Our Vision for the Future
Our Vision for the Future
• To build on the Outreach of our existing Pastoral and Ministry and Mission teams.
• To develop our culture of open door and welcome.
• To introduce the growing younger objectives as laid out in our recent proposal.
• To channel the energy of our congregation to reach outside the confines of our church building.
• To develop small house groups to offer prayer, support, learning and encouragement to Church members.
• To strengthen our links with St Margaret’s School and other schools in the Parish.
• To work alongside other churches who share the same values.
• To make our presence known on the internet and use it to publicise who we are and what we offer.
• To continue to celebrate our unity and diversity, acknowledging the needs of all, whether they be young, old or somewhere in between.
• To develop more varied Worship whilst not losing sight of our traditions
Our Church Life
Ministry & Mission
• Prayer Link
• Visiting the sick and housebound at home, in care homes and in hospital
• Baptism preparation and support
• Youth ministry
• Welcome and outreach
• Bereavement support
• Home communions
Youth Group
Within the last year we have established a Youth Group at St Margaret’s. This group provides important fellowship opportunities for our young members of the congregation and choir. Recent events have included: movie nights; ice skating; bar-b-que events.
Bible Reading Fellowship
Members of the congregation are encouraged to take an annual subscription to the Bible Reading Fellowship’s Notes: ‘Guidelines’ or ‘New Daylight’. There are currently 20 subscribers from the congregation. The purchase and distribution of these booklets is organised by a member of the congregation.
Bookstall
The Bookstall is managed by a member of the congregation; it is stocked with paperback titles, on Christian themes, from Bible commentaries and books of prayers to biographies and children’s books. There is provision always to try to obtain any (religious) book as a specific request by any member of the congregation.
The Bookstall also sells greetings cards; it maintains a policy of stocking mainly cards containing a Christian message.
The Olton Messenger
The Olton Messenger is the parish magazine that has been in distribution since 1880. The monthly publication was a pivotal source of communication to the parish, keeping everyone informed on the build of St Margaret’s Church as well as making appeals for various funds like the Building fund and the Organ fund.
Choir
St Margaret`s Church has always benefited from a good musical tradition with currently a four part choir.