Reports to Church Council November 2007
Property Report - November 2007
The attached sheet provides a new structure for Property and Finance submitted for approval by Church Council. It is self explanatory.
The property report itself reflects what has been listed on Schedule 'A' (the 'official' annual checklist and report).
The property check list revealed deficiencies in:-
· the provision of an approved First Aid Kit
· annual testing of small appliances to be arranged
· an assessment of the work to be done to repair the roof and ceiling in the Ministers' Vestry toilet
· 3 downspouts to be repaired
· the main doors to the Church Hall to be replaced/repaired
The property check list also mentions:-
· the outstanding work to plumb in the Belfast Sink and Kitchen Boiler
· Boiler Maintenance to be arranged
The property check list mentions the major work carried out during the year as:
· the redecoration of the Church and Church Hall
· the new carpet provided for the Church
· the refurbishment of the Organ
· the carrying out of a Fire Risk Assessment
Work identified from the Quinquennial report which is still outstanding:
· Pointing to the west wall
· Replacement of windows in the Limefield Room
· The Hall Entrance
· The Ministers' Vestry toilet
The Wednesday Working Party which did so many small and useful maintenance jobs around the property has during the year ceased to function. As part of the restructuring of the Property Group a more flexible team concept is to be tried with Becca Miller coordinating it. The initial attempt to bring many of the outstanding smaller jobs under control is to hold a "church maintenance day" on Saturday 17th November, when people will be asked to offer some time to help with painting, tidying and other basic DIY tasks.
Recently lead was taken from the roof. Replacement of this with Ubiflex material for security reasons is in hand.
To help with budgeting and planning, it is hoped that a 5-year programme can be built up, so that it will be clearer what bigger maintenance and enhancement jobs may be expected
Seedfield Methodist Church: Finance and Property Structure
Church Council
Treasurer(Jem Wood), Property Group Co-ordinator(Brian Sharples)
Finance and Property Core Group
Secretary (Ken Jones), Treasurer (Jem Wood) Gift Aid Secretary (John Wroe), Property Group Co-ordinator/Stewards' Rep (Brian Sharples), Deputy Property Group Co-ordinator (Dave Johnson), (Mrs G Senior), (Mr R Birtwhistle)
Property Group
Property Group Co-ordinator (Brian Sharples), Property Steward Outside, Deputy Co- ordinator (Dave Johnson), Property Steward Inside (Sherryl Harrison) Property Steward Maintenance Team (Becca Miller) Property Steward Linton Avenue(Ian McKernan) Property Steward Room Bookings and Heating (David Poytress) Safety, Health and Fire. (Ken Mears, Trevor Hardman).
As many of you are aware the Finance and PropertyCore Group has had to face significant changes over the past few months. This structure (subject to Church Council approval in November) will now pertain The most significant change is the breaking down of the Senior Property Steward's responsibilities between a number of people as listed under Property Group. An indication of the role of each is given so that you will know whom to address should you have any problems/issues concerning the Church Property
Ken Jones (Secretary) Dated 18/10/2007
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REPORT TO CHURCH COUNCIL |
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A: Who are you following? |
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We have reviewed the ‘Who are you following’ series. Around 50 members of the church took part in the small group element of the series. All group leaders have fed back to us and there are two main areas: feedback about the ‘Themed learning series’ process and feedback about lessons for us a disciple making church. Themed learning series There were a number of people who valued the chance to come together in a small group for a fixed time, but with no particular desire to sustain the group For some people, there was a sense that they wanted to participate because it was something special, even though small groups were not that comfortable for them The theme of whole-life discipleship was well received and there was evidence that some people were strongly encouraged to take things forward in their discipleship Attempts to encourage different dynamics of discussion proved to be more difficult in some groups, perhaps especially in those more established in different ways of operating We noticed that people found it easier to talk about the life of the church than their own personal discipleship. In some cases people spoke of Seedfield needing to change without necessarily connecting with their own personal change There was still an expectation for some people that this series was really about themed preaching, whereas our emphasis was on themed learning backed up by preaching where possible We believe that we should continue with using Themed Learning and would recommend that we try to do two 4-week sessions each year. We would value feedback from council members on this. Lessons for our church The materials did make reference to a number of churches and so provoked a lot of discussion of how Seedfield can be a disciple-making church. Some of the ideas to emerge were:
People want to know others better and be known better: It is time to look again together at the church’s mission statement and to see how it can be worked through into our life as a church We want to go on learning from how other churches operate We want to carry on encouraging the idea that we are whole-life disciples and we are all involved in mission, perhaps by featuring people talking about how they live as a Christian in their everyday life There are points here that require consideration, reflection and prayer. We hope that Church Council members will be able to bring their thoughts about how we can respond to some of the things that have been raised. |
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Plans are well in motion for the first ‘Going Deeper’ day on 24th November. The day will combine teaching from David Burton and various group and individual activities designed to take us deeper into God’s word to equip us as disciples of Jesus. We will value feedback from participants as we seek to learn how to make these days helpful to people.
