The annual reports, which follow, provide information about the various aspects and activities of Trinity Church during the calendar year 2006. This summary of the year is written by the Leadership Team, an informal group including the ministers and senior lay church leaders, which meets monthly. After a set of management reports on CHURCH COUNCIL, CHURCH MEETING, FINANCE and PROPERTY, we have tried to group the reports to link to the four Trinity Aims (Growing, Caring, Unity and Community), though reports for some activities relate to more than one aim.

GROWING

In growing we have reports from the WORSHIP and EDUCATION & NURTURE Committees, from the various Music groups, and from the young people’s groups.

The worship at Trinity has continued to be diverse, reflecting the liturgies of all three denominations and more widely. One particular development during the year has been the increased involvement of worship with eating. In January the JUNIOR CHURCH arranged a splendid lunch as the second part of Sunday morning worship; on Maundy Thursday we held a Passover meal service; On Trinity Sunday we held a celebratory evening service, and we also celebrated our Harvest Supper service in September, including the traditional auction of produce with the proceeds going to Diabetes Research. There have also been several very well attended YOUTH services including, in July, music written by Michael Whiteman.

Several new house and study groups have started during the year, for discussion of various subjects and for Bible study. We have also run introductory and training courses, such as Alpha and a course on listening. The Education & Nurture Committee is always seeking to find ways of making such courses more effective and widespread.

A major event during 2006 was the continuous reading of the whole Bible in church during May. This was devised and organised by Karen Green, the initial stimulus being as a fundraising activity for the Building Fund. The reading took 77 hours beginning at 9.30am on Tuesday May 16^th and finishing with the reading of Revelation by a team of 22 readers on Friday afternoon. A total of 107 readers took part and many other people were involved as stewards or providing refreshments. The total effect was an enormous increase in the understanding of, curiosity about, and interest in the Bible (and we raised over £6000 for the Building Fund).

CARING

In addition to the PASTORAL Committee report, there are reports on MEMBERSHIP, HEALING & PRAYER MINISTRY and on how we communicate within the Trinity community.

There has been some re-organisation of pastoral care at Trinity during the year. A system of pastoral links has been established with 27 lists of people being allocated to 27 pastoral link persons. The annual revision of the church directory, which should include information about all those who are in the Trinity community, was more formal this year so that all information in the directory had been positively agreed by those involved. This should make the directory, which currently includes 420 names, much more useful. The pastoral link persons have been closely involved in the revision of the directory.

We have also tried to improve our welcoming of newcomers into the Trinity community, and our new pastoral lay worker, Ann, has been central to the development of more effective welcoming. Ann has also been working on the NURSERY SERVICES.

Trinity news is circulated weekly, and on demand, from the church office, and Margaret Evans has developed a list of more than 100 e-mail addresses to which the weekly and other information is regularly sent. We hope to continue to extend this form of information to supplement the other sources of information in the MAGAZINE, the WEBSITE, the weekly service sheets and the church notice boards.

UNITY

Unity matters are reported in the reports from denominational and ecumenical organisations and are also included in the STAFFING Committee report.

In September we welcomed Carole Cull as an assistant curate (non-stipendiary), following her ordination in the Cathedral of the Oxford Diocese at Christ Church . Ann Baker joined us at the beginning of September as a part-time pastoral lay worker, financed for the 2006-2007 year by the Methodist Circuit. Nina Mead retired from the ministry of Three Mile Cross United Church at the end of August and continues as an associate non-stipendiary minister at Trinity. In March Richard Cocks was elected as our new Senior Steward and Churchwarden. During the year small groups spent many hours working on two major church documents, a revised constitution and the new Parish Profile.

Nick Thompson will be leaving Trinity in August 2007 and we were delighted to learn that he has been appointed as the Superintendent of the Wokingham Circuit.

COMMUNITY

The MISSIONS Committee and TRAIDCRAFT reports explain some of our wider community concerns, and more local involvement is reported in the reports from RE-INSPIRED, THE CONTACT CENTRE, THE CRESCENT, CHALFONT CLUB, WALKING GROUP, PARENT & TODDLER GROUPS, CRADLE ROLL and SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Much of our OUTREACH activity this year has been centred on Regenerate. One specific event was the promotion of “Back to Church Sunday” which was on the last Sunday before Advent. A large number of people were invited to come to church on that day and we believe that perhaps as many as twenty people who might ordinarily not have attended worship at Trinity did so.

