2004-05 

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TRINITY CHURCH

 Methodist,  United Reformed,  Church of England

 Chalfont Close, Lower Earley , Reading , RG6 5HZ

 0118 931 3124 

 www.trinityearley.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ANNUAL REPORTS 2004 / 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH COUNCIL

Aim: To communicate the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the community and to nurture the people of God within the local congregation and the wider church.

 

The Council is required, as stated in the Parochial Church Councils (Powers) Measure 1956, to co-operate with the minister in promoting in the parish the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.

 

The Church Council is currently made up of the following people:

 

Ministers:  Simon Howard and Nick Thompson

Stewards:  John Brimicombe, Andrew Curnow, Stephen Edwards, John Goddard, Richard Munday, John Bethell, Alan Minns and Sandy Catchick

Church representatives: Cath Bethell, Wendy Keeley and Kate Robinson

Treasurer:  Catherine Edwards

Senior Steward / Churchwarden:  John Brimicombe

Church Secretary / Churchwarden:  Elaine Munday

Property Administrator: vacant

Deanery Synod Representatives:  Stephen Edwards and Virginia Thorne

Methodist Circuit Representative: Tony Bonnett

United Reformed Representative: Wendy Keeley

Chair: Peter Musgrove

Minutes Secretary: Kathryn Johns

 

The following people have served on Church Council as stewards but have left during the course of the year:

Jill Duncan, David Ramsden, John & Joyce Louth, David Wise and Tony Bonnett (although Tony continues to serve as above). In addition, we said goodbye to Phil Hooper as chair.

 

Church Council meets during the months when there is no Church Meeting except August. Each meeting opens with 10 minutes’ worship, which is led by two of our members. There is always a pastoral report from one of the ministers, and a report from one of the church committees or groups. These report once a year to either Church Council or Church Meeting on a rota basis.

 

Over the year, we have covered a lot of business. Some items for discussion come from one of our parent denominations, with requests for feedback, but generally our business is Trinity based.

 

There have been 7 Church Council meetings during the year, where we have discussed the following subjects:

 

Feb 2004

Committee report from Education & Nurture Group, building update, URC ‘Catch the Vision’ discussion, approval of annual reports.

 

Apr 2004

Trinity constitution, Trinity worship book, Schools Work report, buildings works proposal, feedback from ‘Catch the Vision’, report from the Outreach Committee, Simon’s future plans, appointment of church cleaner.

   

May 2004

Policy for approving fundraising, Worship Committee report, Safeguarding, pastoral work and related ministries, Away Day follow up.

 

July 2004

Away Day conclusions, reports from the Staffing Committee and Contact Centre, feedback from Away Day conclusions, video projector.

Oct 2004

Committee reports from Junior Church and Youth Net, welcoming newcomers, Church Council quorum, schools work budget, pastoral care and counselling.

 

Nov 2004

Approval of annual accounts, video projector, pastoral care and counselling, bible trolley, feedback from Churches Together in England conference, approval of 2005 meetings dates, approval of Schedule A.

 

Jan 2005

URC ‘Equipping the Saints’, Committee reports from the social group and schools work, social action and youth report, Three Mile Cross, Anglican training update, building project.

 

Away Day

Last May, we spent the day at Christ Church in Henley . This event was well supported by our Church Council members and not only gave us a chance to get to know each other a little better, but also gave us the opportunity to enjoy and have a good look around the wonderful facilities at the centre.    

 

Our main topic of conversation however was not building based, but on the Anglican initiative, ‘Growing Healthy Churches’. Our day began by watching a video, ‘Restoring Hope in the Church’, and this was followed by discussions on trying to establish how healthy we are as a church. For example, what are our strengths? And what is holding us back and stopping us from growing?  We did inevitably return to some familiar ground - welcoming, small groups etc -  but many new ideas and suggestions were expressed. One of the main conclusions we drew was that as a church,  we need to spend more time in prayer and indeed, during our lunch hour, we decided to incorporate a 5 minute prayer break in all future Council meetings, and this is proving very successful.

 

Since our Away Day, the Church Council has revisited our findings on several occasions and we are now looking at ways to implement those findings.

 

I would like to express my gratitude to all the members of Church Council for their commitment and hard work again this year.

 

As I come to the end of my time as Church Secretary/Churchwarden, I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all the people who have helped me over the past 4 years. I would especially like to thank

Kay Slack for her guidance, and our ministers, Simon Howard and Nick Thompson, our senior steward,  John Brimicombe, and our treasurer, Catherine Edwards, for their support and friendship.

