Parish Profile - Home - The Diocese of Peterborough€¦ · Parish Profile Mission Statement God’s call to unity contains the promise of wholeness, healing and reconciliation.It

Parish Profile

Mission Statement

God’s call to unity contains the promise of wholeness, healing and reconciliation. It is for individuals, the church and the community.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to proclaim freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”. (Isaiah 61: 1-2)

November 2016

2 Emmanuel Group of Churches Profile

Welcome to Emmanuel Group of Churches

Welcome to the Emmanuel Group of Churches in Northampton. We are a group of 3 churches on the eastern side of Northampton which was born when the area was developed over 40 years ago as London overspill. The church was initially based in our building at Weston Favell Centre, but has now grown into three congregations in separate locations, Boothville, Rectory Farm and Emmanuel. The Emmanuel Group was made up of Anglicans, Methodists, Baptists and URC members but over the last 30 years we see ourselves working in a post-modern society as an ecumenical church with people of all Christian traditions, many of whom are not affiliated to any specific denomination. We have a joint team ministry which until recently consisted of an Anglican Team Rector, a Free Church minister (Methodist) and an Anglican Curate in training. The Free Church ministry alternates between Methodist and Baptist. It is important to understand that, as with our congregations, unity is key, and working collaboratively is vital within the ministry team. The three churches are all different, but we have a shared ministry and shared finances.

A Joint service held with all three congregations to say “Farewell” to our Team Rector


Contents

Emmanuel Group of Churches, Northampton

Welcome 2

Contents 3

Emmanuel Parish and Surrounding Area 4 - 5

Map of Parish 6

Vision and Mission 7

Outline of our three Congregations 7 - 10

Future Direction 10

Church Buildings 11-12

The Rectory 13

Sunday and Weekday Services 14

Other Services 15

Support Available 16

Youth and Children’s Work 17

Church Groups and Activities 18 - 19

Finance 20

Organisation 21

Person Specification for Team Rector 22

A Position for you? 22

Pat E

Prayer for the world on Remembrance Sunday at Emmanuel


Emmanuel Parish – Northampton East

Emmanuel Church is an Ecumenical Church in the Eastern District of Northampton. Northampton is in the East Midlands approx. 60 miles north of London. This area was developed as London overspill during the 1960’s and today comprises 16 housing estates and is known as Northampton East.

The Emmanuel Parish

The Parish has a population of over 34,000 people, split between owner-occupied, rented and social housing, almost all of which has been built over the last 50 years. There are several industrial estates adjoining the parish.

The housing estates built in the 60/70’s generally have local retail outlets; some have primary schools, takeaway food outlets and pubs. There are good bus services running to the Weston Favell Centre (WFC), and on into the town centre.

The three churches that make up our parish are: Emmanuel Church which forms part of the Weston Favell Shopping Centre; the church at Rectory Farm meets in the local primary school and Boothville Church meets in the local Community Hall.

Weston Favell Centre is a large Shopping Centre built 40 years ago to serve the east side of Northampton. At present it is undergoing a major refurbishment. The Centre contains a Tesco Extra superstore, many chain stores, eating places, banks, estate agents and library. These stores provide much needed employment in the area. Adjoining the Centre is Lings Forum, a sports complex, with a small cinema, a large medical centre and the Northampton Academy Secondary School.

Emmanuel Church forms a bridge over the Billing Brook Road joining the shops and community, including sports facilities and bus stops. Our Coffee Shop is a good meeting place for people to come for refreshment. We have a good working relationship with the Centre management and our curate is chaplain to the centre at present.

Character

Northampton East is very diverse with a good mix of ethnic groups; the varied types of housing mean that amongst the population are those with a variety of social needs. So although several of the estates have community centres and community associations, there is still much work to be done.

Schools & Education

Northampton East is well served with educational facilities. In the parish there are seven primary schools. In particular the Rectory is situated within walking distance of Boothville and The Arbours primary schools. The Weston Favell Academy and Northampton College of Further Education are also close by.