During the year work on the Building extension project has continued and the church owes a great deal to all those who have contributed to this work. David Ramsden has taken over the co-ordination of the arrangements for the building work, and Richard Munday has continued the overall management of the financial side of the project. Details of progress are included in the BUILDING PROJECT report.

CHURCH COUNCIL

The Church Council is defined by our constitution to be the executive body of Trinity Church , and meetings of the Church Council are simultaneously also meetings of the Parochial Church Council. The membership of the Council includes the ministers, the principal officers of the church, together with those who represent the church on denominational bodies, and additional members elected to Church Council by the Annual Church Meeting.

The people who have served as members of Church Council during 2006 have been

Chair: Peter Musgrove

Ministers: Nick Thompson,

Nina Mead

Curate: Carole Cull (from October)

Senior Steward/ Churchwarden: Richard Cocks (from March)

Church Secretary/Churchwarden: Roger Mead

Church Treasurer: Norman Briggs

Stewards: John Bethell

Sandy Catchick

Andrew Curnow (to March)

John Goddard

Vronwyn Hutch

Alan Minns

David Newell

Emma Thorne

Property Administrator: Ian Brickell

Representative to Deanery Synod: John Goddard

Representative to Circuit: Tony Bonnett

Representative to District Council: Wendy Keeley

Appointed by AGM: Lynda Brannelly

Sandy Godfrey

Janet Whiteman (to March)

In addition three people also attend

Lay Pastoral Worker Ann Baker (from September)

Minute Secretary: Kathryn Johns

Methodist Circuit Steward Julie Marsh

Church Council normally meets seven times a year. The average attendance at Church Council has been 16. There have also been three extra meetings all connected with the work towards finding a new Anglican minister in 2007. Each meeting opens with worship led by two members of the Council, and includes a pastoral report from Nick Thompson, and reports from one or two of our Church Committees and Groups (other committees and groups report to Church Meetings). The business of the seven meetings includes matters referred from the denominations and from the wider church, but is mainly generated from within Trinity, and during 2006 has included the following:

January 16^th. A formal report was received from Elizabeth Netherwood on the work of the Worship Committee. Major items of discussion were the new Pastoral Link system and Eldership. We also had reports on recent developments in Education & Nurture, and on Regenerate, and agreed new procedures for the election of the Senior Steward,

February 20^th. Formal reports were received from Nick Thompson on the work of the

Education & Nurture Committee, and from Tony Bonnett on the Reading & Silchester

Methodist Circuit. There was substantial discussion on several matters from the

Worship committee including “Meals and Worship”, “Sunday Evening Worship” and “Sunday Worship Attendance”. We discussed various staffing appointments, and had reports on recent matters at the Finance and Mission committees.

April 24^th. Formal reports were received from Nick Thompson on the work of the Pastoral Committee, and from John Goddard on the Anglican Deanery Synod. There was substantial discussion on ideas for Regenerate. Brief reports were received from the Finance Committee and the Joint Church Council. Allocation to church stewards of responsibility for different committees was agreed. Council rescinded a decision made in December 1984, so that when a Church meeting is held, it is not now deemed that a meeting of Church Council is also being held.

May 22^nd. Formal reports were received from Andrew Curnow on the Social Committee, and from Richard Cocks on Churches Together in Berkshire . There was a substantial discussion on the proposed revised constitution. Other items included planning the Away Day, the Pastoral Link system, house groups, the Prayer without ceasing event, “Back To Church Sunday”, and ramps for the dais.

July 17th. Formal reports were received from Richard Munday on CTEER and from Nick Thompson on RE-INSPIRED. There were substantial discussions on progress on the Building Project and on the outcomes from the Away Day held on June 24^th. There were brief reports on Finance, Pastoral Links, Regenerate and House Groups.

September 6^th. This was a special meeting, the business of which was wholly related to the appointment process for a new Anglican Stipendiary Minister. The Archdeacon, Norman Russell, explained the process in considerable detail, and the necessary steps for Trinity were clearly identified and discussed.

