reports from the pcc committees and working groups for apcm 2011

8/7/2019 Reports From the PCC Committees and Working Groups for APCM 2011

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PCC Committee and Working Group Reports for APCM 2011 1

Reports from the PCC Committees and Working Groups for APCM 2011

NOTESFROMSOCIALANDFUNDRAISINGCOMMITTEEFORAPCM2011

Since last April the Social and Fundraising Team have had another active and productive year.

The total amount raised during the year is around 8,000 with the profits going towards the Conservation

Fund, Church Flower Fund, Local Charities and General Church Funds.

Events have included:

A Social and Musical Supper, Afternoon Tea with Bishop John to rededicate the Church at the completion of

the conversation work, Trio Treats Classical Concert with Buffet, Rev. Richards Leaving Party with Hog Roast

and Live Music, Patronal Festival & Flower Festival Week, Cream Teas with Trips up the Tower, Harvest Supper

and Musical Evening with visiting choir from Vermont USA, Bring and Buy Sale, Christmas Hamper Raffle,

Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical Evening with Fish & Chip Supper, Jumble Sale.

We also support and co-ordinate the bring and share meal on Maundy Thursday, provide hot cross buns on Good

Friday, offer refreshments after special services and Lent Lectures and continue to provide a rota for coffee

after Sunday Services.

During the next year we have various events planned, both social and fundraising: Musical Supper Evening with

Enigma, Church Family Barbeque, Church Bi-Annual Fete in the Memorial Park, Church Tower Open with Cream

Teas for Patronal Festival Day, Harvest Supper etc. etc.

Thank you for continuing to support the social and fundraising events throughout the year, and in particular

many thanks to those who often bake or donate food, take home boxes of washing up, buy and provide raffle

tickets, help at the Church fete etc., your help and support is very much appreciated and invaluable.

Social and Fundraising Committee:

Sue Sampson, Mary Dewhurst, Olive Butchart, Gill Myall, Chris Driver, Nicky Alder, Sarah Owen, SueRobinson, Chris Widman. March 2011

PastoralReportforAPCM2011

WorkingalongsideandsupportingtheMinistryTeam,ourPastoralCarecanbeunderstoodastheMinistryoftheChurchthatis

concernedwiththewell-beingofindividualsandcommunitieswithintheParishofStJamesFinchampstead.Inconsideringthis,

wetake a responsibility in responding to the needsof ourcongregationand community,by beinga sensitive and listening

Churchthatcanengagewithpeoplewhethertheysubscribetoreligiousandfaithvaluesornot.

DuringtheyearwehaveaddedtwomemberstoourTeamandcontinuewiththeworkofvisitingintheParish.Thisincludes

takingHolyCommuniontothehouse-boundandthesick.WeworkwiththeministryteamattheRoyalBerkshireHospitalwhen

membersofourParisharepatientsthere.

Intheearlypart oftheyearwefinalized our PastoralGuidelines for the PastoralTeamatSt. JamesFinchampstead,this

documenthavingbeenapprovedbytheDioceselatein2009.

WearegratefultotheMothersUnionforthesubstantialhelpgiventotheTeamandalsotheFinchampsteadHandbellRingers

forassistinginourworkwiththeelderly.

WiththedepartureofourPriest-in-chargeduringtheyear,Rev.Johnhastakenaleadwiththeteambothasacouncilorandas

avisitortothesickanddying.Gratefulthankstohimforthiswork.

GratefulthankstoalltheTeamMembersfortheworktheydo,mostofwhichisnotseenbytheParish.Teammembersare

PaulArscott,JuliaArscott,BarbaraBrice,RichardOwen,SarahOwen,BarbaraHill,DaphneLucan-Wilson,PamGrinter,Nancy

Webster,FelicityWorkman,KateMeadsandSallyHamblin. PaulArscott,LeaderPastoralTeam


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Finance and Stewardship Report for APCM April 2011Members: John Slingsby (Treasurer), Ed Sampson (Churchwarden), Nicky Alder (Churchwarden), Andy Witting

(Chair), Rev John, Keith Hunt, Marion Row, Julie Morley (Secretary), Jonathan Marshall, Debbie Watthey, Robert

Alder (Gift Aid Administrator).

The Finance and Stewardship committee have met 8 times since the last APCM. The Treasury team have met more

regularly, particularly in the run up to the Year End. The Church finances are subject to regular financial review and

the committee look at a detailed analysis of the accounts at every meeting. All such financial information is passed to

the PCC for their scrutiny and The Treasurer has attended and supplied data for PCC and Standing Committee

meetings. The F&S committee have worked closely over the year with the Fabric and Property and MissionCommittees in respect of projects they are involved with at home and abroad. We have also made recommendations

to PCC regarding matters of income and expenditure.