The Rectory Farm Church meets at Rectory Farm Primary and has a good working relationship with them. Our Youth and children’s worker is available in the playground on Monday lunchtimes and the ministers also lead some School assemblies.

Billing Brook School is for children with special needs, this is close to Emmanuel Church and from time to time they bring the children into our coffee shop.


There is a School Pastors scheme which our Free Church Minister and Youth workers are involved in along with members from other churches in Northampton East. They are available outside school premises at the Northampton Academy (Thursdays) and Weston Favell Academy (Fridays) after school as the young people are leaving the premises walking with them on the paths towards home, and at places where young people gather, like bus stops and the Weston Favell Centre.

Health Care

The Weston Favell Health Centre is close to Emmanuel church and this offers doctors, dentists, nurses, chemist, physio, and various other clinics. Other doctors and dental practices are at Woodview, Medical centre Thorplands, and Lumbertubs. We also have a large general Hospital in the centre of Northampton.

Other Churches in Emmanuel Parish

In the parish, close to Emmanuel we have a Salvation Army Citadel, a Catholic Church and the Storehouse Church. We have worked closely with these churches on outreach in the shopping Centre at Christmas and Easter, sometimes using an empty shop unit. These churches, along with St Peters Church Weston Favell also help staff the Food Bank which operates from Emmanuel on Wednesday mornings. Once a month we hold a joint early Morning Prayer meeting with them to pray for the people we seek to serve.

There are also several other small churches that meet within the parish.

We have an arrangement for our Rector to hold marriages at Anglican churches in adjoining parishes.

Several Afro-Caribbean churches also hire our premises at Emmanuel.

Entrance to Emmanuel Church Office and Coffee Shop


Emmanuel Parish – Northampton East Map


Vision and Mission

We understand the vision of Isaiah 61, affirmed by Jesus at the start of His mission, to be highly significant in working out mission in our neighbourhood and the world.

It is our prayer that we may both be and become: A ‘home’ for the community whether or not they have come to Christian faith.

A healing community within which faith, hope, love and truth may be discovered.

A family within which forgiveness may be both received and given.

A mission centre for those who will be salt and light in neighbourhood, nation and world.

A church within which: - The Father-heart of God may be known - The love of Jesus may be discovered. - The power of the Holy Spirit may be experienced as people

grow to maturity in Christ.

Emmanuel is an open Evangelical Church We expect and encourage people who belong to Emmanuel Group, as “members” to:

Have made a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ through confirmation or believer’s baptism or equivalent from another tradition.

Hold and express a commitment to grow in faith and a willingness to change, with God’s help, to become more like Jesus. This through regular attendance at worship, personal prayer & Bible study, where possible to belong to a house group…

Honour God through the sacrificial giving of our money: we encourage people to tithe – a tithe being 1/10th of income.

Serve God and each other with the spiritual gifts and the abilities God has given to us.

We hold these values in common as foundational to playing an active part in the Church, the body of Christ.

Outline of our three Congregations

Emmanuel Group

Emmanuel is a local ecumenical partnership of three congregations sponsored by the Anglican,

Methodist and Baptist churches. The congregations are made up of people from a wide variety of

denominations and ethnic backgrounds.

Emmanuel – Church Services

10:30am – Morning Worship. The church has a mixture of people and denominations; usually there

are people from at least 10 countries and five denominations as well as people who don’t feel any

particular denominational affiliation.

At 10:30 am we have a variety of Worship styles depending on the Sunday of the month.


1st & 3rd Sunday include a sermon & Communion, with BLAST for the children.

2nd Sunday is what we call 'iPraise' – everyone worshipping together with a mix of interactive, visual, drama elements as well as music, prayers etc.

4th Sunday is 'Café Church' – we sit round small tables with cakes and refreshments during the service. People share more in conversation, thoughts and prayers at tables, as well as being led from the front.

Our “Prospects” group is for special needs adults, who are assisted during church services and have their own worship on the 3rd Sunday of the month. This has now come to include their carers who have been drawn to faith.