October 16^th. Formal reports were received from Tony Bonnett on the Crescent Centre and from Ian Brickell on the work of the Property Group. On property there were substantive matters relating to Risk Assessment and Building Evacuation. Matters for the appointment process for an Anglican minister included electing two representatives, resolutions relating to women ministers, and the Parish Profile, (after a meeting on our Visions on October 14^th). There were also items on Regenerate, Back to Church Sunday, Photography in Church, and support for RE-INSPIRED.

November 20^th. Formal reports were received from Wendy Keeley and Roger Mead on the work of the URC District and Synod, and from Richard Cocks on the Lower Earley Contact Centre. The Archdeacon was again present and there was further discussion on the Parish Profile. There was also some discussion on the Annual Accounts and Finance Report and on the Annual Property Report.

Roger Mead (Church Secretary)

CHURCH MEETING

There have been the usual four Church Meetings during 2006, in March (the Annual General Church Meeting), June, September and December. The meetings have included the usual mix of items including worship, a pastoral report, regular reports from committees and groups, elections and appointments, decisions (mainly relating to the building development project, and presentations. A list of all new elections & appointments is given at the end of this report.

The average attendance at these meetings has been 47 people. The main agenda matters at the four meetings have been as follows:

March (AGM). Worship was led by Nina Mead. Nick Thompson reported on pastoral matters. Elections and appointments were agreed. The annual finance report was presented by the Treasurer, and the annual accounts adopted. The set of annual reports presented to the meeting were approved. Progress on the Building Project, including the detailed plans and finance, were reported and a decision to proceed was agreed.

June. Worship was led by Roger Mead. Nick Thompson and Nina Mead reported on pastoral matters. Formal reports were received from the Missions Committee and Traidcraft. The main item was a presentation on “Prayer Rooms” which was followed by a discussion on using these ideas for our own new chapel. There was an update on the Building Project and also on Regenerate. Appointments were approved.

September. Worship was led by Margaret Stephens. Nick Thompson presented a pastoral report. The new Pastoral Link System was explained and approved. Formal reports were received from the Staffing Committee, and the Healing and Prayer Ministry. The main item of business was the further consideration of the Building Project including the final design, tendering and costs and the financial progress; a final decision to proceed with the project at the tendered cost was agreed. There was an update report on Regenerate. Appointments were approved

December. Worship was led by James Pollard. Nick Thompson reported on pastoral matters. Formal reports were received about the activities of Junior Church, Earley Youth Net, Pilots and Boys’ Brigade; there followed a general discussion on work with Young People, which was the major item on the agenda. There was an update on the Building Project, and a brief Finance Report. Appointments were approved.

The following elections were made at the Annual Church Meeting in March 2006:

Church Secretary/Churchwarden Roger Mead

Senior Steward/Churchwarden Richard Cocks

Members of Church Council (for 1 year) Lynda Brannelly and Sandy Godfrey

The following new appointments have been made at Church Meetings during 2006:

Manse Steward Alison Travers (March)

Membership Secretary Elaine Munday (March)

Librarian Gaynor Davies (September)

Pilot Captains (Jointly) Emma Brannelly & Anna Hedley (March)

Child Protection Officer Cath Bethell (December)

Cleaning Rota Co-ordinator Zena Rains (June)

Link with Parent & Toddler groups Ann Baker (December)

Convener of Education & Nurture Cttee Jill Duncan (June)

Convener of Mission Committee Andrew Curnow (June)

Missions Committee member Anna Hedley (March)

Education & Nurture Group members Joanna Hassan (June)

Dave Brayshaw (September)

Property Group

Health & Safety representative Tony Bonnett (March)

Building Development Liaison John Goddard (March)

Representative to CTEER Carole Cull (December)

Each of these appointments is for a three-year term. In addition many members have been re-appointed to positions for a further term of three years.

At the June meeting the appointment of the following to take responsibility for Pastoral Link Groups was approved: Leslie & Ruth Bainton, Kath Bedborough, Angie Bell, Lynda Brannelly, Sue Brickell, John and Sally Brimicombe, Richard Cocks, Jean Crawley, Jill Duncan, Sandy Godfrey, Joan Guile, Anna Hedley, Lynne Hill, Wendy Keeley, Nina & Roger Mead, Pam & John Medcraft, Sian Minns, Sarah Moore, Elaine Munday, Michael Newport, Jill Ramsden, Rosemary Reece, Kate Robinson, Margaret Stephens, Emma Thorne, Lisa Waite.