 

                                                                                                                                             Elaine Munday

                                                                                                                  Church Secretary / Churchwarden

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP

 

This is my first report as membership secretary, as I took over from Sue Brickell in January last year.

 

Trinity currently has 244 members on its roll, compared with 248 at this time last year. In addition, there are 210 people, including children, listed as adherents (non members). There were 234 adherents at this time last year.

 

During the year from February 2004, when I took over as membership secretary, to 1 January 2005 , seven members left. Of these seven, six have moved away and one has died. New members joining include Victor and Lydia Makgwana and Sandy Catchick. 

            Gill Glennon

                      Membership Secretary

 

 

FINANCE

 

Aim: For Trinity Church to generate and develop its resources to meet its responsibilities to the wider church and to meet the aims of growing, caring, unity and community.

During the year there were 6 members of the finance committee:

Catherine Edwards        (Treasurer)

Richard Munday            (Assistant Treasurer)

Alison Travers              (Assistant Treasurer)

John Medcraft               (Gift Aid and Envelope Secretary)

Nigel Holloway

Tony Bonnett

In addition,  we welcomed Nick Thompson to some of the committee meetings.  We aim to meet on a quarterly basis, but, in fact, in this year, we only met twice.  During the year, both Richard Munday and Nigel Holloway stood down and I would like to thank them for all their hard work and support during their respective times on the committee.

The church started the year facing a potential deficit of £1,700 and income for the first quarter of the year was indicating that there would be a larger deficit.  However, due to the generosity of the congregation, the situation turned in the last 6 months and I am pleased to report that the accounts for the year to 31 August 2004 show a surplus of £17,000 on the general fund.  After technical adjustments, our underlying surplus is £10,000.  Costs remain under control, with the main increase being in our assessments to our parent denominations.

With the commencement of the raising of finance for the building, our total income exceeded £100,000 and so we now have to produce our accounts in a different format, to comply with the Charity Commission rules.

As a committee, we continue to consider how we can help in the achievement of Trinity’s Aims:

Growing          As the church has a surplus, we are able to consider contributing towards courses, retreats etc that members may wish to attend.

Caring          In the last year, we gave 10% of our income to Mission .  We continue to support the Crescent Community Centre and have one more contribution to make under our commitment to them.

Unity               The next financial year should see a change in our pattern of ministry and there will be a consequent effect on the way our contribution to our parent denominations is divided.  It is hoped that this can be achieved amicably, building on the good relationships created in the past between treasurers.

 

Community     We were able to increase our contribution to the CTEER Schools Work project.  This will continue next year, when we will be considering changes to our level of support for this work.

I would like to thank those who have increased their giving and all those who contribute financially to church funds as we look forward to another good year for the church.

              Catherine Edwards

                                                                                                                                                   Treasurer

 

 

PROPERTY GROUP

 

The Property Committee has responsibility for the church buildings and equipment and for the Manse. The current committee members are:

 

Property Administrator              Vacancy

Buildings Supervisor                  Vacancy

Equipment Supervisor                David Rains

Cleaning Co-ordinator                Jane Thompson

Manse Steward                         Vacancy

Church Treasurer                      Catherine Edwards

Church members                       Ruth Bainton, Tony Bonnett      

Minister                                    Simon Howard

 

Although the committee is carrying too many vacancies Steve Edwards (former Property Administrator) & Alan Langdon (former Manse Steward)           have completed a number of tasks, just for this year. Without their help, neither building would have been adequately maintained and we are extremely grateful. Our thanks also go to John Louth who was Buildings Supervisor for a number of years before he and Joyce moved up to Lincolnshire . John’s skill, knowledge and ready smile are much missed. In the absence of a full committee, Margaret Evans, Secretary to the Ministers, has been a great help in enabling companies to get access to the building during the day. Steps have been taken to try and recruit new members to the property team.

 

Cleaning and a level of normal maintenance have been continued through the year. The maintenance has included

·         Touching up the paint work at the front of the sanctuary.

·         Devising emergency evacuation procedures for Sunday mornings

·         Chasing Wokingham District Council and Loddon Valley Leisure Centre over the power supply to the lighting on the outside of the church.

·         Replacing vandalised glass

 

The largest single project this year came about after one of the water heaters in the loft sprung a leak! Hot water was eventually restored but it is clear that the two heaters need replacing.