On Wednesdays, following Food Bank, at 1.30pm there is a Holy Communion Service.

A well-attended Messy Church is held once a month on a Saturday morning in the sports hall.

Being part of the Weston Favell Shopping Centre we see the Centre as our High Street. We have a good relationship with the management who sometimes allow us to use vacant shop units for outreach; for example Experience Easter and Experience Christmas.

The Church building is fully utilised for a variety of ministries and outreach. The rooms are hired out to other churches and community groups including ethnic welfare groups. Our Office suite offers photocopying and fax facilities to the general public, as well as receiving donations and distribution for Food Bank. We also act as a collection point for Baby Basics.

The focus of our weekday church is based around the Coffee Shop which is open to the public from 10.00 – 2.00 Monday to Friday. Our Coffee Shop is a safe haven for customers as well as volunteers, including a number with learning difficulties.

Boothville Community Church

Boothville is a church plant from Emmanuel, and was set up over twenty years ago. The congregation meets in the Boothville Community Centre each Sunday at 10.30 a.m. The monthly pattern of worship is, two services of Holy Communion & two of Morning Worship. On a fifth Sunday, generally, members of the congregation lead and take part in the service. Much of the planning for the church is done over lunch – every couple of months, we meet after the Sunday morning service and then share lunch together.

At Festivals, extra events are put on:

Christmas – a Carol Service, a midnight Communion on Christmas Eve, and a Celebration Service on Christmas Day

Good Friday - an Act of Witness

Easter – breakfast precedes the service

Harvest – either a Harvest Supper on Saturday, or a Harvest lunch after the Sunday service


Remembrance Sunday – the Act of Remembrance takes place in public, on the nearby green (see picture)

There is lay involvement in worship with an experienced & reliable organist, readers of lessons, people to lead intercessions and communion assistants.

We have one house group that meets in the afternoon.

Members support:

Street Church, including helping prepare food & making/obtaining clothing for those who attend Street Church.

Christian Aid: the number of house-to-house collectors has reduced, but in 2016 £760 was sent.

The Hope Centre – which helps provide for the homeless & destitute

Action for children

The church is keen to develop links with the local community. In 2016, afternoon teas were served to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. The local community was invited and over 80 people attended. A quiz was held which attracted around 70 people, most of whom are not regular churchgoers. Boothville Community Choir (not a church organisation) has a number of church members.

Rectory Farm Community Church

The church meets in Rectory Farm Primary School and aims to be a family in that everyone belongs and is important. The church is committed to growth – growth in our relationship with God, growth in relationships with each other, and growth in numbers. The church is actively involved in the local community.

As a congregation we came together to discuss various aspects of our Church-life, worship and service to the community. Everyone was encouraged to contribute anonymously, and responses were considered and discussed in small groups too. We all felt that what came out of this exercise was a much clearer idea of who we are, as a church, and where we want to go.


There was a strong feeling that we are a diverse, welcoming and supportive family, with many people citing our fellowship and support as reasons they look forward to coming to Church on a Sunday, alongside worship, prayer and deepening our relationship with God. The limited number of active volunteers is seen as a challenge, but one we feel we can rise to meet by working with, and encouraging, our less confident members, and exploring the hidden strengths within our midst. Looking further ahead, we have an almost universal desire to encourage more people in their teens and young adults, and to help them move towards fuller roles within the Church as young

leaders, through mentoring and discipleship programmes. This is matched by our feeling that we need to increase our work within and for the local community, and we look forward to building on our recent successes at every opportunity.

Find out more on our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/167456154914/

Future Direction Each of the three congregations has had a vision review and put together a Growth Action Plan – Boothville in 2015, Emmanuel and Rectory Farm earlier this year. Each congregation has made good progress already and each focussing on their different contexts, with plenty more to do. Issues include outreach and engagement with the community - including schools, worship, teaching and a desire to grow, and vision for new buildings.