Some of the major projects we have worked on this year are:

Planned Giving Robert Alder has worked tirelessly on our behalf to keep this subject at the forefront ofpeoples minds, particularly following Rev Johns sermon series about voluntary giving. Robert has also

made the Gift Aid tax claims throughout the year.

The insurances have been reviewed in consultation with Peter McBrien. The Friends of St James was launched last summer. The investment portfolio has been carefully tracked and data fed back to PCC quarterly. The Conservation project has continued to be a regular item on the agenda and there has been considerable

thought given to the handling of the residual deficit; a proposal regarding this matter has recently been made

to PCC.

A claim under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme has been submitted after a considerable amount ofwork from those charged with this task. Julie Morley (Secretary)

Fabric & Property CommitteeThe F&P Committee is responsible to the PCC for managing the upkeep of the whole of the St James Church domain.

This includes the church itself and its surrounding churchyard, the Manor House Church Centre and all the enclosing

grounds together with access footpaths and roads. Also, it is responsible for the day-to-day landlords duties with

respect to the four flats and the house in McCarthy Way which comprise our income producing properties. Messrs.

Mortimers, Bracknell, are retained as managing agents for these on our behalf.

The committee meets formally some six times a year, but much business is carried out informally as and when thedemand arises. Currently, the committee comprises both Churchwardens, Rosemary Hossack, Richard Owen (as

chairman of the Churchyard Trust), Maurice Driver (PCC appointed chairman), Peter McBrien (Temporary

secretary for the past several years) Norman Pearce and Bob Brooks; these two latter members being representatives

of the Tuesday Working Party which contributes much to the upkeep of the property, and with which the F&P

Committee maintains a close link.

The committee is in the process of establishing a three-year schedule of necessary works to be agreed with the

Finance and Stewardship Committee for funding support. Meantime, those most urgent tasks having a safety or

economic reason for their early completion are being undertaken.

Maurice Driver. March 2011

Mission & Charitable Giving TeamI would like to begin with a very big thank you to our congregation for their huge generosity during this year of very

unsettled economic conditions. We have been able to support a number of charities throughout the year and we have

endeavoured to keep a balance between home and away organisations.

We continue to support our 4 major charities through our Annual giving process, which are - Church Urban Fund

(UK), Bible Society (specifically overseas), Churches in Reading Drop in Centre, with 2000 each and for 2010 only

The Hope for Living project in our Link Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa with an amount of

1500. Also, from our annual giving we have supported Hope youth project run by Churches together In Crowthorne

and Mothers Union Overseas Fund with 625.00 each. During Christian Aid week we helped St Mary & St John with

the door to door collection, and also supported Christian Aid at Christmas with our one card on the tree Many

thanks go to Chris Driver for arranging this. Donations were also made via Christian Aid for the Haiti earthquake

appeal. Our Harvest collections were given to Send a Cow and our Harvest Supper collection raised a magnificent

sum of over 900 for Yeldall Manor a Christian rehabilitation Centre near Wargrave. Thanks go to the ladies of theSocial & Fund raising team for making this event so successful. During our Harvest services we also had very

generous donations of tinned goods etc. from church members and the children from our village school, which were

distributed between Churches in Reading Drop in Centre and its associated Reading Womens Centre. In early


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December we held our annual Gift Day at which we collected new toys, books etc which were well received by Pact

(Parents & Children Together) who work on behalf of the (Anglican) Diocese of Oxford in the area of nurturing

family life. Those who came to our Christingle Service at Wellington College on Christmas Eve were very generous

in their support of The Childrens Society raising over 1200.

We continue to nurture our link with St Matthews Kimberley, supporting five children at the local pre-school. Julia

Arscott and Becky Head are travelling out to Kimberley on 11th April and will be spending time at St Matthews and

also hope to visit the HIV Peer Training Centre to which we gave a donation in 2009 and Hope for Living project

which we supported in 2010.

Lastly I would like to thank my team members for their hard work & support throughout the year - Sarah Booth, IanWoolston, Becky Head, and also Chris Driver (for her work particularly on Christian Aid)

Julia Arscott

OUTREACH & DISCIPLESHIP TEAM REPORT FOR ST JAMES APCM 2011The Outreach & Discipleship Team at St James (comprising Neil Bidston, Cathy Clayton, Janet Clements, Rev

John Edwards, Katherine Li and Kate Meads) supports and develops the ongoing work of sharing, nurturing, and

deepening faith. This includes oversight and enabling of nurture courses, Bible study, work with families, children

and young people, and in addition, encouraging and promoting prayer.

