellect, imagination and energy help us in responding to God’s love. Our new building, designed to be completed during the lifespan of this Mission Action Plan will be crucial in furthering our work.

This page describes our focus for the next three years. Some work is new, some builds on our current activities. Read the story of how we have arrived at this point in our Mission Action Plan.

We aim to be a community committed to living in God’s love:
• Open for all
• Engaging with the world
• Growing in faith.

In order to do this we will:
• Help people grow closer to God
• Attract people to church
• Nurture spiritual growth

Open for All
• 9.00-12.00 daily Monday to Friday - come in, rest and pray
• Services at other times, e.g. early commuter communion
• Book club – a chance to talk about what you have read and why it matters to you
• Weekly ‘Lectionary’ study Group – exploring the bible readings further
• Concert series - visiting players, children and from our own resources
• Drop in for coffee
• Schools – we cherish their visits and need to provide appropriate material
• A quiet focus for your spirit

Engaging with the World
• Morning prayer – daily prayer for individual needs
• Supporting newcomers and those in particular need
• Ongoing prayer and action for God’s justice in the world (Christian Aid, Third World Debt Release, Fair Trade, Voluntary Care Group, The Upper Room for the vulnerable, CARA for those with HIV/AIDS)
• Focussed Study (e.g. Lent and Advent)
• Pastoral care in our community through our clergy and our trained visiting team

Growing in Faith
• Support for work with children and Young People
• Adult nurture – short term courses open to all
• Occasional offices – building on and following up the many baptisms, weddings and funerals which occur here
• Using Church’s Year – teaching through the cycle of the year
• Art/visual input – using the church’s space to display challenging art
• Other forms of worship – learning to participate in diverse styles of worship
• Spiritual development – encouraging Quiet Days, Retreats and Spiritual Direction
• Renewal through our social actions – integrating prayer, witness and action"

Source: Clergy and Churchwardens, The Spire Magazine - 2004 December