Roger Mead (Church 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.

The accounts for 2005-6 have been maintained by a finance team rather than a single treasurer. The production of the final annual accounts involved a lengthy transfer of data from the spreadsheets used to prepare the report according to the SOFA (2003) format used in previous years to the SORP (2005) format that is now required. A new accounting package that will produce accounts in the SORP (2005) format is being introduced.

There is no longer a statutory requirement for the detailed breakdown in the Notes to the accounts. However, the previous format provided valuable information that should enable members of the Church Council, as Trustees, to have a clearer picture of the accounts for which they have a collective responsibility and the additional information has been added as Supplementary Notes.

The deficit for the year was slightly lower than budget. The level of Assessments we pay will continue to increase at a time when our giving to the Church’s general fund has declined across all forms of giving. Almost 85% of our offerings are by envelopes and standing orders providing a valuable level of stability to our income. However, this stability brings with it a degree of inertia in adjustment to changing circumstances.

The current financial year will see major expenditure on the new building works. The work has been commissioned with a large financial deficit in prospect that is to be met by a loan facility and additional fundraising. As the New Buildings Fund is closed down, servicing the loan interest and repayment will become a significant item in the general accounts and how we can increase our continuing level of giving to meet this will be a challenge.

We have a new duty to establish a Reserves Policy. Under this policy the Treasurer must notify Council if the Reserves as a percentage of annual income fall below 20% or exceed 45%. At the end of the 2005-6 year the reserves were 35.9% of annual income.

Norman Briggs (Treasurer)

Finance Committee: Roger Mead (Convenor and Chair); Gill Newton (Assistant Treasurer, income); Emma Thorne (Assistant Treasurer, expenditure); Helen Rixon (Accounts); John Medcraft (Gift Aid & Envelopes); Velda Nylander (Annual accounts); Sandy Godfrey, Nigel Holloway.

PROPERTY COMMITTEE

The committee comprises:

Ian Brickell Property Administrator

David Carrick Buildings Supervisor

David Rains Equipment Supervisor

Zena Rains Cleaning Coordinator

Alison Travers Manse Steward

Tony Bonnett Church Users /Steward / Room Bookings representative.

John Goddard (Part of year)

Nick Thompson is also on the committee in his Church Council role.

The property committee has responsibility for the church buildings, equipment and the Methodist Manse and seeks to enable the fulfilment of Trinity’s aims: -

Growing The Committee is closely involved via the Property Administrator and otherwise with the Building improvement and extension project which should make the Church more prominent, disabled friendly, and flexible. The separate Buildings Working Group on which the Property Administrator sits has continued to successfully progress the changes and additions to the Church building.

Caring Maintenance of buildings by the Committee helps to promote God’s love by facilitating the welcome, care and acceptance of people by the Church. A number of maintenance related items have been carried out to the church in the last year, many of which go unnoticed, for example: Portable Appliance Testing, roof repairs, multiple light bulb replacements, boiler, alarm, and extinguisher servicing, emergency lighting checks, heating control setting, arrangement of volunteer cleaning rotas, liaison with employed cleaner, first aid box maintenance, Insurance checks, purchase of replacement china, regular inspections etc. At the Manse electrical and gas checks, and fence repairs, etc.

Unity As with Trinity as a whole, the committee operates across denominations which reaps the benefits of our different traditions. On the staffing front Alison is now the Manse Steward and Zena the cleaning coordinator and we thank them both for volunteering and doing such a good job in these roles.

Health and Safety Legislation applicable to the Church seems to grow every year and a volunteer is sought to join the Committee to progress outstanding practical matters in this area. Ian will be standing down as Property Administrator from the AGM so a volunteer for this post is sought. If you are interested in any of these vacancies Ian Brickell or Roger Mead would be pleased to hear from you – see Church directory or magazine for contact details.

Community Reaching out to the community by the Church is facilitated through maintenance of the fabric and facilities of the Church building and the work of the lettings officer in making them available for use by the various community organisations as well as the Church itself. As part of a full key audit this year “safe from harm” forms were completed by key holders.

I should like to thank all those who have been, and are, on the Committee for their time and expertise, and also those many people associated with the Committee such as the volunteer cleaners.

