Christ Church Douglas-in-Parbold
Annual Report 2008
(For April 2008 to April 2009)

Print the report - Click this link for whole report as a plain sheet of text.

Lay Reader - John Mountain

Treasurer - Lin Milne

Pastoral Auxiliary - Frances McGucken

Report on Ministry Team meetings 2008

The ministry team was set up prior to Brian Harding's retirement to ensure as smooth running of the church's ministry as possible during the interregnum.
The team consists of John Mountain, Derek Ashcroft, Mike Graham, Joanna Ashcroft, Lin Milne, Margaret Atherton and Brian McGucken.
Our meetings have taken place monthly with a summer break in August. They have been attended by Revd Philip Dennison, vicar of Shevington, as advisor, and we must express our sincere thanks to him for his wise counsel and guidance over the year.
Our agenda items have included the Sunday and other services, youth and children's work and a variety of pastoral matters.
We are grateful to so many members of our congregation for the support they have offered during the interregnum, as well as to the various clergy from Standish and Shevington who have conducted services, but most of all to God for his continued blessing during this time.

Lay Reader - John Mountain

Lay Reader Interregnum Report

It has been a privilege to be part of a ministry team that has quietly worked together to expand the church during the interregnum. I remember 18 months ago the Archdeacon stressing that a new incumbent needed to be in place within 9 months or the church would recede. The success is down to everyone.

Baptisms

I did not know that readers could conduct baptisms until Philip Dennison said he knew of it, so 3 services and 4 children later I have been privileged to have my service paper so soaked that I could not read what I was saying and for a child to cry, unheard of in Brian's time, because I did not hand him back quickly enough! What a privilege.

Funerals

There has been 20 funerals / burials conducted in the church. I have organised them all and accounted to Lin for the revenue. I set up a new accounting sheet that cut down the conversations I needed with Funeral Directors when they required a quote for a funeral. The sheet now forms the basis of the whole service and the subsequent accounting record. I have conducted half the services. I shall be glad to have no more ashes delivered to the house I must admit. I do not like them been kept in the garage until the service date. I like to think I may have helped the parties involved in their grief, in the preparation and giving of tributes for people I have never met yet providing a comfort to those who knew them well. It has been a task that I have found hard and draining. The Lord has been good, however, he has honoured my pray: "Lord I don't want to bury / cremate any of our congregation during the interregnum." The churchyard revenue might be down a bit but it is better to have the entire congregation intact!

8 am Communion

I have organised a weekly service at 8 am throughout the interregnum. The church is a parish and as such is entitled to a weekly communion, and has received one right through the interregnum. Long may it continue! I have conducted half the services. I got approval for Communion by Extension following the monthly Thursday service and wherever necessary I used a special Service of the Word that I designed called the Water of Life. I printed off service sheets for each of my two types of services. The congregation of 13 is still intact.

Sick Communions / Old People Homes

Frances has looked after Beacon Crossing while I have dealt with the rest with the lovely company of Jo on a Friday once a month. Brandreth Lodge has received communion every month, Lindsay House has not been as fortunate. At Brandreth I am also been asked to pray or give communion to individuals who have only an hour or two to live, some have infections so I have to be meticulous in keeping our equipment clean. Individuals (Ernie, Val, Barry) have been given communion at home each month together with George in Lees Lane nursing home. Whenever individuals have been in hospital with serious illness or convalescing I have offered to give communion. I keep bread in the freezer and the wine keeps remarkably well for up to a month.

Confirmation training

Brian trained the 6 children and I trained the 6 adults ably assisted by Sandra who was a tremendous support. 2 adults I trained supported Brian with the children so they got a double dose! I did not want to use ALPHA training as some adults had been on that course so with the Lord's help and Sandra's great contributions I designed a course aimed at giving as much information / practical advice on understanding / attending / benefiting from communion. The course was spread over 6 weeks of 90 minute sessions and was almost 100% attended. When people were away on business I went round to there home and did individual catch up. What a great service the Confirmation Service turned out to be. What an achievement in an interregnum to have 12 people confirmed!

Service Rotas

I have had the responsibility for these for 18 months now. So if anyone has not liked the services then I'm to blame. We have had these themes "Choices", "Vision", "Abundance", The unforgettable child singing Little Donkey, a tall gentleman in church bringing a huge palm tree to put in the pulpit and then talk about. We have talked on "Parables", "Light", "Love" as well as faithfully covering the traditional topics of Christmas and Easter, Pentecost and Trinity in refreshingly new ways. Joanna has supplied me with DVD's for the children and the Youth and Dramas that have been built in have been well received. Mum's Day, Remembrance Sunday and School services have been spot on for the congregation not because of me but because as a team we have spent hours working out and preparing for the services. Each service can take individuals 5 to 20 hours to prepare and refine the presentation to be given. This needs to be said and understood during the long interregnum.