 

With thanks to Jane Thompson and David Rains for their continued work.

 

                     Simon Howard

                              Anglican minister

 

 

 

 

 

MISSIONS COMMITTEE

 

The committee currently consists of Andrew Curnow, Pam Handy, Sally Garforth, Alan Minns, Graham Looker, Pam Thompson and myself. We contribute mainly to the “Community” aspect of Trinity’s aims, being responsible for maintaining and developing the church’s links with, and compassionate response to, the wider world. However, we also try to help with “Growing” church members, in terms of developing their individual responses.

 

We met four times in 2004, to plan our regular annual programme of events and special collections and decide which of the many appeals that are received by the church we can realistically respond to. Trinity’s main activities, appeal and collections this year, most of which we were involved with, were as follows:

 

bulletNCH fundraising including house-to-house collection (£230), quiz and swimathon
bulletDonations of clothing to the Drop in Centre, as well as the usual tinned harvest produce
bulletChristian Aid Week collections (just over £1000)
bulletHarvest Supper and auction of produce in support of Novimost (£385)
bulletEaster collections (£414) donated to fund teachers at a Mission school in Msoro , Zambia
bulletOne World Week talk at 10am service
bulletAutumn Fayre, in support of the Caribbean hurricane appeal (£521)
bulletPrinter recycling box in vestibule, in support of Traidcraft Exchange
bulletSpecial Disability Sunday service
bulletThe donation of Toy Service toys to NCH’s Greenham House Family Centre
bulletDonations at the Christingle Service (£527) for the Children’s Society
bulletOver 40 “Samaritan’s Purse” shoeboxes of presents for children in eastern Europe.
bulletThe Jar of Grace UNICEF appeal
bulletChristmas collection (£560) for Christian Aid’s “Child of Bethlehem” appeal for its work  with Palestinians in Israel .

 

We also, through John Medcraft, maintain Trinity’s link with the hospital and community in Kagando , Uganda . Our £300/year donation meets most of the salary of their evangelist.

 

There has been great support from many others in church for the activities that needed it. Thanks to everyone who helped to make a difference to God’s wider family, in whatever way.

 

                    Richard Cocks

               Chair, Missions Committee

 

 

TRAIDCRAFT

 

We have continued to have a regular stall after the 10am service on the fourth Sunday of most months, with occasional other special appearances, including the Autumn Fayre.

 

Despite poor weather, we did better than last year at the Earley Carnival and for the first time provided wine tasting opportunities at the Carnival and the Safari Supper, encouraging several people to buy their own cases of Traidcraft wine (which of course does not go through our books!).

 

The total orders we have placed with Traidcraft in 2004 amount to £1,422, somewhat down on last year.

 

Pam Thompson runs a complementary (ie non-food) stall and, with the benefit of the “Shop in Comfort” and Garden Party this year, in addition to the usual occasions, sold £1,570 of goods at Trinity, making a total of nearly £3,000 sales through the church.

 

We provide the tea and coffee for after-service refreshments, for which the church reimbursed us £87 this year. Trinity is now a registered Fairtrade church and aims to serve only fairly traded drinks at all events, so, to help with this the tea, coffee and sugar in the cupboard are for use by all. We look forward to enticing you to try more fairly traded goods in 2005!

 

                                                                                                               Margaret and Richard Cocks

                                                                                                                 Traidcraft Representatives

 

 

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

 

Aim: For worship at Trinity Church to enable people of all Christian traditions to respond to the presence of God, giving him praise and glory.

 

‘The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ John 4:23-24 NRSV

 

Worship at Trinity is a fundamental part of what we as a church are able to offer both to our members and those who might be drawn to us from time to time. Worship provides not only an expression of faith but is one way in which we can grow in terms of spirituality and faith and meet with others who will encourage us in our Christian journey. We must remember that, whilst worship with others is important, we must seek to set aside time for prayer every day of our lives – this might be at home or as we go about our everyday business.

 

The committee is made up of a number of members, each having a different perspective on our worship, in terms of the content of the various services, musical variety, provision of readings and other material. Our ministers, who feed and nourish us through the various forms of worship that Trinity provides, are also on the committee. Meetings are held about 3 times per year.

