|
|
|
 | NCH
fundraising including house-to-house collection (£230), quiz and
swimathon |
| Donations
of clothing to the Drop in Centre, as well as the usual tinned harvest
produce |
| Christian
Aid Week collections (just over £1000) |
| Harvest
Supper and auction of produce in support of Novimost (£385) |
| Easter
collections (£414) donated to fund teachers at a |
| One
World Week talk at 10am service |
| Autumn
Fayre, in support of the |
| Printer
recycling box in vestibule, in support of Traidcraft Exchange |
| Special
Disability Sunday service |
| The
donation of Toy Service toys to NCH’s Greenham House Family Centre |
| Donations
at the Christingle Service (£527) for the Children’s Society |
| Over
40 “Samaritan’s Purse” shoeboxes of presents for children in eastern
Europe. |
| The
Jar of Grace UNICEF appeal |
| Christmas
collection (£560) for Christian Aid’s “Child of Bethlehem” appeal
for its work with
Palestinians in |
We also, through John Medcraft, maintain Trinity’s link with the
hospital and community in
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
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
‘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
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
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
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
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
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
The
staffing committee is made up of a number of Trinity members (including both
ministers) and representatives from our sponsoring body Churches Together in