In the Emmanuel Group as a whole, we are looking to encourage a culture of prayer, for prayer to be part of every meeting and activity, at every level of church life.

We want to help everyone grow in their faith and discipleship of Christ with regular teaching in services and house-groups. With this in mind, we are making plans to follow the “Jesus Shaped People” whole-church programme in 2017. As part of this we hope that evangelism will become more of a lifestyle and expectation of being part of our Church community, that we more naturally tell others about life with Jesus.

We are also aiming to improve the structure and pattern of meetings to better share the current heavy workload on the few, to develop further lay leadership, the clergy oversight role, to share vision more openly and to involve everyone in the life and work of the church. Work is under way to bring together our family and youth work, adding Parish Nursing and a Care co-ordinator in a “Community Care centre”.

The Free Church Methodist Minister is due to move on in September 2018 and according to our Constitution, the next Free Church Minister should be a Baptist Minister. We have started to explore the issues around this so that if possible we can achieve continuity.

Our prayer is that we seek ways to bring more people from this parish to come to know the love of God. There are several areas on the outskirts of the parish which are being developed at present which offer new opportunities to the church.


Church Buildings

Emmanuel Church, comprising rooms on three levels, and forming part of the Weston Favell shopping centre, was leased for 130 years in 1973 by Shared Churches Northampton Ltd. The church was built through the Northampton Development Corporation but over the years there have been several different owners of the Centre. We do not pay rent to the landlords, but we are responsible for our own repairs/improvements. All work undertaken has to be approved by the WFC management. There are two main entrances to Emmanuel, one being on the ground floor level on the Billing Brook Road by the bus stop, and one on the “shop” level, either into the Coffee Shop or the Church offices. The top floor comprises a large sports hall, youth room, coffee shop, prayer room, several church offices, toilets and coffee shop stores. There is a lift to the lower floors. The sports hall forms a “Bridge” over the road below. The middle floor is used as the main worship area. This comprises a large worship area with stage, and a chapel area with sliding screens to enlarge the main hall. The chapel has an open baptistry. There is a smaller lounge area which again can be opened into the chapel. When all the area is open we can accommodate approx. 130+ people. There is also a small vestry and a large walk in cleaner/maintenance cupboard. The ground floor has an entrance hall, disabled toilet, and a Family Room which can sit about 30 people. This room is below street level and can be reached by six stairs or by a wheelchair lift. There is no churchyard or grounds to the church. We do have six allocated parking spaces, but generally cars are parked in the Weston Favell Centre. We had a quinquennial inspection at Emmanuel on 1st September 2016 and the report is still pending.


Boothville Community Church Boothville have the use of Boothville Hall, the local community Centre, all day on Sundays. They are allocated funds to cover cost of hiring. Some members of the congregation are members of Boothville Community Council who oversee the hall.

Rectory Farm

Rectory Farm use Rectory Farm Primary School for their morning Service.

Again they are allocated funds to cover the cost.

Our church banner displayed on the school

fence.

Children at Rectory Farm taking part in the morning worship.


The Rectory – 13 Booth Lane North.

The Rectory in Booth Lane North is situated about 100 yards from the Boothville Community Hall where our congregation meet. The Property offers:- Downstairs, Hall leading to: Study, Downstairs toilet, Sitting room, Family room with patio doors onto garden, Kitchen and Utility room. Upstairs: 3 double sized bedrooms, 1 single bedroom, bathroom with toilet bath and basin, large wet-room with shower, toilet and basin. All bedrooms have built-in wardrobes. Access to 2 very large lofts.

Outside: Double length garage, side gate into private back garden, shed, lawn, roses and 3 fruit trees and surrounded by hedges. Front garden, lawn and roses, some privacy from shrubs and parking for 3 cars.


Sunday and Weekday Services

The Worship Style in all three congregations is relaxed with leanings towards Free Church style services. The Communion services use liturgy, either Anglican or Methodist/Baptist. We use a laptop and projector with SongPro or Power Point for worship songs, readings and liturgy at Rectory Farm and Emmanuel. If no musician is available we use suitable recordings including YouTube to worship. We rarely use robes, apart from occasional special services.