Monday Morning With Jesus Bible study has continued to meet regularly throughout the year. DuringLent an additional group met on Monday evenings. The group has recently changed to a Wednesday

afternoon slot to enable more people to attend.

The Passion Four 30min instalments of the BBCs The Passion DVDs covering events in Holy Week(up to and including Maundy Thursday) were shown prior to Easter 2010 followed by a final session post -

Easter showing the crucifixion and resurrection.

Whats it all About? a seven week course based on selected Nooma DVDs and looking at issues of lifeand faith, took place from 27

thApril 15

thJune. Members of the O & D team shared in facilitating the

sessions. Eight participants attended on a regular basis and feedback following the course was generally

positive.

Christianity Explored - a seven week follow-up course based on Marks gospel and looking at the life andteaching of Jesus and its significance for us today, took place in the autumn from 30

thSept 18 Nov. The

course was led by Neil Bidston, Janet Clements & Kate Meads. Nine participants attended regularly.

Feedback following the course was very encouraging.

Parenting courses - two nine week courses started in January, led by Claire Prevost-Snell. Six peopleattended the lunchtime course with a further eight coming in the evening. The course was well received with

helpful and positive comments from course members.

Family ConneXions The team has supported families at the 9.30 Family Service throughout the year.Katherine Li took over as team leader from Kate Meads in November. Kate continues to produce the monthly

family E-news.

5-a-side football a new initiative, run by Kev Li, started in Jan meeting fortnightly initially, then weekly onWed evenings. Numbers increased rapidly to approx 30 adults plus 4 teenagers. Various social events have

taken place including a curry evening on 24th

March and a family BBQ in the summer.

St James Quiet Half Day our first St James Quiet Day was held at Sonning on 7th August and we weredelighted to welcome members of St Mary & St Johns Church to join us.

Holy Listening two opportunities to hear about the ministry of Spiritual Direction, took place at St JamesChurch Centre on 23rd Sept. 11 people attended in the morning and 18 in the evening.

Prayer Labyrinths - Kathy Sandy and Pam Smith from St Mary & St Johns Church gave an inspiringpresentation about the use of labyrinths, including how they have adapted the concept for their own church

and then for the children, parents, teachers and the wider community at Gorse Ride School.

School Prayer Group - for parents, staff & governors, held its first meeting in November, attended by Mumsfrom 4-5 different churches. The group hopes to meet each half term.

Youth Group, Sunday Club & Fledgelings see separate reports.Plans for 2011

Provision for families, children & young people - We are currently undertaking a family survey at St Jamesto see how we might best provide for the changing needs of families, children and young people.

NEW! Glad You Asked a relaxed, non-judgemental, contemporary course which uses short DVD clipsand discussion to explore the big questions of life and faith. The course will run for seven weeks from 19

th

May 7th

July.

Quiet Day2011 for members at St James and St Mary & St John on Sat 11th June at Hurley Parish Church.Janet Clements (on behalf of the O&D team)


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Worship & Liturgy Committee Report

This committee brings together representatives of the different groups that contribute to worship at St James (clergy,

sidespeople, musicians, servers, congregation) about 4 times a year to review what has just taken place and to plan for

the future. The committee now aims to meet just before each new quarterly service rota is put together and to view

the arrangements from all angles to try to ensure that the services run as smoothly and well as possible for all

concerned. The committee members through 2010 have been Rev Richard for the first half of the year and then Rev

John, Nicky Alder, Paul Arscott, Andrew Bosley, John Dewhurst, Carolyn Fox and Richard Peat. More recently Keith

Atton has joined the committee.

The 2010 planning, besides the usual weekly services and festivals, also included arrangements for the move back

into the newly conserved church building with new hymnbooks and the purchase of a clavinova to broaden the

musical range. Sidespeople had to be re-trained in the new arrangements including the lighting, heating and sound

system controls. Then there were the special services with Bishop John and Bishop Stephen and a farewell service for

Rev Richard. Wellington College was once again booked for our Nine Lessons & Carols and Christingle service and

we decided to join their Christmas Eve Midnight service because of our reduced clergy power An application

system for Christingle service tickets was tried and seemed to make the point about not wasting the tickets. Everyone

who applied got tickets so there was no need for a second service. We decided to arrange our own Confirmation

Service on 3 July 2011 at a more convenient time (3pm) as All Saints were again to have a midweek evening service.

Carolyn Fox March 2011.

Communications, IT and Publicity ReportThe Communications and IT team have had another busy year supporting the communications of the growing community at St

James. During the year we were pleased to welcome another team member to our ranks as David Booth joined to help with the

extensive work revamping and rebuilding our website, and also latterly supporting an on-going project to bring our membership

into the same integrated suite of software we use to manage our finances and gift aid.

