This week’s blog is the first of three presenting a potted review of 2017, which will be expanded further at the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on 29th April. To hear the full story and see all the photos, join us at the meeting which will follow the St Andrew’s service and our bring and share lunch.
First up, Andrew and TJ share the Ministry Team Review of 2017
We have continued our regular worship and ministry through the first 10 months of the vacancy thanks to the work of so many people.
The Ministry Team members have taken a significant portion of the Ministry duties, regularly preaching, leading and accommodating themselves to some changes. We have more people leading intercessions and helping in other ways. We have been supported by Graham Saunders, Bishop Alan, Rod Cosh and Puppets4All from St Peter’s Burnham, among others and also musically by the worship team from St James’ Gerrards Cross, Anne Frank, Richard Jones and Caroline Masom.
Members of the congregation have provided continuing musical support for worship at St. Andrews, co-ordinated rotas, prepared and led the monthly all-age services; readily accepted the introduction of Communion by Extension and other small changes. Creche, KiC and 7 Up have all steadily continued and Kate has kept the office with its wedding, funeral and baptism bookings, running smoothly and Richard has provided support at weddings and funerals – all of which, along with baptisms, have continued. During the year there were 15 baptisms, 7 weddings and 14 funerals conducted.
The PCC and wardens have provided the space and the support for all this – more on their activities in next week’s blog.
Courses
Practical Apologetics, a course aimed at providing practice at responding to questions about one’s Christian faith, was devised and led by Andrew and Lewis Fry and ran for several weeks with an average of 12 people attending.
TJ ran a short course from the diocese for 20 people over two groups, looking at living with the Beatitudes, as a “contemplative, compassionate and courageous church”.
7Up have been studying a different person of the Trinity each term this year and twice a month on “Serving Sundays” they serve in other areas of church life.
We have continued to develop relationships with various groups of young people by working closely with the Guides and Brownies and welcoming the uniformed groups and some Teikyo School students to the Remembrance Service and other occasions.
Tots’ Praise has continued with several new-comers who have been invited by their friends and have had children baptised in the last few months. A couple of helpers have stepped down after many years of service, and we are grateful to them for all their help.
The St Andrews Youth Club ran until mid year but we were finding it difficult to maintain the required leader/child ratios. In an attempt to address this, the group was divided by year group to allow different year groups to meet separately. Soon after the vacancy began, the Club was suspended as we anticipated that we would not have the resources during that period.
Next week we will hear about the events and changes we experienced as a church in 2017 and what the Churchwardens and PCC got up to…
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