Our church Pastoral Rolls shows 120 people, (all members and adherents) and our Electoral Roll 53 Anglicans . Most people live fairly close to the church although some live in adjoining parishes.

Monthly Service Structure

Date EMMANUEL

10.30 am

BOOTHVILLE

10.30 am

RECTORY FARM

10.30 am

YOUTH GROUPS

10.30 am

First Sunday

Communion

+ BLAST

(Junior Church)

Morning Worship

+ GRUNCH

Praise & Prayer

All Age

Rectory Farm Praise & Prayer

Emmanuel Own Group

Second Sunday

iPraise (All age)

Evening Worship

Communion Morning Worship

& Junior Church

Rectory Farm

Own Group

Third Sunday

Communion

+ BLAST

Morning Worship All Age Praise

& Prayer

Rectory Farm & Emmanuel

At McDonalds

Fourth Sunday

Café Church

All Age

Communion Communion

+ Junior Church

Evening Youth Service

7-9 pm at Emmanuel Last Sunday

Morning Worship

Morning Worship Morning Worship Own Groups

Wednesday 1.30 pm

Communion

First

Saturday

Messy Church

10.30 – 12.30

Average Service attendance in October 2016 Children &

Youth (0 – 16 yrs)

Adults Totals

Emmanuel 10.30 am 12 45 57

Boothville 10.30 am 0 27 27

Rectory Farm 10:30am 12 20 32


Other Services

Messy Church: Our Messy Church started in April 2014. It meets monthly on the 1st Saturday of each month between 10:30 and 12:30. We start with crafts for the first hour, followed by a short time of worship and then a hot meal. There are usually a mixed bunch of about 30 people on any one. Some have never been to church before, some who also go to other churches and then people from the Emmanuel Group. Each month we are blessed with different people coming to try Messy Church. It is a real privilege to be part of the Messy Church philosophy and we are very excited about God’s plans for it.

Wednesday Communion: This takes place each week at 1.30pm following the Food Bank opening. There are about 12 people who attend and this is very much needed after volunteers have come alongside the hungry.

Joint Confirmation/Believers Baptism Services: From time to time we hold joint Confirmation/Believers Baptism Services for the Group. We encourage people to be jointly confirmed by the Bishop and the Methodist Minister but they can choose a single denomination if they wish (nearly everyone chooses joint!). People can also be baptised by total immersion or Christened. Immersion is usually jointly by the Rector and the Free Church Minister. Unless they specify otherwise new members have a shared membership of each denomination.

Baptism or Dedication for younger children take place in our morning services and we encourage families to join us at worship for a couple of months to get to know us and we them, before committing to the Christening/Dedication. We occasionally hold additional services for families from the parish.

Weddings and Funerals: We hold very few weddings at Emmanuel due to the unusual structure of our building. We have arrangements to hold weddings at some of the surrounding parish churches.

Outreach at Christmas and Easter It has been our practice to take the church out into the Weston Favell Centre at Christmas and Easter. Sometimes using a free shop unit, or on various Christmas parades. We are usually joined by members from the Salvation Army, The Sacred Heart RC Church and Storehouse church


Last year we took part in a “Flash Mob” with carols and Nativity. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgfzlF0-Ygk).

One of the Clergy Team led the WF Centre in an act of Remembrance on Armistice Day.

At Easter we distribute palm crosses to the shoppers on Good Friday.

We often have local schools visit, and usually have a Scouts Carol Service in December.

Support Available

At the Emmanuel Group we offer a highly intense front line experience for learning on the job. We are fortunate in that we have a number of very able assistants.

Ministry Team

Rector: Vacant

Free Church Minister – at present Methodist

Assistant Curate

2 Retired Clergy – 1 Anglican, 1 Baptist

3 x Licensed Readers

2 Lay Preachers – Baptist

1 Licensed Evangelist

1 Reader in Training

And each congregation has a team of Lay Leaders

Youth Work

Part time Youth worker - funded

Apprentice Youth worker – 1 year – Diocesan Scheme.

