St James Presbyterian Church English Language Congregation

We encourage our people to express their faith in God, in the Community

Mission - Nurture - Encourage

The English language Congregation is of moderate size and is a close knit and welcoming community, welcoming visitors and those seeking to find or strengthen their relationship with God.

Mission Statement:

  Aim:
We encourage our people to express their faith in God in the Community

  We do this by:

• Nurturing and Encouraging Each Other

  We nurture and encourage each other

• through Christian Education programmes
  • where the needs of the parish are identified and monitored by Session
    • depending on the needs, programmes involving study groups, house groups and the like, will be established for appropriate groupings (age, interest, method etc)
  • which have a strong focus on Children's Ministry both in the morning worship and in Junior Church
    • Junior Church is generally for ages 3 years to teenage
    • Junior Church is a place for children to learn and have their needs for Christian education met.
    • Material suitable for Children and Youth is identified and used. As at June 1999, the material used is that published as "Seasons of the Spirit".
    • Junior Church is resourced to levels identified as appropriate.
    • Classes are structured in an appropriate manner for achievement.
  • which encourage group leaders through training, resource ideas and support of the Session
  • which provide opportunities for Profession of Faith
    • Enquiry classes shall be arranged as required.
• through providing fellowship opportunities by having
  • a cup of tea/coffee available following the morning service.
  • a "bring and share meal" held in the Church lounge or other venue within the Church premises on the first Sunday of the month.
  • other events of a social nature
• through communicating information regarding the activities and directions of the parish
  • a parish newsletter, "The Bush Telegraph" is published 11 times per year. The Newsletter is
    • distributed to those folk who indicate a continuing interest in the English language parish and its support
    • a format for the dissemination of information
    • an outreach to the community of St James
    • includes a broad spectrum of thought and news.
• Notices covering information of events for the coming weeks, are given each Sunday.
• by building on networks within the parish to encourage the dissemination of information.
• by publishing and updating a pamphlet regarding pastoral care within the parish
• by publishing a list of names, addresses and phone numbers of people associated with the English language Congregation
• by making available reports and publications of other organisations associated with the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes but is not restricted to
  • SPANz
  • Presbyterian Support Services
  • Presbyterian Savings and Development Society
  • Friends of Jaghadri
  • Christian World Service
• by providing resources that help people to develop their prayer-life