Being a welcoming church

Training a Welcome Team - Revd. Jenny Gillies, curate at St Oswald’s, Bidston writes how Gail Robinson helped them address one of their GAP goals: ‘To train our ‘Welcomers’ to keep an eye on people and notify the leadership of missing members or Pastoral issues’. Read full story

Celebrating the Bible

Year of the Bible Celebration Book - The congregations of St Matthew’s Church, Stockport, were encouraged to share their favourite Bible verses. It was beautifully set out with photographs and pictures, drawn by the children and young people. A great way to explore the wonders of the most incredible book ever written, and hear how it has touched the lives of others. View the book

Developing all age worship:

	Moving from a story-telling service to a family congregation - Rev. Andy Bull, Priest-in-Charge of St. Mark’s Bredbury, reflects on four years’ experience of developing a small 9:30 Story Telling Service into a Family Congregation, whilst serving as a Curate at St. Michael’s Macclesfield… Read full story
	Growing Messy at St Mark's, Dukinfield - When new vicar Alison Cox arrived, St Mark's had no children at all. The church people started Praise and Play every Monday afternoon and have gone on to hold a monthly Messy Church on a Sunday afternoon. Read full story

Growing disciples:

	Beginners basics groups - Wondering how to run a course to help people journey towards faith? Rev. Canon David Taylor, Team Rector of Congleton and Rural Dean of Congleton Deanery describes how using the "START" course in conjunction with "Emmaus" is helping people find faith. Read full story
	'God for Grown Ups' in the Parish of Wilmslow - Through innovative activities like the "Story service" and "Messy Church", Wilmslow Parish has been consistently trying to find ways to engage with children and young families in the community, in order to draw people onto the journey of faith in Jesus Christ. But what about ‘grown ups’? What is for them? Read full story

Engaging with the community:

	Helping people engage with scripture in Advent or Lent - This Advent Doddleston Parish is producing their own booklet of Advent readings. The booklet will be written by members of the church and distributed to the church and beyond. Read full story
	GAP Eggheads in Knutsford - One way that St Cross Knutsford tries to engage with their local community as a church, is by having a team in the local pub quiz. Read full story
	Parish Nursing at St Saviour's, Great Moor, Stockport - They assess the health needs of the congregation and those within the community who attend functions at the church and hall. The services they have developed are complementary to other Health Agencies and Church Ministries. Read full story
	Community Cafe at St Saviour's, Great Moor, Stockport - St Saviour's GAP Vision is to continue spreading the Gospel and providing a loving and compassionate environment for the transformation of life in Jesus Christ. One of their goals was to reach out to the community and they set up a community cafe. Read full story
	Food Bank in Wilmslow - Even in prosperous towns, people are struggling and need help. Six months on the parish’s food bank, known as Food Friend, is a valued community project based in the extension at St Bartholomew’s Church. It provides a monthly facility where anyone in need can get emergency food. Read full story
	Social Networking in Barrow - Rev. Colin Randall, Rector of Barrow, and Diocesan Worship Adviser, is finding how Facebook can be used to develop pastoral connections with our local communities. Read full story
	Community kitchen garden at St Barnabas, Crewe - St Barnabas’ offered its church hall lawn, for use as a secure place for the local community to develop a kitchen garden. The project, run by the Enterprise and Education Alliance (a not-for-profit social organisation), offers locally-grown organic food to local families at low cost. Read full story

Children and Family work:

Quackers for God at All Saints, Weston - A time of worship, teaching and fun for pre-school children and their carers. Each session comprises ofsinging the `Quackers` song specially written for this activity, and some other simple action songs, a story told by one of the leaders and illustrated with pictures / figures etc, simple craft activities related to the story and refreshments. Read full story

Caring for God's Creation: The Environment

Parish receives eco award - St Bartholmew, Great Barrow has become the first parish church in the Chester area to receive an eco-congregation award. The award is given to churches which demonstrate good practice in environmental stewardship and which witness to the importance of caring for God’s creation. Read full story

Planting a new church:

Problem solving at Norton - St Bert’s wanted to attract new people to church and realised that their current church building would not be big enough to seat growing numbers. They decided the way forward was to create a new congregation. Read full story