Ian Brickell (Property Administrator)

GROWING

WORSHIP COMMITTEE

The committee consists of approx nine members from various areas of the church and currently comprises of:

Music Peter Whiteman and/or Andrew Rixon

Ministers Nick Thompson, Nina Mead and Carole Cull

Church member John Goddard

Church member Kay Slack

Church Steward Richard Cocks

Organist Keith Waite

Accredited preacher Kate Robinson

David Wise (minutes only)

Worship Secretary Elizabeth Netherwood

The secretary is responsible for organising the readers’ rota and contacting visiting ministers/preachers about the services. There is always a need for extra readers particularly at the evening services.

At the committee meetings previous services are discussed and assessed for both accessibility and inclusiveness. The pattern of Easter and Christmas services are also both arranged and assessed.

Over the last year we have continued to discuss the 6pm service in its various forms. We have also looked at the types of services where we would combine food and worship. Other things we have covered are; ensuring sympathetic ministers in August for all-age worships; ways of introducing the congregation to new hymns; a revision of the information handed out to visiting ministers; the band music library has been catalogued. We have also looked at the involvement of Junior Church in worship.

Elizabeth Netherwood (Worship Secretary)

EDUCATION AND NURTURE

Aim: To encourage spiritual growth and to develop a closer relationship with God as individuals and as a church

Group Members: Sally Brimicombe, Wendy Crosson-Smith, Jill Duncan, Joanna Hassan, Vronwyn Hutch, Nick Thompson, Lisa Waite, David Brayshaw was elected to the group in September

A review of our house group provision and pastoral care was undertaken this year, with letters going out to all church members.

We currently have a Wednesday group, Prayer and Praise group and post Alpha group, all meeting as house groups.

An Alpha course was held during the spring and a second course started in October.

Our Lent groups were very successful, as usual, with 4 groups taking place and 40 people attending.

A confirmation group met during the autumn, prior to 3 people being confirmed in November

For 12 hours overnight of the 15^th-16th June, Trinity hosted the Methodist 24/7 Year of Prayer. Youthnet set up prayer stations around the church and we were joined by members of other local churches.

Holiday Bible Club was held for one day at the end of July, with approximately 30 children using Paul’s journey to Look Towards the Light

Back to Church Sunday in November saw us inviting family, friends and Trinity members who we have missed to come for a special service.

During this year, Sally has spent time planning a Pastoral Care course which will run over four days. Jill attended a Lost for Words course of six evenings and a training day, so that we can run a shortened version of this course on sharing our faith.

Jill Duncan

PRAYER and PRAISE HOUSE GROUP

Prayer and Praise now meet as a House Group at Keith and Lisa's, 2 Mitford Close. Numbers at the present time are very low but we pray that the group meet a need within our church community with small, intimate prayer, praise and worship. We are a group that cares for each other, share our concerns and meet prayerfully together. We meet 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 8 pm and all people are welcome.

As a House Group it was agreed to keep the format of the evening similar to previous years, however we have found it helpful sometimes to follow the theme of the previous day's sermon discussing how we can apply teaching to our daily life. An essential part of the group is exploring God's word through worship songs, and introducing new songs to Trinity when we are involved in services.

We would be very welcoming to anyone wanting to attend this House Group. For further information contact Lisa or Keith Waite 9861418

Lisa Waite

TRINITY ORGANISTS

Trinity currently has seven regular organists – Norman Briggs, Graham Iles, Allan Moore, Tim Raggett, Andrew Rixon, Peter Whiteman and myself. Between us we play for all of Trinity’s services apart from those that the band play for.

We also play for wedding, funeral and baptism services as well as the additional midweek services that occur throughout the year.

Some of us also regularly play for services at other local churches when they have no organist – churches we regularly help include Twyford URC, Christ Church Woodley, Whitley Methodist Church and St Barnabas amongst others.

The wide variety of styles of worship held at Trinity means that the organists have to play songs and hymns from all traditions. I would like to thank the other organists for the time that they give and for coping so well when confronted with a new song or a last minute change of service order!

Although we manage to cover the services between us there is always room for others to join us. Anyone who can play the piano or organ is welcome to join us - please feel free to speak to me or any of the other organists if you are interested. It is not essential that you can play the organ as the variety of services held at Trinity means that simple piano accompaniment is often appropriate.