Part time Children’s worker – funded

Administration

Church Administrator - Tuesday – Friday 9.00 – 4.00

Church Office open – Monday – Friday 10.00 – 2.00 staffed by volunteers. Offering photocopying and fax facilities to the general public as well as receiving and distribution of food via Food Bank. We also act as a collection point for Baby Basics and shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s purse)

2 x Church Wardens


Baptist Secretary

Methodist Steward

Cleaning

Cleaner (part-time) & Saturday assistant

Coffee Shop

Coffee Shop Manager

Coffee Shop Cook

Coffee Shop Volunteers

People are encouraged to attend appropriate training eg. Bishops Bible Day. Safeguarding training etc.

We can draw on the resources of all of our denominations.

Remembrance Sunday at Emmanuel

Youth and Children’s Work

Children’s Work

At Emmanuel our junior church is called BLAST. This normally meets on a fortnightly cycle, and is run by our children’s leaders and helpers. On the alternate Sundays children join in the all age worship. A similar pattern also applies at Rectory Farm. There is provision for very young children in the lounge area adjoining the worship area if needed.

Family Tots at Emmanuel provides a relaxed atmosphere and safe play where adults, toddlers and babies can enjoy meeting. We aim to help them to make friends and develop social skills. We have two sessions every Wednesday and offer play, craftwork, drinks and snacks, singing and music. At Christmas we hold a short Carol Service and Christmas party.

Youth Work across the three congregations

JAMOUT runs during term time. This is a weekly Christian youth group for Secondary School children held on the top deck of Emmanuel 7-9pm. We have testimonies, film nights; munch (food and fellowship) group discussions, games nights and social events.

Bible study is a fortnightly session at the home of the Youth Worker, for those aged 14+.

Rzone runs during term time. It is a free youth group for children aged 8 – 13. This runs on Friday from 5pm until 6pm at the Rectory Farm Community Centre.

SAFE is a free Youth Drop-in which runs on Monday evening from 7:00-9:00pm at Emmanuel.

Sunday youth groups - Secondary School age

Emmanuel - 1st wk - Group in the Youth Room

2nd wk - ipraise @ Emmanuel

3rd wk - McDonalds 10:30 - 12pm

4th wk - Youth Service @ Emmanuel 7-9pm


5th wk - no groups

Rectory Farm - 1st wk - Prayer and Praise service

2nd wk - Group

3rd wk - McDonalds 10:30 - 12pm

4th wk - Youth Service @ Emmanuel 7-9pm

5th wk - no groups

Soul Survivor Saturday Celebrations – we encourage our young people to come to these celebrations which are usually monthly. 2016/17 dates as follows:

22nd October, 26th November, 11th February, 6th May, 3rd June

We also take the different age groups to Annual Youth Events, SPREE and Soul Survivor.

Church Groups and Activities

Emmanuel Church - Morning Prayers – 9.30am Monday to Friday

Group meetings – weekly

Monday

Prayer group - Emmanuel 7.30 - 9.00pm

SAFE - Youth Group for secondary school age Emmanuel 7.00 - 9.00pm

Wednesday

Family Tots Emmanuel 9.45 - 11.30am

Family Tots (session 2) Emmanuel 12.00 - 1.30pm

Friendship Circle Emmanuel (fortnightly) 1.45pm

Friday

R-Zone Youth club 8 - 13 years R.F Community Centre 5 - 6.00pm (term time only)

JAMOUT Christian Youth Group - Emmanuel 7 - 9.00pm (term time only)

Group meetings – Fortnightly

Emmanuel House Groups meet at various times & venues during the week. There are two daytime groups and 6 evening groups meeting in homes across the Parish. They all meet in the same week so that church meetings can be fixed for the intervening weeks. We usually bring all the groups together for a joint Lent Course at Emmanuel. Occasionally we have a house group social.