 

The committee has discussed the various services that Trinity provides with particular focus on Christmas and Easter, when we experience an opportunity to welcome those who are infrequent attendees at church. We have been greatly encouraged by the growth in numbers, especially at the children’s services before Christmas. As in 2003, we provided refreshments between the Christingle and carol service, after the Christmas Eve family service, after the midnight communion (for the first time) and after the Christmas Day service, and were joined by many who only come into contact with Christ as a result of attending such services with young people. We are also pleased to see continued interest from the uniformed organisations at the parade services and this is seen as a way of showing God’s love to young people (and their families), some of whom only attend at these services.

 

The continued use of the third Sunday in the evening for ‘something different’ is an important strand to worship, as is the leading of services by members of the congregation, as well as the use of stewards to lead Saturday morning worship. I have to say that we have been disappointed by the lack of worshippers on a Saturday morning and I extend an invitation to all to come and join us at 9:00 on a Saturday morning – the ideal time and space for quiet prayer and reflection. The TLS course, run during 2004 by Nina Mead, has provided Trinity with a new group of people who are now fully equipped to lead us in worship and we look forward to seeing them more during 2005!

Refreshments have continued to be provided after worship every Sunday evening and provide a time of fellowship and discussion after this service.

 

We also welcomed a number of visitors during the year to lead us in worship – and benefited from each in terms of their different worship style and in many cases challenging addresses! Recently we were asked by a visiting preacher, ‘are you fishers of people or merely keepers of the aquarium?’ – for me the answer is the former – what about you?

 

The new Trinity Worship Book was finally completed and thanks is due to the many people who prepared the material, typed it, proof read it and finally had it printed ready for use. It is a valuable resource and has led to the need for fewer pieces of paper during Sunday services!

 

Music and song play an important part in worship at Trinity and we are blessed by a number of groups including the Trinity band, the praise and worship group and the singing group, all bringing their talents to various services throughout the year. These groups exist not only to enrich worship but also provide an opportunity for fellowship at practice and other sessions during the week. 

 

A big thank you to all those who serve on the Worship Committee – we look forward to another year in which worship will remain an important part of life for Trinity Church . No doubt we will explore new and exciting ways in which we can enrich worship, in the context of the Trinity aims covering growing, caring, unity and community with God at the centre, as well as encouraging personal time with God on a daily basis.

 

                                                                                                                                       John R. Brimicombe

                                                                                                                     Senior Steward / Churchwarden

 

                                                                                                                       

LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

‘Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.’

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 NIV

 

The leadership team comprises the two ministers, church secretary, senior steward and treasurer. This small team meets on a monthly basis to discuss key issues that affect Trinity and the team members also offer support and guidance to each other and their families. During 2004, a number of issues have arisen and, as well as the regular meetings, there has been much exchange at additional informal meetings, on the telephone and by e-mail, which is becoming more widely used. We live in a fast moving environment where change affects all aspects of our lives with church being no exception!  We also took time to explore issues that were affecting our members and their lives – the discussions were often challenging but thought provoking at the same time and made us realise that we will never be comfortable in the hands of God and are here as his servants.

 

We had expected 2004 to be a year of great change, in terms of how Trinity was to be staffed with stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministry but this was not to be the case. Simon Howard, our Anglican Minister, remained with us throughout 2004 but with an increased focus on the schools work which has moved on a pace in 2004. As with many things, God has a plan for each of us, both individually and as part of many groups, and it is clear, with hindsight, that, for the schools work initiative to be really successful, Simon was needed for a few more months!

We continued to think about the ways in which Trinity will develop when we move to a single stipendiary minister from the current 1.5 when Simon leaves. Nick will remain at Trinity as the full time minister until 2007 and in preparation for this, Nina Mead of the United Reformed Church was inducted as the Minister at Three Mile Cross, as well as continuing as an associate minister at Trinity. We have also been lucky enough to have the continued support of Paddy Jose from the Methodist Circuit, who is doing pastoral work to support the ministers and members of our own pastoral team.  2004 saw the introduction of a clearer pastoral care system, which we know will continue to grow in 2005 as it becomes established within Trinity.

 

We will be looking to the Church of England for their help in 2005, to find an appropriate level of Anglican support for Trinity when Simon does eventually leave. We had a number of meetings with the new Bishop of Reading, who expressed his exciting vision for churches to become ‘Kingdom Churches’ and leave some of the past behind, as we look to develop and focus more on outreach and mission – a recurring theme found in all three of our parent denominations’ thinking during 2004.