The organists help to further Trinity’s aims by:

Growing: contributing to the worship life of Trinity

Caring: being available to play for weddings, funerals and baptisms

Unity: being open to play songs & hymns from all styles of worship

Community: playing at other local churches when they have no organist

Keith Waite

TRINITY BAND

At Trinity, where we are blessed with musical talent, there are so many prepared to give their talents and time to music in worship in Trinity (and elsewhere). Long may it continue.

I receive many positive comments ( and, indeed, occasional constructive criticism which is always welcome ) from the congregation and ministers and I gauge that the band is appreciated and remains a positive asset of the Church.

Our numbers do fluctuate as members come and go. University entrance programmes have taken their toll on our membership and we are always keen to welcome new musicians. We would be delighted to hear from any musicians at grade 2-3 or above who could contribute to worship music on a Sunday. Today we have ten full band members and four associate members, so if you are hiding your musical light under a bushel – or perhaps just learning an instrument - why not consider contributing to Worship at Trinity with your music? The commitment is low – an hour before a 10.00 service perhaps once every two or three weeks.

The Ecumenical nature of our church is echoed in the wide range of backgrounds, disciplines, ages, etc. within the band and we are particularly blessed with the number of younger people who contribute such vitality (within the band but also notably in other areas of music in Trinity).

During 2006 the band played twenty-seven times: Twenty- five services at Trinity

And two memorial services at Duchess of Kent House

May I say another big thank-you to all members, associates, supporters and friends past and present who have contributed.

Peter Whiteman

SINGING GROUP

The Singing Group has, over the last several years, become an established part of Trinity Church tradition and worship. The group includes some 25 regular singers. In total, close to 50 people have sung with the group since it was formed. The history of the group goes back to around 1990, when the group met purely socially once a month, in members' houses.

The objectives of the group are:

· To encourage and enable anyone who wishes, regardless of musical background, to sing as part of a group.

· To sing 2-3 times in a year. It is not the intention to practise every week. Instead, there are typically 5 to 6 practices, 1 per week, in the run up to the service. This way, people know what the commitment is, and we remain fresh and enthusiastic!

· To sing music from all periods, from traditional early music through to modern popular songs.

· To sing music from many cultural traditions and origins.

All levels of musical ability are welcome, from “never having sung before” and “can't read music” through to experienced musicians. There is a lot of “note bashing”, so that all should have confidence with the music.

The music that the group sings is from all styles and ages. We have sung a number of modern songs (Rutter, Goodall), as well as a more traditional repertoire..

In 2006, we have sung for the Trinity Sunday service in May/June, and a number of times during the Christmas period, and sang some traditional and older music

For more information, please contact Andrew Rixon, on arixon(at)microsoft.com or on 0118 986 1689.

Andrew Rixon

NURSERY SERVICE

Nursery services have been held fortnightly during term time throughout the year. Services have been led by Lisa Waite, Jill Duncan, Nick Thompson and, during the latter part of the year, by Ann Baker, all ably assisted by Karen Green. The short, pre-school service includes craft, songs and stories. Refreshments, play and fellowship follow. Numbers have fluctuated from just three to ten or twelve children. Our Christmas Nursery service was particularly well-attended with some families also attending Christingle and Crib services. The service has attracted families from the local community as well as those from our own church family

Following conversation with parents and helpers it was decided to hold the service weekly in future to provide continuity. Additional leaders and helpers have been recruited and a themed, scripture-linked activity plan has been adopted. A register of those attending has also been introduced to enable follow-up and birthday celebrations. Initial response to the new format is very encouraging and Wednesday afternoons continue to be great fun for all concerned.

Ann Baker

TRINITY JUNIOR CHURCH

In Junior Church we try to show love and care for the children, foster their friendships with each other as well as teaching and encouraging thinking. We thus strongly support the Growing and Caring elements of Trinity’s aims.

This year Sandy Godfrey has taken on the co-ordination of the crèche from Mandy Creed. In the Nursery class, Margot Howard has moved away but has been replaced by Rachel Crabtree, and Sian Minns and Gillian Rackley have started as helpers.

