Annual Parochial Church Meeting – 23rd April 2026
Jon shares the Vicar’s Address he gave at the Thanksgiving Evening and Annual Church Meeting last week.
I’d like to start this Vicar’s Address with the St Mary’s Mission Statement. It sums up the thrilling, vital task, which God has graciously given us as his people.
Our mission is to know Jesus and make Jesus known.
There is no more important or more wonderful mission we could possibly have than to know Jesus and make Jesus known.
In Philippians 3:8, the Apostle Paul says: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…
Everything is a loss when compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ. Because to know Jesus is to be made right with God through his death on the cross. To know Jesus is to be indwelt with God’s Spirit. To know Jesus is to have a certain future of resurrection life with him.
There is nothing that could possibly be better for us as a church than knowing Jesus and knowing him better. There is nothing more loving or more important, that we can do for our friends, neighbours, for the people of this town and area, than to help them get to know Jesus, who alone saves and gives life with God.
Within our mission statement we have three essentials. Three things we know are vital. Dependent Prayer – because we express our trust in God as we pray to him. Biblical Teaching – because the Bible is God’s word through which he works in us. Loving one Another – because this is how we show we are Jesus’ disciples.
And we have three priorities. Three activities we put first. Engaging Maidenhead with the Gospel of Jesus. Growing Mature Disciples of Jesus of all Ages and Backgrounds. Partnering with Other Churches to Make Jesus Better Known.
Growing in prayer together
Every part of our Mission Statement is important. But in May last year at our Annual Meeting, I asked us to have a particular focus on Growing in prayer together. We have had a year of looking up and seeking to grow our dependence on God in prayer.
It has been a joy to see us praying together after church services, in Growth Groups, and in Prayer Triplets. It has been exciting to see growing attendance and eagerness at our monthly St Mary’s Evening where we come together to depend on God in prayer.
I am thankful for a number of wonderful answers to prayer through the year.
God blessed us with a brilliant Holiday Club, Explorers Time Away, Junior and Senior Youth Weekend Away.
God has provided Nick Algeo to lead our 6.30pm Congregation and Miram Croft as our Ministry Trainee.
We have had the joy of seeing the birth of a new church – Christ Church Bracknell.
God has blessed new initiatives like Pop-Up Theology and the new 20s Growth Group to help us grow together in our knowledge and love of him.
The “Busy Sunday am? Church Sunday pm.” Project was blessed by God bringing new members into our 4pm congregation.
Best of all we have had the joy of seeing people come to faith and persevere through trials, the joy of growing as disciples of Jesus, and of being equipped to serve Jesus together.
As we thank God for answered prayer in the last year I want to express my thanks to God for a wonderful team of colleagues. It is a joy to lead a staff team who are godly, servant hearted and faithful. I am also so thankful to God for the hundreds of church family members who volunteer in all the ministries of the church. Thank you for what you do in serving so sacrificially.
All of this comes from God. It is his work. So let’s continue to look up. Let’s continue to depend on him. Let’s continue to grow in prayer together.
Engaging Maidenhead with the Gospel of Jesus
As we look ahead to the next twelve months, I’d like to underline a different part of our mission statement. In the year ahead let’s focus on looking out. Let’s give ourselves anew to engaging Maidenhead with the gospel of Jesus.
Writing in 1 Timothy 3:14-15 Paul says: Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing to you with these instructions so that, if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
What a description of the church. We are God’s household – his family. We are the pillar and foundation of the truth. That is, we exist to lift up God’s truth, God’s gospel, for all to see. And to support the truth of the gospel in how we live and how we love.
What an important responsibility God has given us to be the pillar and foundation of the truth.
We are surrounded by many thousands of people who are loved by God, but do not know it. Who without Jesus, face God’s judgement for their sins. Who without Christ have no hope for life or for eternity.
God’s plan is to use ordinary churches to lift up his gospel truth. God’s purpose is to work through weak, suffering, sinful people, saved by Jesus and brought together as his church, to lift up his gospel truth in a perishing world.
What a truth we have to hold up. A message of grace and forgiveness from God. Of love and life in Jesus Christ. Of hope for eternity.
It is very easy for churches to look in. For our prayers and programmes to focus on ourselves. For our friendships and relationships to only be with each other. So let’s remember this wonderful reality that God has made us together to be the pillar and foundation of the truth. To lift up the gospel for all to see.
In the year ahead we have some specific things to help us focus on engaging Maidenhead with the Gospel. We have already heard about Maidenhead’s Questions. Seeking to connect with new people and give us the chance to talk to friends about questions they have.
Also this year we are strengthening our ministry with Christians Against Poverty. CAP is a wonderful ministry serving those who find themselves in debt. It has the twin aims of supporting them out of debt and also introducing them to Jesus Christ. We will be hearing more about how we can get involved in weeks ahead. I pray this will help us serve a new group of people in our town.
I am also delighted to say that in March next year we plan to have another week of Real Lives Events. Andrew Sach, a wonderful evangelist has been booked to speak. This will be a time when we can invite people to come and hear how Jesus transforms lives today.
I hope those programmes will help us engage Maidenhead with the Gospel. But the most important ways we look out are often the unseen ways. Let’s give ourselves anew to praying for our neighbours. To loving those around us who do not know Jesus. To being known as Christians. To sharing our faith. To asking people what their questions are. To inviting people along to our Sunday services and all our other ministries.
Brothers and sisters as we look to the year ahead – we have a great God. Let’s continue to look up and depend on him in prayer. He builds his church and keeps his people. All that we are and do comes from him as a gift of his grace.
We have a great God. And we have a vital task. God intends to use his church, made up of ordinary, weak, sinful people, saved by Jesus, to hold up his gospel in a needy world. So let’s look out. Pray, love and work together to know Jesus and make Jesus known.