Christ Church Douglas-in-Parbold

Annual Report 2007
(For April 2007 to April 2008)

Print the report - Click this link for whole report as a plain sheet of text.

Music Group - Mike Graham

Lay Reader - John Mountain

Treasurer - Lin Milne

Bell Ringers - John Hulbert

Music Group: Mike Graham

The Worship team have continued to work, grow and above all worship together with increasing harmony, and in spite of the constant frustrations of time pressures it has been a good year once again.
We have again found various ways of dealing with difficulties so that our love for and trust in one another has increased. We look forward to continued growth in skills and spiritual maturity - and in numbers! The Mercer family's increasing involvement has been hampered by Catherine's shoulder injury, but this is now almost completely better, and we (and she!) are grateful. The tragic loss of Colleen was tempered to some degree by the Spirit-filled celebration of her life - it was a privilege to have known and shared in music with such a lovely lady. Ruth has been able to join us at times in spite of the battles she is having with her health. Having Charles amongst us as organist and music group member has been a huge 'plus', and the Christmas Choir is surely a fixture now! Sylvia decided last year to reduce her playing (she still 'does' Thursday services - AND was/is a key member of Charles' choir!), and we are all very grateful to her for being there for us recently in an 'emergency'. (Her ladies singing group came up trumps too!) It has been wonderful to see Robert's continued emergence as a gifted lead guitarist/bass player and Martin's as a percussionist, and the re-emergence of a 'youth band' with Rob and Martin taking leading roles. There are growing signs of new talent emerging from the even younger ones - witness the wonderful 'Bow down to Jesus' on Palm Sunday. To Jill Bithell, Rebecca Hickling, Judith Townsley, Kate Smith, Charlotte Burdett, Lucy and Steve Huntly, Charles' brother and others our thanks for valuable help in Worship: we are very grateful.

I am particularly grateful to the 'core' group for their commitment and support -they have all made wonderful contributions to the leading of worship.

We would always welcome constructive criticism of the music and thanks to those who already provide it and to those who 'encourage.'
The greatest needs for the immediate future are:
· The refurbishment, which will give more space in the appropriate area and make our work much easier.
· More support for the wonderful group of sound engineers including an overhaul and/or upgrade to the sound system. (They do a great job, sometimes under very trying circumstances. Our warm thanks go out to them all, especially as they continue to enhance worship through their skilful use of the projector). NB These are exactly the same as last year!!

Thanks too to Brian Harding, who provided much encouragement including the service sheets for us all, and gave us real freedom to plan worship with minimal constraint. In the months since his retirement, the talented band of people who have led us forward and fulfilled these tasks have been wonderfully efficient and encouraging - thank you all.

Please pray for us, that we would continue to lead worship by BEING worshippers, and that all who come to our Church will be touched by the Holy Spirit and be drawn closer to God.

Lay Reader - John Mountain

I had a quiet start to the year as I underwent surgery and required some months to recover.

When Brian retired things changed dramatically. I took on responsibility for funerals taking services in church, at the crematorium and subsequent burials in churchyards and burial of ashes services. Its been a real challenge. I've also had to handle the constant phone calls and text messages into the church from outsiders, prepare the service rota's and themes for the next three months services. In addition I have had to support the 8 am weekly communions, giving communion by extension myself every other week and organising the visiting clergy for the alternate weeks. In addition I have taken sick communions to the old peoples' homes and to individuals during 2008. On the 30th March I will be taking my first Christening.

All of this has been a tremendous privilege but also a very time consuming activity. I am retired but I also have my own family life and I must work out carefully how long I can sustain all these activities or whether I should in future be more selective.

Treasurer - Lin Milne

After extensive roof repairs in 2006 the main aim of the 2007 accounts was to start to replace the depleted reserves. The Diocesan quota was discussed by the Churchwardens, Brian and treasurer and we notified the Diocese that we were unable to fund the whole quota but would pay at the previous year's rate (£39k) and assigned fees.

During the year it was decided to open a completely separate account for the re-ordering finds and gifts totalling £5300.00 had been collected, with payments out for improvements in the lighting.
Rental from the scouts is still one year in arrears. They have been informed that the 2007 rental will be collected in May 2008 so bringing payment up to date.

Brian's retirement at the end of October meant that the Diocese took over the rates for the vicarage.

Tithes due for the year were £6554.00 and £6470.00 was distributed before the year end. A further £100.00 has since been donated towards the Parbold Youth Club Project.

Thanks are due to the churchwardens, Ron Mills and David Baybutt who have helped me Sunday by Sunday to count the collection, and also to Bill Smith for his help and advice and his careful auditing of the year's accounts. Also thanks are due to all who faithfully give to the church to carry on God's work in Parbold.

General Report
This year has been quiet - very much as last year.

Practises and to a certain extent ringing for Sunday services, has continued to be affected by a number of ringers increasingly spending more time on holiday and a few with other interest which conflict with both practise and Sunday ringing. This has again meant that practices have unfortunately had to be cancelled when we have had insufficient ringers.

As in previous years, we have again played host to the ‘Wigan Branch’ of the Lancashire Association of Change Ringers, for one, their regular monthly meetings. This year, 2008, it will be in July.

Our ever present problem, it being no different this year, is that we need more new ringers (of all ages) in the tower, not only to
keep alive the ancient art of bellringing, but to ensure that there are sufficient members available to ring when others are away.

Please come & join us. We will all be pleased to see you and you will be helping to maintain the Heritage of both our Church & Country. The experience has its rewards and it’s something to put in your CV, if you are young enough.

Progress
Again progress in perfecting the art of ‘Change Ringing’ has generally been limited to a method called ‘Cloister’, but we have also, when we have had the numbers, rung ‘Plain Bob’ and ‘Grandsire’. What’s that? - some may ask –come and see! Our skill in ‘Striking’ continues to improve and on some occasions I’m sure we would be good enough to win striking competitions.

Aims for coming year
Our aim is simply to continue to be committed to improvement and in particular for more of us to be able to ring ‘Methods’. This will, however take a lot of hard work, by all.

I think our main aim, however, is as noted above, to try in see an increase in our numbers, to be able to have sufficient ringers to
rely upon, to ring, particularly for the half hour, before our Sunday morning services.

MORE RINGERS ARE NEEDED - COME & GIVE IT A TRY

Finances
As stated in previous years, we, as ringers do not have monies for which we are required to give account. The only money, that we
receive, is payment for ringing at weddings and gifts from other ringers, which, rather than share out, we pool and spend on a meal or meals together and for the payment of our individual membership subscriptions to The Lancashire Association of Change
Ringers.

John S Hulbert
Ringing Master