Rectory Farm currently run 3 house-groups including men’s breakfast and Boothville run an afternoon Bible study.

Group meetings – monthly

Emmanuel Group - Men’s Fellowship Breakfast 2nd Saturday of each month, 8.00 - 10.00am

Emmanuel FM – Monthly lunch group for Men 12.00 at local eating place


Emmanuel Group – Pie & Pint at local pub 1st Thursday of Month (men’s group)

Emmanuel Group – Women & Wine – 4th week of month at a local pub (women’s group)

Bible Study – 1st Friday of the month 7.30pm at Emmanuel

Coffee Shop

Emmanuel Coffee Shop is open 10.00 – 2.00 Monday to Friday. We have a paid manager and a paid cook. Other jobs in the coffee shop are carried out by volunteers, many of whom have special needs. The coffee shop operates as a Social Enterprise Project and is run by a management committee who are the trustees. We try to keep prices low so that all can be welcomed. We offer hot and cold drinks, soup, light lunches and home-made cakes. There is also a children’s play corner. We try to offer a friendly welcome to all and a listening ear to those in need, and try to have people around to offer support. The Coffee Shop is a very bustling place with people coming and going, and taking time along the way to relax a few minutes with a cuppa.

Pastoral care Each congregation organises the pastoral support for their members. There is a small pastoral care team who visit the sick and the housebound regularly for the first time, The clergy, or the pastoral team, take communion out to members as needed.

B.E.R.T is our monthly Magazine (Boothville, Emmanuel & Rectory Farm Times). This is published 10 times each year and available on the last Sunday of the month. The clergy take turns in writing the main front cover article. It also contains a service plan for the month. B.E.R.T. is also available online at our website – www.emmanuelgroup.org.uk

Overseas links: One of our church members works for World Horizons, based in Wales and we offer financial support to her on a regular basis from our Tithe Fund.

Over the last 40 years we have had a very close link with the Anglican Church in Zululand, and have distributed palm crosses from them to churches all over Britain, for use on Palm Sunday. Unfortunately this year the charity, called Zulem Trust, has been wound up. Over the years we have been able to send approx. £750,000 to pay the palm cross makers and support the church and those in need in Nongoma in Zululand.

Volunteers Everyone is encouraged to get involved with one of our teams; we have a monthly rota for stewards/welcomers, flower arrangers, readers, computer/pa operators, communion stewards, Sunday coffee servers and chair arrangers. We also use volunteers in our Coffee Shop and the Church office.

Foodbank has been operating under the banner of Trussell Trust Spencer Bridge Food Bank since October 2015. Open for 2 hours on a Wednesday we regularly see between 6 -12 people each session, offering referral vouchers, a listening ear, refreshments in the coffee shop whilst food parcels are sorted. It is staffed by people from the Emmanuel Group, St Peters Church & Storehouse Church and is well supported by the local community with donations. We have a benevolent fund which was started due to members of the public giving cash donations specifically for Food Bank. The fund works alongside Food Bank giving us the means to go the extra mile e.g.

http://www.emmanuelgroup.org/


gas & electric top ups, children’s birthday cakes & baby formula milk among some of the things purchased.

Baby Basics Emmanuel Office also operates as a collection point for items for Baby Basics. This is a local charity run by members of Grange Park Church. This charity donates Moses Baskets full of essential needs for new born babies to needy parents. Many are given out via the local Women’s refuge.

Finance

Finances at the Emmanuel Group operate as one purse. All giving from the three congregations

goes towards denominational costs, building rental, utilities, salaries etc.

The Emmanuel Group Treasurer is supported by an Assistant Treasurer and Gift Aid

Secretary who all form part of the Emmanuel Group of Churches Finance Team. This

group meets on a quarterly basis or as needed.

In 2015 93.74% of our requested Parish Share payment was made. To date (November

end 2016), 100% of our requested payment has been made.

Clergy expenses as submitted have been paid in full.