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C: Lifespur |
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This is the name we are giving to our encouragement/accountability triplets. We continue to pilot these with Formation group members and friends. Feedback is positive at the moment. We will review these after Christmas and consider the next stage of development. We will report back to the Spring church council |
Social Responsibility Report
The Derby Resolutions earlier in the year the church submitted our considered response on the rightful position we should hold in relation to male and female relationships as God designed us to be in an increasingly errant and confused society. Has anything been heard from the Methodist Church leadership since on this?
Petition Against Human Traffiking signed by about 20 church members has been sent off to 'Stop the Traffic'.
Keep Sunday Special the core group have donated £30 to KSS, part of the Jubilee Centre in Cambridge, who are working with Relationships Foundation and researching data that will show the damage an unrestrained drive towards a 24/7 society would have on people's personal health and wellbeing, on communities and on family life. Funds are needed for media work to get the uptodate statistics widely known. Gifts to KSS are now considered as charitable donations (Gift Aid eligible) which is good news.
Harvest Gifts many of these have been distributed by Seedfield Tenants & Residents Association (STRA) to those ill or otherwise incapacitated in the local community outside the church. They are well appreciated, and we have received a letter of thanks from Rev. Cecil Young.
Fair Trade more groups who use the church facilities for food and drink are using fairtraded products, but not all.
More details in November's Seedfield Messenger. I believe the Circuit would like us to be able to sign up as a Fairtrade church.
Human Tissue and Embryos Bill being introduced by our own Government in the Queen's Speech this would, if it became law unamended, legally allow research into animal-human hybrid embryos and children to enter this world but denied a father, amongst other things such as legalising further the abortion of unborn children.Every man and woman of God should be visiting their MP in haste about this travesty.
Open Doors the Great Big Tea Party kindly hosted by Pam Baumber on The Drive on 10th June in hot sunshine was a valuable success in attracting individuals from both the local community and the church to mingle and learn something of what Open Doors is about. The afternoon refreshments were superb, and there were near neighbours talking to each other who had scarcely done so before. The event also raised over £100 to the ministry of Open Doors to our perseccuted brothers and sisters from whom we can learn and benefit so much.
Unite to be presented by Catherine Layfield, our Open Doors church representative.
Elderly Homes we should remember the ongoing work which our ladies do, for example the coffee morning in September which raises funds for Christmas gifts for residents in Chestnut Court and Limefield Court, and the work in Epworth Grange.
Financial Report to Church Council – November 2007
Please refer to accompanying sheets:
- Expenditure/Income Sep 2006 – Aug 2007
- Finance Update: September 2006 to end of August 2007
In broad terms, we appear to be in a reasonably healthy financial position for the year 2006 – 7, with an income approximately £26 000 greater than our total expenses.
Please remember £10 000 of last year’s income was a donation from The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes (catchy title) for the alterations to the toilets. We will not receive such an amount this year. That brings the surplus to £16 000, if we had to dip into reserves to pay for the costs.
Please also remember we overspent last year. In 2005 – 6, expenditure exceeded income by just over £7 100 so our surplus reduces to about £9 000.
We also underspent on Repairs and Maintenance (P1) by about £3 400, 12 Linton (P6) by about £1 700 and budgeted £6 000 for a TFG worker which was not used (Y4) - £11 100 in total. We will need to use surplus monies from 06 – 07 for important maintenance projects in 07 – 08 for both the church building and re-furbishing 12 Linton (see property report), though I hope we will use money set aside for a TFG worker either for that purpose or to support mission and outreach.
At 31/08/07, the balances in our 3 accounts were as follows:
Barclays - £ 18 259.93
CFB Account 1 - £ 34 554.75 (about £13 400 leaves this account every 3 months to cover the circuit assessment and lay worker salary costs)
CFB Account 2 - £ 87 190.83 (This is our ‘reserve’ account)
Jem Wood, Treasurer
Ecumenical Report
The following events or initiatives are brought to you from the most recent meeting of Churches Together Bury East whom we are affiliated to:-
Summer Praise did not take place as planned - do you remember the heavy downpours and thunderstorm on the possible Sundays available? Tim has retained a copy of music and messages for another time. It is important we use every opportunity to share something of God's grace with others who might not otherwise hear.