There were a number of significant upgrades this year. Firstly the aging PC in the office was replaced with a brand new Dell

model, which included facilities for continuous backup. At the same time the unreliable phone currently in use in the office was

replaced by an up to date pair of Panasonic handsets. In addition the decision was taken to use the BT 1571 service rather than an

answerphone.

In addition, our previous photocopier was replaced with an up to date colour Canon Copier. Although for most users this is

configured to behave as a black and white copier as before, the unit is much more powerful and is networked into the office PC. It

also includes a stapler and booklet fold finisher that makes the production of service sheets and newsletters something we can do

in house, rather than needing to go to outside printers. Whilst this has certainly been a steep learning curve, and in particular takesa lot more time than just dropping off and collecting from the printer, it saves us a good deal of money, and gives us flexibility as

we move forward.

This brings us onto the newsletter. As mentioned in the report last year we continue to look at options for this. In particular as we

move towards a united parish with St Mary and St John, the previous model of distributing a newsletter to every house in the

parish seems like it will be logistically impossible. Printing newsletters even for our smaller parish is a time consuming

undertaking.

In terms of our conventional media we continue to be grateful for all the hard work Ann Pask our press officer puts in behind the

scenes making sure that our events get press coverage. A selection of press clippings can be seen in a folder that is kept in the

foyer of the parish centre, with a selection also highlighted on our web site.

Over the course of the year the website was rebuilt completely from the ground up. Whilst this was a job that had been on the

cards for a while, the need was galvanised by Revd Richards departure, as one of the key aspects of any recruitment process fora new Rector/Priest-in-Charge is having an up to date website, indeed many applicants will make their first judgements having

looked a church up on the web.

The new site is up and running, and whilst it retains a good deal of content from the old site, has a completely new look, and a

good deal of new content. The site is also integrated in with our Twitter and Facebook pages with new notices posted to the site

automatically going to our Twitter and Facebook followers. We also have Google Analytics installed that allow us a remarkable

level of detailed analysis of our site visitors, what they are looking at and where they are coming from. Special thanks must go to

Jan Van Den Burg and David Booth for their many hours of hard work on the site. Following a crisis with their site, we also

offered our services, and our server space to St Mary and St John to ensure they too met the website requirements from the

Archdeacon, and at time of writing we are also hosting their site. Our site can be found at http://st-james.finchampstead.co.uk and

St Mary and St Johns at http://smsj.finchampstead.co.uk please take a look.

Once again I must thank all the team Jan Van Den Burg, Derrick Sequeira, Carolyn Fox, Ann Pask, Sally Hamblin and David

Booth for all their hard work during the year.

Richard Peat, March 2011


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Church Conservation Working Group Report for 2011 APCM.

The Group was most active in the first half of the year particularly in the frantic weeks leading up to the church being

handed back by the contractors in March with lots of last minute decisions. This was followed by an initial snagging

period checking the outstanding matters were resolved and sorting anything that was giving problems/not working as

expected. There has been another flurry of activity recently doing the final snagging prior to release after 12 months

of the retention money. A Working Group by definition is set up to do a particular task and then disband when thetask is complete. As soon as all outstanding items are resolved on the Conservation work, the PCC will be asked

formally to disband the Working Group and any ongoing work on the church will be followed up by the Fabric &

Property Committee. Carolyn Fox March 2011

Church Conservation Fund Appeal Working Group:

It had been thought that this group could be disbanded as all the funds for the Church Conservation

appeared to be in place. When it became clear that the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for

refund of certain VAT amounts might not pay back as much as first thought, the PCC decided to retainthe group in case further major fundraising was needed. In the meantime the Group assisted Rev

John in formulating the Terms and Conditions of a Friends of St James Scheme. A decision on the VAT

refund has still not yet been received but, once it is, the PCC will be in a better position to decidewhether the Group needs to pursue a further fundraising appeal or whether it can be disbanded. In

the meantime, likely shortfall is being steadily reduced by continued generous gifts and allocating most

profit from social functions etc including the forthcoming Fete to the Conservation Fund.Carolyn Fox

Good Practice Advisory GroupThe Group was set up to assist the PCC in planning and developing good practices for the effective, efficient, legal

and ethical management of its business in accordance with Christian Principles and the requirements of the Church of

England, Charities Commission and general legal obligations. The early work of the Group has helped to make the

PCC itself far more aware of good practice and therefore the PCC has decided that the Group will only be called upon

to meet in future if there is a specific issue which the PCC feels cannot easily be dealt with by the PCC or Standing

Committee. Carolyn Fox

reports from the pcc committees and working groups for apcm 2011

Documents