The infants’ class lost Laura Thompson and Helen Dyson as helpers, but have been joined by Joanna Carrick, Matthew Thompson and Jessica Travers. The Juniors’ class has been joined by Paul Pizzey as a helper.

A big thank you to all the above, and all the many other people who teach, help and co-ordinate the four classes and crèche. Their dedicated work is so important to the children, young people and the rest of the church.

The average numbers in the classes are currently as follows:

Nursery: 6

Infants: 5

Juniors: 7

Seniors 6

Laura Thompson had been organising the group for people age 14-18, but when she left to go to university there was not another leader, so the group now stay in church, which is not inappropriate for that age group. We would, however, like to organise a monthly discussion session for them during the second half of the service.

Margaret Cocks ( Junior Church Superintendent)

PILOTS

Pilots have had a busy year this year. Most weeks we get about 15 pilots but many more than that have been through this year. We have had quite a few new faces this year and many of those who come have no or few other links with Trinity.

Looking back over the year we have had many highlights,

	We had a sponsored silence which we aimed to raise £60 to buy a pair of goats for farmers in South America . In the end we had a total of £380 so bought 6 pairs of goats and 2 cans of worms.
	6 of the older pilots gained a nationally recognised first aid award. There was much blood and bandaging on the way but thankfully all pretend!
	Parents were invited to a join us for a meal which was planned, cooked and served by the pilots.
	We spent the summer term at Three Mile Cross where we made good use of the grounds available, and got very wet most weeks. (And it wasn’t even raining!)
	Many of the pilots were enrolled, some in one of the parade services and the rest a few weeks later when Nina Mead joined us and explained the history of the Pilots.
	Pilots have been involved in several services this year, doing many things from dramas to creating prayer banners.
	We both became joint pilot captains and Giles joined the leadership team.

Unfortunately with all things there were some sad points too. Through the year we have had to say goodbye to several pilots who have had to move out of the area as well as to Sarah Keeley who was the Pilots captain but left in February. We would like to say how grateful we are to her for all the hard work she did and we have missed her lots.

Pilots has been great fun this year. We have really enjoyed leading it and are very grateful for all the prayer and support we get. Please keep praying for all the pilots and leaders.

Anna Hedley and Emma Brannelly (Pilots captains)

BOYS’ BRIGADE

Another successful, joyful and happy year has passed and we are looking forward to the future. Every year by the end of January we have our New Year party, but this year, because of the Church Building work, we will wait until later in the year.

As well as promoting the physical aims for our boys, we very much put forth the spiritual side as well. Our motto is the same as it was in 1883 – SURE & STEADFAST, as also is our object, which is the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.

Our weekly parades always open with a Bible reading, a short talk and prayer. One week in every four weeks our members have the joy of football, snooker, table tennis, clock golf and chess. Over the last few years we have very much enjoyed the BB publication “Drama for Worship”. This contains nine short dramas and all include a short Bible reading.

We congratulate Corporal Aaron Cook on achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Award. This year we won the Reading and District table tennis competition, both the Junior Cup and the Senior Cup, as well as winning the individual competitions as well. Our camp at Vevey Christian Centre was most enjoyable with wonderful weather.

Leslie Bainton (Boys’ Brigade Captain)

EARLEY YOUTH NET

Earley Youth Net Continues. And then some. Since this time last year we have been joined by the “output” of St Peters Alpha course, plus some of their other young people, a fantastic bunch of guys from Shinfield Baptists church and we are starting to see our young people bring the occasional friend along from outside the church. Which rocks. In blunt attendance, we probably get about 15 on our Wednesday evenings, though as usual in youth work it is not necessarily the same 15.

Regular program-wise since Jan 06 we have been through the entire book of Acts, a “Biblical Characters” run through the Bible, the Gospel of Mark and we have just started on “God’s Big Picture.” This is based on a book that runs through the entire Bible bringing out the important themes and showing how the whole thing hangs together.

One of the most rewarding things about Youth Net for this year has been looking back and seeing how our young people have grown over the past two or three years in maturity, spirituality and many other ways. Being able to work with them over a long period has been an unbeatable privilege.

The leaders continue meeting the “off Wednesdays” and are following the same material as the young people. We are about to split the leaders’ cell into “boys” and “girls” to make the numbers more manageable. Excitingly we are seeing our older young people move into leadership as Assistant Leaders and join this cell. One of the wonderful things about Youth Net is how many people put so much effort into Wednesdays to make things happen.