 

The Trinity aims covering growing, caring, unity and community, with God at the centre, have continued to permeate much of what we do and the leadership team continued to look at how Trinity embraces these aims and focuses on activities to further them. These aims were particularly important as we selected the scheme for making alterations to the physical building (remembering also some of the observations of the Quinquennial Review) and kicked off the fund raising appeal with the barn dance that was originally to have been Simon’s leaving do!  2005 will continue to be a time of fund raising and a time when we, as a church can pull together to make the paper plans a reality, giving us the new entrance, much needed chapel and changes to make better use of the space behind the sanctuary, including a new modern kitchen and new toilets!

 

Trinity is always undergoing change – caused in part by the area in which we are situated. 2005 will continue to challenge us all but, by prayer and a listening ear, Trinity will continue to provide what the world is looking for – a community of people who care and show what life should be like.

 

I would like to thank those on the leadership team for their dedication and service to Christ through their work in Trinity and the wider community. Thanks are due to their families for helping the team during the year. Each member of the leadership team has faced challenges of their own during 2004 but never lost sight of God and what we are called to do.  I would encourage all of the church to pray for their leadership team and ask that they will be guided for the good of Jesus and all his people in Trinity Church , Lower Earley and the wider world.  As I step down as Senior Steward and Churchwarden, I would like to share with you all  my vision for Trinity Church as the focal point in our community, considered as the first place where people come for help and guidance, knowing that we will be there for them and have an opportunity to save them as we are already saved.

 

                                                                                                                                     John R. Brimicombe

                                                                                                                      Senior Steward / Churchwarden

 

EARLEY YOUTH NET

 

This last year has been another fun one for Youth Net. There have been a few changes in the leadership team and a lot of changes in the young people who come to the Net as they leave for university or schools in other areas.

 

We have continued to meet fortnightly at Trinity church with the young people for sessions focused on the Bible. On the alternate weeks the leaders have met and had their own session. This has worked particularly well at helping us to get to know one another better and allowing us to work as a team. Also joining us on that session are some of the older members of youth net who come to be part of the “emerging leaders” group, learning the thing needed to join the leadership team.

We have continued to strengthen our close working with Lower Earley Baptist church. Their young people are invited to join us at Youth Net and in return they invite us to come to The Point – a social session on alternate Saturday nights at Centrepoint.

 

There have been a number of particular highlights this year. In May we took a large group, about 45 in all, away to Barfield school for an exhausting weekend of activities and study sessions. It was a lot of work and most of the leaders needed a week of sleep to recover. We tried quad biking, archery, shooting, swimming, climbing and even jumping form a 65 foot platform on a zip wire. In between times we split into sessions to look at who Jesus says he is, who others said he is finishing with a “So What?” session. We had some excellent music led by the Youth Net band and the young people produced some amazing artwork which you will have seen round church. 

Another highlight was a number of the young people going to Soul in the City to take part in various

social action projects in South London over the summer. They all came back fired up and ready to do the same back here so we’re now working on ways that we can get involved in our local community. They’ve had a number of ideas and we’re busy behind the scenes trying to make some of them happen.

 

We’ve built a website www.earleyyouthnet.plus.com to help people stay in touch during the time we’re not meeting and to allow them to pass on ideas.

 

We’ve also led a number of Meeting Place services at Trinity and one at St Nicholas Church over the year. These services have a regular attendance of around 100 people and are allowing the young people to express their faith in their own way. Because it’s loud, we often find a few people wondering over from the pub to see what we’re doing as well!

 

The final session of the year was the Christmas party with music provided by Michael Whiteman and his band where we had over 50 young people having a lot of fun – in a church! A number of young people have brought their friends along for the party and some are still coming.

 

The young people continue to challenge and inspire us. We are all, young people and leaders, growing in our faith together.

 

I’d like to express a huge thank you to all the leaders for giving up so much of their time to make Youth Net happen and to you all as the church for supporting us with your prayers and continuing to encourage us

 

                                                                                                                                               Cath Bethell

                                                                                                                                        Earley Youth Net Leader

 

STAFFING COMMITTEE

 

Aim: To oversee ministerial appointments, training appointments and other staffing issues relating to Trinity Church .

 

The staffing committee is made up of a number of Trinity members (including both ministers) and representatives from our sponsoring body Churches Together in Berkshire as well as from our parent denominations. Until recent years, the staffing committee held a single meeting in the year (on a Saturday morning) but as in the previous year, 2004 saw many more meetings and other activities due mainly to the changes in levels of stipendiary ministry, and I am very grateful for all the members hard work during the past year on behalf of Trinity.