Community

Mission

Local Mission/Outreach

We have a significant number of Occasional Offices and see these as a way of making contact with our community. Last year the numbers were:

40 Baptisms

15 Weddings

27 Funerals (in church)

 Laity are very much involved in the Baptism Preparation course which is held one evening. At present laity are not involved in Marriage Preparation or Bereavement ministry I but we are looking for training in these areas over the next 12 months.

There are a number who are keen to become Servers and training is in progress. Laity take communion to the housebound and the elderly and local care homes. Special services are also held at the care home in Cubbington -namely Easter, Harvest and Christmas.

As we see the Occasional Offices as part of our mission, we believe it right to operate an open baptism policy and the PCC have agreed in principle that divorced people can be married at St Mary's.

Older members of the congregation are establishing an outreach initiative to young people by providing coffee and a listening ear. This is referred to as 'Granny Watch'. Members of the congregation distribute gifts from the harvest services to those in need and the local care home.

Overseas Links/Christian Outreach

We have supported Chris and Mary Cheals through the C.M.S. who worked in Pakistan until the shooting there. We also have links with Jean and Michael Hadley who have been working for the last year in South Africa on "Gods Little Acre" helping families who have AIDS together with two Action Aid children.

Members of the congregation co-ordinate door to door collections during Christian Aid week and this is carried out by a combined volunteer force from St Mary's and the local Methodist Church.

Proceeds from the Christingle Service are sent to support the work of the Children's Society.

Last year our congregation filled a number of shoe boxes for the Samaritans Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeal.

Links with local Schools

The church has very strong links with Cubbington C of E Combined School. The vicar would be expected to take assembly and distribute palm crosses to all the children. The school participates in special services at Christmas, Easter and Harvest.

The church finances the purchase of books for children entering the reception class and the final year children moving to secondary school.

Parish Social Life & Activities

Our main social and fund-raising events take place in the village hall and these include summer and Christmas Fayres and the Harvest Luncheon. In addition the choir organises other fund-raising events.

We have a strong Ladies Fellowship which meets once a month and has a varied programme of activities. Links have been forged with the Union of Catholic Mothers at St. Peter's Church in Leamington Spa.

We have an active Mother's Union, which holds events on a regular basis. With over 40 members it is the largest in the Deanery.
 

Update on Youth Outreach

By March 2008, grants will have been raised by the Parish Council to build a log cabin type of building which is fire retardant on the site of the old building. The plans are approved and the builder engaged to start work on 31st March complete in May and the building will open on 1st June.

It will be called the Cliff Cleaver Community Pavilion in honour of a man who has served the village and the church faithfully for so long. It is hoped eventually it will be available to all ages, but to start with it will offer youngsters safe and loving environment where they can met friends and chat. They will be able to "chill out" without being organised.

Refreshments will be provided and the Committee would help on a rota system, hoping to build a rapport with the young people, as has been done in Southam.