The clergy regularly preach on Giving. 77 people are signed up for planned giving, either

by envelopes or BACS transfers. 91.72% of our giving income comes from this source.

10% of our Giving and Donations

income goes into our Tithe Fund.

£9500 has been allocated for

distribution in 2016. These funds are

split into Local, National and

international.

We support Baptist Home Mission, BMS World Mission, Diocesan Mission Fund, Methodist Overseas Mission, School Pastors, Street Pastors and other organisations.


Our reserve policy is to hold the equivalent of 2 months’ outgoings in our General Fund.

We are currently in the process of appointing a Community Care Co-Ordinator and Parish

Nurse funded by grants from the Diocese.

Our Annual Accounts are posted on the Charity Commission Website, Emmanuel Group

of Churches, Charity number: 1140504.

Our 2016 budget is:

Income: £165,120

incl. overall giving £90,400

Expenditure £168,200

Organisation


We are aiming for this as a church organisational structure

Currently we have the following groups and teams:

Group Council - at least two members from each congregation, all clergy, church administrator and treasurer.

Finance Team – Clergy, treasurer, assistant treasurer, gift aid secretary, wages/pensions clerk, and treasurers from Boothville and Rectory Farm.

Constitutional Council – Clergy, 2 church wardens, 2 Methodists, 2 Baptists, 2 Shared Membership, reps also co-opted to ensure representation from Boothville and Rectory Farm.

Congregational Meetings – held 3 times a year at all three congregations.

Anglican PCC & Free Church Meetings are usually held once a year, prior to the AGM to deal with any denominational matters and to elect members of external committees.

Group Annual General Meeting – All congregation members, usually held in April/May.

Safeguarding The Safeguarding Coordinator is responsible for all three churches with the support of the Ministry Team. Responsibilities include ensuring all necessary DBS checks are done and volunteers’ training is current, reviewing and implementing our Safeguarding Policy and liaising with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer with regard to the people on contract and other issues that often arise. It is also important to ensure that all the activities in the church are appropriate and well managed and that any outside groups renting rooms have an appropriate safeguarding policy in place and understand what their responsibilities are. The Safeguarding Coordinator is expected to keep his/her training up-to-date.

Person Specification for Team Rector


We are looking for an open evangelical, who would be enthused by working in an ecumenical setting, within a church which has a wide variety of theological and cultural backgrounds. As the biggest (by population) parish within Peterborough Diocese, it contains areas of high social deprivation as well as areas of above average affluence.

You will be working in a small team, with ministers from other traditions and a large lay leadership, including Readers and Baptist lay preachers. It is important to understand that, as with our congregations, unity is key and working collaboratively is vital within the ministry team. Therefore, it would be an advantage if the applicant had experience of, and enthusiasm for, working in an ecumenical setting.

When asked what they wanted from a new minister some of the following quotes were collected from members of the congregation:

Somebody who will:

“Listen to the views of all, aiming for a clear view of the future”

“Hold the church and community before God”.

“Be seen heading up, gluing together all”.

“Shepherd everyone in the right direction”.

“Tactful leadership, Shepherd the shepherds”

It is envisaged that from a strong biblical and faith base, the successful applicant will be able to lead, teach and encourage all who come into contact with Emmanuel, in their journey of faith.

A position for you?

If you feel that God is calling you to this vacancy, or you want to find out more information then please contact:- The Archdeacon of Northampton, The Venerable Richard Ormston, Contact Secretary to the Archdeacon, Mrs Cheryl Goddard 11 the Drive, Northampton NN1 4RZ Tel: 01604 714015 Email: [email protected]

For more information on Emmanuel Group of Churches

visit the church website: www.emmanuelgroup.org

Download a copy of B.E.R.T – The monthly magazine of the Emmanuel Group of Churches

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.emmanuelgroup.org/

Documents

Parish Profile - Home - The Diocese of Peterborough€¦ · Parish Profile Mission Statement God’s call to unity contains the promise of wholeness, healing and reconciliation.It