Lay Reader

I have been a reader for 10 years now. I was relicensed in April for a further 3 years, during the interregnum I have been accountable to Michael Everett as a reader and had to supply him with my annual report to enable him to agree to my continued permission to officiate. During the year I had been involved in 40 services either leading, preaching or both. I have claimed no expenses and taken nothing for any of the funeral services all income has gone into the churchyard funds. I have given between 5 and 30 hours a week of my time. I would not have missed the experience of the interregnum but I will be delighted to spend a lot more time in my seat on the back row from now on and enjoy my retirement.

Treasurer - Lin Milne

FINANCIAL REPORT

This has been a difficult year for us with Brian's retirement. As the parish quota already has a contingency for vacant parishes, we were due to pay the full amount plus the shortfall from the previous year. We notified the Diocese that this was not possible and, after discussions with them, it was agreed that the Dioceses would offset every pound over our estimated contribution by another two pounds to help us meet the shortfall. The PCC backed it even though it would mean using some of our reserves. This meant that we would have a clean sheet when the new vicar came to us in 2009.

We made tithe distributions to: Betel, Tearfund, The Flintoffs, Oasis Trust, James Dau, Bloemfontein Orphanages, Parbold Hut on the Hill Project, Parbold Youth Club, Open Doors, Judith Townsley and the Discretionary Fund.

The Special Collections raised: £228.35 for the Bishop's Harvest Appeal. £38 for the Bishop's Charity from the Confirmation Service and £308.70 for the Children's Society from the Christingle Service.

The refurbishment account continued to grow with fundraising from the 60s night, Pampered Chef evening and talent night. Also many private donation has brought the total up to £10,996.72.

We continue to benefit from the Gift Aid return of taxation - this year a total of £12,150. If anyone pays tax on their income and wishes to use the Gift Aid provision, please see me and get signed up. This is an important part of our income received from the government, and the more people who gift aid their weekly giving, the more tax we can reclaim.

Many thanks to all who give so generously for the work here in Parbold. Times are difficult, but God promises to honour all who give cheerfully!

The Accounts of the Parochial Church Council for the year ended 31st December 2008 have now been examined and approved by an Independent Examiner under Regulation 3 (3) of the Church Accounting Regulations 1997, and s.43 Charities Act 1993 et seq. They are available for viewing by members of this Parish on request.

Pastoral Auxiliary:

Report of the Under 18s "Safe from Harm" Coordinator: Frances McGucken

During the past year the activities relating to the work amongst the under eighteen church "population" has continued and the Safe from Harm procedures remain intact.

The annual registration form for Sunday morning activities is being used, and its use should be extended to cover the JO8 members who attend at other times. This will be implemented immediately.

New helpers in the various young peoples' groups have had applications made for CRB clearance and enhanced clearance has been obtained.
The same procedures have been followed for Noah's Ark helpers when necessary.

On July 10th 2008, a training session was held in church for Under Eighteen Leaders. This was lead by Susan Witts from Blackburn Diocese.
The paper work involved in complying with the Safe from Harm procedures is considerable and I wish to thank all the leaders of the young groups for their co-operation in what, at times seems a very cumbersome task.
Music Group: Mike Graham

The Worship team have continued to work, grow and above all worship together with increasing harmony, and in spite of the constant frustrations of time pressures it has been a good year once again. We look forward to continued growth in skills and spiritual maturity and numbers, and to the exciting challenge of working with/for Simon, our new priest-in-charge.

Recently we have been blessed by the addition of two new members in Julian and Ed, and one other potential member has emerged. Sadly Ruth's health only permits occasional spells of flute playing and singing: we pray that next year she will be able to do more, for we know how much joy this brings her and the rest of us. Having Charles amongst us as organist and music group member continues to be a huge 'plus', and the Christmas Choir has been a great success in more ways than one! Sylvia still 'does' Thursday services and we are all very grateful to her for being there for us when needed. It has been wonderful to see the 'youth band' grow to a position where they can lead worship strongly and with confidence. It's and honour for us 'oldies' to be asked to help out now and again!

To Jill Bithell, Rebecca Hickling, Judith Townsley, Kate Smith, Charlotte Burdett, Lucy and Steve Huntly, Charles' brother and others our thanks for valuable help in Worship: we are very grateful.

I am particularly grateful to the 'core' group for their commitment and support -they have all made wonderful contributions to the leading of worship.
We would always welcome constructive criticism of the music and thanks to those who already provide it and to those who 'encourage.'

The greatest needs for the immediate future are:
· The refurbishment, which will give more space in the appropriate area and make our work much easier.
· More support for the wonderful group of sound engineers including an overhaul and/or upgrade to the sound system. (They do a great job, sometimes under very trying circumstances. Our warm thanks go out to them all, especially as they continue to enhance worship through their skilful use of the projector). NB These are exactly the same as last two years!! (It is great to see some new faces at the desk/computer lately).

Thanks too to the talented band of people who have led us forward in the last year or so and fulfilled their tasks so wonderfully. They have been so helpful and encouraging - thank you all.

Please pray for us, that we would continue to lead worship by BEING worshippers, and that all who come to our Church will be touched by the Holy Spirit and be drawn closer to God.