Parish Annual Report 2012

April started with the Roots group putting on an evening of food and entertainment at St Timothy’s to raise money for our upcoming residential weekend. We had a great time, enjoying a lovely Indian meal and an impressive comedy standup performance amongst other great acts. Massive thank you to Glynda Bradley, Anne Marie at Timeplace and to everyone who came and supported us and helped us raise in excess of £300!

We’ve also helped redecorate the entrance and foyer to St Timothy’s, and by the time you read this have celebrated one of our young people getting confirmed.

In the next few weeks we’ve got a professional mural company coming to lead a session, getting our designs, ideas and eventually help to paint a new mural all the way across Ely Bridge. Sister Ann and friends from the local convent will also be coming to lead us in a session looking at ‘calling’ and ‘purpose’ which we leaders are particularly excited about.

Then there’s the residential weekend on the 10^th – 12^th May in Freshwater East in Pembrokeshire where we plan to take approx. 15 young people away to spend time discussing life, faith and all things God related. This is without doubt the best moments we get with these young people where we can actually spend some quality time together and see them without all the fronts and persona’s they tend to put on during the weekly sessions. To this end we would really appreciate all your prayers for this weekend that God might be able to break into our lives and really speak to us; speaking freedom, comfort, hope, challenge and above all that sense of being loved unconditionally by the creator of the universe.

You can find out more about what’s been happening within the youthwork programmes over the last year by reading the Roots section of the Annual Parish Report.

Christian Aid has an aim – an end to poverty – and we believe that vision can become a reality. Poverty robs people of dignity, freedom and hope, of power over their own lives. Christian Aid is an agency of the churches in Britain and Ireland that works around the world with those in need. We work with anyone who needs help, regardless of faith or nationality.

This Christian Aid Week, we’re focusing on projects around the world that are supporting communities to find ways to not only survive but to thrive, with enough food to eat not just today but tomorrow.

Christian Aid partner Dabane Trust works with communities in the dry south of Zimbabwe to improve their access to water and boost their crop yields. When they produce surplus they can sell it to the community processing centre.  At the centre they preserve the food so the community can buy it during the dry season, or process it to sell further afield.

In the Amazon rainforest in eastern Bolivia Christian Aid’s partner, the Centre for Research and Training of Peasants (CIPCA), has been successfully working with marginalised indigenous communities in the region of Beni to secure the rights to the land where they have lived for generations Over the past few years CIPCA has helped more than 1,000 families to secure legal ownership of the land they have lived on for generations. This in turn has protected them from local cattle ranchers and mining and logging companies who had been trying to drive them off their land, often destroying their crops or intimidating their families. With rights to the land, communities are now able to look forward to a more secure future and are able to invest their time and efforts in caring for the land and forest in which they live.

Christian Aid stands alongside all those who struggle against poverty, powerlessness and injustice; places honesty and respect for others at the heart of what it does; supports work that empowers individuals and communities; fights injustice and inequality; and is committed to caring for the earth for future generations.

Christian Aid Week is May 12th-18^th.

Giving-envelopes will be available in St David’s and St Timothy’s on Sunday 12^th

Comparative figures are also given for 2011.

Our biggest source of income to run the parish comes from the money we give – whether that is by envelopes, by direct giving though the bank, or by the Sunday collection plate.   In 2012 we gave £31,775 – up 3.9% on what we gave in 2011.  This is a great effort in current economic times.

Unfortunately however, our expenditure on basic things such as gas and electricity rose even higher than this – so there were occasions in the year when we were actually overdrawn – giving rise to the bank charges shown in the accounts.

The church wardens and others who take responsibility for the care of our buildings have been very vigilant in trying to cut our costs – looking at everything from our utility suppliers to the cost of candles – and without this our costs would be even higher.

Thanks to all in the parish who have organised fund-raising events in the year.  We all appreciate the hard work that these involve – whether that’s an event, or individuals selling cards, jewellery or other homemade items to raise money for us.

If anyone has any suggestions for fund-raising events, or ways in which we can save money, please speak to the wardens

If you have any questions about our accounts, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Peter Rosser, Treasurer

“Easter glory fills the sky!  Alleluia!  Christ now lives, no more to die!  Alleluia!”

For the past month, we have been singing – and saying – more “Alleluias” than we do throughout the rest of the year.  After a long Lent, when the church abstains both from flowers and from the “A-word”, it is glorious to be able to sing “Alleluia” once again.

It often seems, however, that we are better at observing penitential seasons such as Lent than we are at celebrating great feasts – especially Easter, the greatest feast of all.  Christians often give up something important during Lent.  Quite a few also sacrifice time and money for good causes.  Many of us make an effort to pray or come to church more often.  We are very good at making an effort and at giving things up!

But, do we make the same effort to celebrate Easter?

The feast of Easter lasts for fifty days – ten more than are devoted to observing Lent.  Yet, although our readings in church remind us of that it is still Eastertide, it can be easy to forget once we are home again.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to remind ourselves?  Something as simple as flowers on the table (or in every room!), chocolates, or a few special meals, would be appropriate to mark the season.  Or perhaps we can make the time to visit a special place – or person – or to do anything else which fills us with joy.

“Darkness has been put to flight!  Alleluia!  By the living Lord of Light!  Alleluia!”  There cannot be any greater occasion to celebrate than this, Christ’s victory over death.   Praise be to God!  Alleluia!  No one has said it better than St Augustine:  “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song!”

Thoughts on the ‘Fifty day of Easter’ by Sheri Smith

Why not give it a go? No pressure! Come once, come occasionally, whatever; but we promise that we won’t ‘sign you up’ or expect you to join the choir on Sunday!!

Nicola

We really do encourage your participation in taking part in this important date in the Parish calendar and would welcome the nomination of new members. Can ‘You’ commit… or do you know someone who could commit to membership? There is not a huge time commitment, with just five/six PCC meetings a year and occasional sub-committee meetings.

Membership of the PCC really can offer you an opportunity to help the Parish and even have an influence on its focus and direction. Go on, give it a try!

I hope mum is behaving for you Jean?

Take Care Queenie!

Anne Williams is now back at home after a two week spell in hospital.  Take it steady Anne, look after yourself and we hope that you will feel a lot better in the near future.

Vera, one of our stalwart members of the choir has been off for some weeks with a very irritating and persistant chesty condition.  We hope she is feeling better very soon.  We miss you.  Take care.

And we mustn’t forget . . . Fr Jesse.

Safely tucked up in his isolation tent/ward/room . . .

We are all so pleased to hear the positive words in your letter at the beginning of the magazine and trust that you also will do as you’re told . . . and ensuring you are getting lots of fuss and attention . . . not to mention, cake!

The leaders, their helpers and the young people prepared and served us  with a three course meal, which was  then followed by outstanding entertainment , they  organized a quiz, Josh was an excellent comedian, and there was a singer and dancers.  Do you know, we certainly have some talented young people in the parish!

Many hours of  food preparation and decorating the hall were required and thank you, one and all, for all of your efforts which resulted in us sharing a nice meal and a really enjoying a happy social evening.

Maureen Rowlands