St Peter’s Homegroups Connecting & engaging…

Homegroup Leaders’ Network Meeting Tuesday 4 th March 2014 ①Welcome and opening prayer (Andy) ②Update on progress since last meeting (John) ③Progress on the building project (Andy) ④Developing our prayer life (Ann) ⑤Frontline debt & benefit advice (David Reed) ⑥Supporting external mission (Andy) ⑦Prayer and closing comments (Andy)

Progress Update – Targets & Current Status Target: 200 members of St Peter’s in homegroups Target: 4 more homegroups established & all current spaces filled  Currently 170 people in 18 homegroups (172 in 20 - Jun, 177 in 19 - Nov)  Approximately 10 spaces to be filled, max 2 per group (14 - Jun, 16 - Nov)  Youth homegroup put on hold awaiting 2 leaders Are we OK with this?  Lenten Study Group being offered  ’fusion’ run by Sarah – for 20s to 30s; based at ‘the White Lion’

Progress Update – Actions Completed & Ongoing Actions ongoing:  Neighbouring: Christmas tree collection, etc.  Issue personal invitations to join a homegroup  Encourage former homegroup members to find a suitable group  New members of the church actively directed towards a homegroup as part of their welcome  Leaders ‘buddy-up’ with leaders of other groups, to share resources and pray  Church website now has link to HGLN site & podcasts Actions outstanding:  Homegroup themed services  Create a short homegroup promotional video Good support for this  Identify barriers to people joining a homegroup  Work with existing homegroup leaders to identify future leaders  Fully equip new leaders, including skills training & developmental opportunities

Progress Update – Emerging Issues  Some homegroups are experiencing a ‘drop-in’ culture and a decline in average numbers attending  On average, 83% of people attached to a homegroup attend at least twice a month  4 homegroups experience average attendance of ca. 70% Is this something we need to address?

Moving Ahead – Courses Coming Soon  Lenten Course: “Living The Mission of Jesus” Exploring St Peter’s strategic priorities  Discipleship Course: “Freedom In Christ” Offered in Summer term

Progress in the Chaddisbrook House & Discoveries Building Project

Renewing Church End Green

Programme Start date in Autumn 2014 Launch: Annual Meeting – 6 th April 2014 at 6pm Cost: scalable from £800,000 to £1 million Developing detailed plans Out to tender after Easter

Developing Our Prayer Life

Frontline Debt & Benefit Advice Service

How does Frontline operate?  Gives debt & benefit advice  Main Office - Haslemere  25 years experience  Locally based branch – Camberley  over 3 years experience  70 clients, 30 currently active, 5 from St Peter’s

Who has Frontline helped? 3 case summaries:  John – debt advice – DRO successfully applied for – debt written off  Sandra – with Crohn’s - ESA benefit – 1 year’s back-payment & current provision  James & Leanne – over 70 – pension lump sum £25k + monthly pension paid Life-changing

How does Frontline operate?  Deals directly with client & client’s accounts to lead client towards financial independence  Works closely with Frontline officers using their cumulative experience

Frontline opportunities - 1  Giving advice and support  on benefits  with debt  Credit Union outposts in Camberley & surrounding area, including Yateley  Helps savers & borrowers with poor credit history

Frontline opportunities - 2  Red tickets for Hart Foodbank  Food from Besom  Current support from a St Peter’s Homegroup  Furniture & electricals from Vincent de Paul  Successful grant funding  6 laptops for accessing internet, completing forms, and IT training

Frontline opportunities - 3  Experience dealing with local Council officers  Help from local solicitor  Parish Nurse  Budget planning & money management  Advocacy  Appeal tribunals

How can I help?  Volunteer to help give debt & benefit advice  Help with Credit Union – no financial advice; mainly form filling and TLC, individually or as a home group  Prayer Support – individually or collectively as a home group

Supporting External Mission What we support & the progress made towards developing what we do Deferred to next meeting

St Peter’s Homegroups …becoming an Acts 2 church!