MISSION STATEMENT

We rejoice that the gospel is "Good News" for all,
and re-commit ourselves to be faithful witnesses to Jesus Christ.
We resolve to broaden our friendships,
and through the power of the Holy Spirit
constantly to improve our presence in the community.
We will seek to work with Christians of other denominations,
and with people of other faiths.
In striving to fulfil our calling,
all that is undertaken shall be rooted in
prayer and honoured in worship.
 

St. Mary’s, Guilden Morden is part of The Shingay Group of Parishes, which consists of St. Michael and All Angels, Abington Pigotts, St. Mary the Virgin, Guilden Morden, St. Catherine’s, Litlington, St. Peter and St.Paul, Steeple Morden, St. Giles, Tadlow, and All Saints’, Wendy and Shingay.  We are in the Diocese of Ely of The Church of England.  These other parishes of the Group have their own organizations, Parochial Church Councils and so forth, but we operate as a Team of Parishes wherever we can, and good friendships have been built across the villages through our meetings together, and our regular monthly worship together in one of the six churches.  At Guilden Morden, we have a United service with the Congregational church in the village each month. Generally, we try to have a service in each of the six churches of the Group on three Sundays of the month, and come together for worship in one of the six churches on the remaining Sunday.  Numbers of worshippers at Guilden Morden varies according to type and time of service.  Full details of services are printed in Prospect magazine, which is delivered each month to homes in the parishes.

The Rector, Canon Shamus Williams, and Curate, The Revd. Dale Gingrich are assisted in lots of different ways by many lay people.  At Guilden Morden, there is an active band of bellringers, and a lively Restoration Committee, organizing social events to support the repair of the fabric of the church.  Sometimes our services in Church are lead by one of the Readers of our Group,  Mrs. Genesta Harris, Mr. Morgan Bunday, Mr. Cyril Harris, Mr. Keith Stott, Reader-in-Training, or a Eucharistic Assistant, Mr. Mike Birrell.

Many other people contribute to the life of the Church here in lots of different ways.  For instance, by flower arranging, by helping to clean the Church, by reading lessons, by giving out books at services and providing a ministry of welcoming, by serving coffee after services, by being on our PCC, by supporting our village school, which is a Church school, with Christian foundations, and so on.  If you might like to assist in some way, please get in touch.

Many people, when they hear the word “Church” think firstly of the building, and forget that the Church is really the people.  We have a marvellous heritage in our building, but it is also a huge drain both on our resources and our energies.  But people are our most precious resource, and it is for the people of this village that we believe Jesus lived and died and lives still.

Our Mission Statement summarizes what we feel we are here for, but we seek to be here for all the people of this village.  You will always be welcome at our services, and we warmly invite all who are on a journey towards God, as God eagerly seeks to speak to us.  We don’t pretend to have easy or trite answers to life’s questions, and we would love to be joined by some more searchers on the way.  As we have been called to pray, so I would invite your prayers for us.

Shamus Williams (Rector)                    April 2005.