EXTRAS

In addition to regular Wednesday meetings, we have done some other things. The Meeting Place has been retired at the venerable old age of about three. This was certainly not without regret. It has been immense fun to be involved with, and it is never bad to meet with Christians from across the area in extravagant worship. However, it was mostly owned by those teenagers who have headed university wards, and we will be looking to something new to put our and the young people’s energies into. Already some of our older Young People have led a Sunday Evening service at Trinity and Challenge continues to run based at St Peters . The Band, Sounds of Salvation who were involved in the last year or so of The Meeting Place are heading out into the country on the back of good receptions at Greenbelt, Easter People and Breakout last year.

And PANTO! We did a Christmas Panto. A slightly odd retelling of the Nativity. Please do not ask.

ON THE ROAD

We took a bunch of young people to the District Youth Weekend, “Dimensions”, in Bournemouth . They loved it. Really loved it. A Weekend of fun, meeting other Young People, worship, creativity, sport, not much sleep and gigs. They loved it so much, they wanted us to host it next year. (Unlikely I’m afraid! But we are aware of the desire to connect outside of our immediate area, so we’ll see what turns up).

CHALLENGES

Though numbers at Youth Net are healthy, there are still several young people in all our linked Churches who are not able to make the regular meetings. This is usually through timing clashes with other activities or simply through not being in the same peer group as those that do attend. Over the summer holidays we ran a low key house group on Tuesdays to give us a chance to meet with these young people, which seemed to be appreciated. This is an ongoing challenge and we are putting more effort into communicating with the other youth leaders in the local churches to see where our efforts can be best spent. There has been raised a possibility of a monthly youth discussion group, and we may have another go at reinstating the Tuesday meetings through the term. We ask for your prayers for God’s guidance in this area.

The other big challenge is to develop a long-term vision for Youth Net. We are always guided by our four big Prayers:

Growth In Numbers

Growth In Young People

Growth In Our Expectations

To See God Act Beyond Our Expectations.

But within that there are many things we could do. We need to seek God’s will and desire for the young people not just in our Churches but in our wider community.

Please pray for us, in thanks for all that God has done, and for guidance in the next year. We are always really encouraged by the support we receive from Trinity (and others, but this is the Trinity report!) and the value that is placed upon Youth Work.

This report was written on the Youth Net Laptop (available for borrowing) on the second floor of a convent in Alum Rock , Birmingham .

James Pollard

CARING

PASTORAL REPORT

Much work has been done during 2006 to lay more effective foundations for the Church’s pastoral care.

Margaret Stephens has continued as our Pastoral Care Co-ordinator and has, along with the Minister, received requests for support at various times. Appropriate members of the Pastoral Team have been asked to undertake visits as a result.

Regular visiting has also occurred during the year by the Minister, Paddy Jose and members of the Pastoral Team

Alongside this the Pastoral Committee have been anxious to provide some well founded training in Pastoral skills. Following the successful day on Listening Skills in late 2005, Sally Brimicombe and Joan Guile have given a lot of time this year to preparing for a more wide ranging Pastoral skills Course to be held in Trinity over 4 Saturdays in early 2007. This will equip more people in the church to support others at times of need both inside and outside church life.

During the year we have also successfully launched a Pastoral Link system. A team of 27 link individuals or couples have been recognised by the Church and each holds a list of up to 12 households. This is meant to ensure that everyone whose name is recorded in the Church directory is known, noticed and befriended and enabled to experience the love and care of Christ’s people. Where issues of specific pastoral need occur, Margaret Stephens is to be notified and appropriate support set up by a member of the Pastoral Team and/or a minister.

Recently the Church Directory has been rigorously revised. As newcomers are welcomed they are placed on a list held by Ann Baker, our Lay Worker with specific responsibility for people new to Trinity. Emphasis on the use of the visitors’ books has enabled us to maintain contact with newcomers and visitors. With this information we have been able to issue personal invitations to specific events, including a welcome tea for newcomers, and offer home visits where specific pastoral needs can be identified and participation in church activities can be encouraged. When these people have become more integrated into Church life they are passed on to other Link lists. Our Pastoral Link people ho