Civic Carol Service: Tuesday 18th December 7.30 pm at the Elizabethan Suite, Bury Town Hall. The United Christian Singers and Rochdale Salvation Army Band have benn invited, and Victoria Smith-Unwin is co-ordinating the event. Please note in your diaries and think of any friends or work colleagues you could invite.
Lent House Groups: these are scheduled to start after Ash Wednesday (February 6th) at 4 locations - 150 Walmersley Road, 50 Lowes Road, 14 Springside Road (led by Tim), and 291 Bury New Road, Heywood. As the young N.T. churches of believers communicated with and supported each other, so should we happily share together and be strengthened and enlarged in the process, enjoying one another's fellowship in Christ whether across the Methodist circuit or other Christian Churches.
Pastoral Meeting - Notes to the Church Council Nov. 7th. 2007
- The last meeting was held 26th Sept. 2007
- David Roscoe is temporary chair of the pastoral meeting
- Hannah Boaden and Joshua Warburton were added to the Pastoral List as new Church Members
- The death of Eric Eastwood was noted. We give thanks to God for his life and service. Georgina Gaff’s name was lso removed from the list
- David Rigby has stepped down as a Pastoral Carer due to his mission work. He was thanked for his role over the years as a Pastoral Carer. The members and adherents in his list have been taken on by others
- Alison Poytress has stepped down as Pastoral Committee Secretary. We give our thanks to her for her work on behalf of us all. At the moment this position is vacant. Anyone interested please let David Roscoe or any member of the Leadership Team know
- Thought is to be given as to whether the Pastoral System may be organised in ways which may be more efficient and meet the needs of members and adherents better
- Next Meeting Wed. 5th. Dec
Report + Recommendations For Future Lay Work at Seedfield
To Church council
From Leadership team
Date 7/11/07
As you may be aware, in September ’08, Jon Miller hopes to begin full time deaconate training with the Methodist Church following the completion of his contract at Seedfield.
The leadership team met on 24/10/07 to prayerfully consider possible next steps.
We believe that this is a suitable time to review the needs of the church as a whole and seek God’s leading as to how best to meet those needs. We also believe that there should be continued provision for youth work following John’s departure.
As a result, the leadership team wish to bring 3 recommendations to the church council.
- In order to maintain a basic level of youth work provision we recommend that the church look to appoint a ‘paid’ youth worker from Sept. 08 on a 0.5 (half time) basis.
- To facilitate this, we recommend that the leadership team are given permission to set up an ‘appointment team’ to manage the appointment process, which needs to begin a.s.a.p. We hope this team will include key people in the life of the church who have obvious links with our children + youth.
- We also believe that the whole church be encouraged to prayerfully consider other areas in the life of the church where paid lay work provision would be beneficial and further recommend that the leadership team, through both prayer and consultation with the wider fellowship, be set aside to explore this provision, with a view to possible appointments in Sept. 09.
The Leadership Team
Youth Work Report
Kids Corner 5-10 year olds
Tuesday, 4.00pm-5.30pm
£1 subs. 8-15 attending regularly. Numbers had dropped off considerably a few weeks ago as some moved on to the Mix and some had a change of routine which meant they could no longer attend, however thanks to some word of moth advertising we now have a healthy size group thanks to 10 new members. Over the past couple of terms we have been taking in an overview of the Bible, taking in the books of History, the Laws, the Wisdom, the songs, the Gospels etc. In the new year term we are hoping to have Kids corner members involved in another sunday morning service as we have in the past. Many thanks to all of our helpers; we couldn’t run it without you.
The Mix 9-12 year olds
Tuesday, 6-7.30pm
The Mix is currently our most popular group with 30 members and 20ish each week. As the name would suggest the group is run as a mix between Space and Kids Corner. So lots of free time, some teaching some regular games (Dodge-ball), crafts and a tuck shop. Subs are £1 and we are getting new members every other week. Thanks go of course to our regular helpers without whom we couldn't run, but of course we could always do with more. We will be asking some church members in the new year to come and speak about their lives as Christians to our group.
Open House by appointment. The door remains open for the young people if they wish to come round for a chat. Much of this pastoral work tends to happen online and by phone these days.
Friday Bible group
Due to my (Jon Miller) day off having changed to accommodate Monday toddlers and The Mix and the commitments of the young people we are currently no longer running this group but as the young people still want and need such a group we are looking at alternative days and times, although Wednesday is likely to be the day we opt for.
