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Welcome!
What are the values and vision of St Mary’s?
At St Mary’s we hold to the core values that each one of us is made for and loved by God. Jesus’ death and resurrection shows us that we can be forgiven and given a new start. The Holy Spirit is God’s life in us, enabling us to show God’s love to the world. Our vision is that these values are expressed in practical ways, through our worship, learning together and reaching out to others.
Our Christian faith is central to all that we do, and the warmth of friendship along with our worship and shared activities reflect that.
How does St Mary’s welcome people?
We welcome everyone to our services and to our activities. Whether you are a new resident or a visitor, new to church or an occasional attender, we are delighted to have you with us. Over recent years we have been privileged to welcome many newcomers and you are warmly invited to become part of our community.
There is a Welcome Area set up just inside the main door of the church where members of our Welcome Team provide a range of information and offer a Welcome Pack covering details of services, activities and contact names and numbers. The pack also includes a card for you to complete so that we can get to know you better.
How can I get to know the church team?
Newcomers Teas are held three or four times a year so that new people may meet with the clergy, and other church leaders in the informal setting of members’ homes.
More generally, our system of ‘Church Links’ ensures that most of the roads in our neighbourhood have a member of the congregation ready to welcome newcomers, provide local community information and act as a point of contact with the church. If they have not already been in touch we can put you in contact with your Church Links team member.
How can I contribute to the ongoing work to support newcomers?
There is still a great deal to do in relation to how we identify and support newcomers and, currently, we are looking at new ways to achieve this. We welcome the experience of those coming from other churches to help us develop our welcoming strategy.