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Annual Church Meeting The present Council has the following members: Revd. Alison Mackay, Minister Bob Park, our treasurer, retires but is eligible for re-election. Stephen Fidler was due to retire this year for a “sabbatical”, but due to work commitments and personal reasons he resigned in November. We thank him for all his contributions to the Council during his term in office and for his continued help in a particular area. So the Council needs another four members to make it a full Council of ten. Any church member can be nominated as a Church Councillor provided that he or she is over 18 and has been in formal membership for at least one full year. Nomination forms will be available from 5th February, and must be returned to me by 26th February. All nominations require the support of six church members and must be signed by the nominee as evidence of his or her willingness to stand for election. If you are asked to serve our church in this way but are unsure of the duties of a Church Councillor, please speak to Alison or Bob or me and we will give you as much information as we can - or you might ask for a copy of Focus for September 2000, where an article on this matter appeared. Rule 6.1 of our Church Rule Book puts it in a few words: “The Church Council shall be responsible for the spiritual leadership, oversight, and day-to-day administration of the Church, subject always to the approval of the Church Meeting.” A request to stand for election to the Church Council will never be made lightly. If you are approached, please think and pray deeply before giving an answer - and remember that if the Lord calls you to this task, he will supply the strength for you to carry it out. So please pray; those of you who are formal members of the church, ask yourself: could God be calling me to serve in this way? Be open to this. Pray too over the election of others. The question is not “who would I like to see elected” but “who is God’s person for this task?” A Church Councillor is regarded as a local Trustee, and there are legal implications involved in holding this position: anyone who has been bankrupt or has had a criminal conviction (for instance for abuse of some kind) is not allowed to stand. No doubt these rules do not apply to any of our candidates, but we are required to make them public just the same; Alison will explain details if required. Several friends hold appointments within the church or act as delegates to outside bodies or committees, and we hope that they will all feel able to continue in those offices in the coming year. We know, however, that personal circumstances change from time to time, and if anyone feels that they wish to relinquish any task, please let me know before 19th February at the very latest.
At this time we think of Winifred S, on the loss of her grandson Michael; the family of Florence K who has just past away, especially her daughter; Carol K, who has returned to hospital, herself unwell; Pete R, awaiting heart surgery next month; and Doris D, Anne H, Angela C, and others of our number who have been or who are feeling under the weather at this time. Please remember these friends in your prayers.
This month, prayers are asked for two more pastoral groups: Martin A’s group: Doreen B-A;, John E; and Alison, Joseph & Theo E-A. Beverley C’ group: Anne & George H; Amy, Esther & Robert M; Ashley, Claudine & Hannah M; Joan P; Phuong C. Jumble Sale, Saturday 1st April This is our first fund-raising Jumble Sale for the year, the proceeds going towards our “wider church” giving, not our own finances.
There’s a job for all so please offer your services to this worthy cause and have a few laughs in the process. But no gifts of jumble until 26 th March, please! Jacqueline Howlett |
55 Wallwood Rd,