Cake or Death
16-30 (the age limit goes up as I get older) something year olds, Tuesday 7.30pm-9.30pm. Around 8 in regular attendance and we try to have a social every 4 weeks. We are just about to begin our advent study after we have a session or two looking at our individual sense of calling as Christians and how we can work that through in our vocations. As a group we are always looking at ways in which we can step out of our comfort zones and be more active as Christians, and doing something instead of just talking about it.
Toddler Group
The Parent and toddlers group continues to be a brilliantly effective witness. With consistently high numbers on Monday (mornings), Wednesday (afternoons) and Thursday (mornings) we are finding that our helpers are getting a bit stretched and could do with some more especially on Mondays where the group has reached its maximum size.
As well as the usual “See and know” things Toddler group has also ran some parenting classes. Now every first week of the month Toddler group runs a bring and share lunch before the Wednesday group and after the Thursday one not currently happening for the Monday group, both have been well supported. The group is now working closely with the Hoyle Early Years centre who are running several course in conjunction with the group to benefit parents and toddlers. After a recent conference the group is now looking at its code of best practice laying down a clear set of documents to do with the group. Including a mission statement and a code of conduct for those who attend due to recent issues with the behaviour of some who attended.
SPACE
11-14 year olds Thursdays 6-7.30pm
£1 subs.
Due to start in the new year after pantomime has finished this younger Space group will bridge the gap between the Mix and the Older space group.
15-17 year olds, Thursday 7.00pm-9.00pm.
£1 subs.
As many of our youth are buried under a pile of course work and other distractions on a Thursday night we have now had to close the group in the short term while the Space leaders come up with a new plan and strategy for the future of this group or simply the future of youth work for this age bracket. Whether that be a youth group as it is at the moment or maybe decentralised youth work with the community kids.
Sunday Youth fellowship
Both groups have now combined into one and follow a pattern similar to that of cake or death, with one week bible study, one week discussion, one week social and one week something else usually going to Liv’ it Live a youth event that tours round the Churches in the area including one extremely well attended one at Seedfield with over 100 in attendance. We are still hoping to get away on a retreat before the year is out but obviously it is hard to find a time to suit everyone.
Monday lunch club
We have been running a regular Monday lunch club at Bury Church High school following the Essence course which we are using to help young people discover their spiritual sides and see how this impacts their everyday lives.
We haven't met this term due to room issues but hopefully soon after half term we will be back up and running.
Seedfield Youth Myspace and Messageboard
As most young people are now part of this social networking website it made sense for us to use this as a way of keeping in touch with them and keeping them informed about things that are going on. We are also using the blog facility to post relevant information about the Junior Church group each week now that we have changed its format. This has taken the place of the youth group website. The message board is just the same as it has been before but has been rebuilt.
Youth Core group
The youth Core group is currently being revamped and will hopefully be back with us soon.
Youth Work Consultation
After this Church council has made it's decision with regards to the lay work situation Jon will be holding a consultation with parents young people and anyone else interested on how youth work is done at Seedfield, are the groups adequate, should we be doing more decentralised youth work, how can we get more volunteers involved and what our mission statement should be with regards to youth.
School assemblies
As usual I have been taking assemblies in Chesham, St John's with St Mark's, St Paul's, Summerseat and Springside Primary schools and Burch Church high schools.
The overall mission for all our youth work at Seedfield Methodist Church is to bring the young people more into the Church family and to a closer relationship with Jesus. That is not to say however Sunday mornings as the Church is so much more than that, we aim to show the young people who come to Seedfield and those that will come in the future that Seedfield Methodist Church is a 24-7-52 Church, i.e. we are a Church worshiping and serving Christ 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 52 weeks a year. A Church without boundaries boarders or walls, a Church family filled with love and a desire to go where it is needed however unpleasant it gets. A Church willing to get messy for God. A Church accepting of all and willing to step out in faith to get the job done.
As usual I am very sorry if I missed anything.
Jon
Copyright for churches
There have been some major changes over the past 100 years in the way we access the material we sing in worship. Some still sing from purchased hymn books, but today many others use a mixture of photocopied booklets, song sheets, OHP slides or projecting songs from an electronic light board or video projector or computer. Songs can be reproduced from books, magazines, internet sites, even dictated over the phone...
There is no difference how or from where a work is copied, the copyright still exists on the songs, and we are required to pay the song owner for copying their work.
Current licences
We currently have two copyright licences, details of which are given below.
The Church Copyright Licence (CCL)
This Licence covers the reproduction of the words only of hymns and worship songs.
It also covers the video and audio recording of music within services, for non-commercial use, such as distribution to those not able to attend the service. There is a limit to the number of tapes we can produce, after which further charges may be made.
We can reproduce the words of hymns and worship songs that are included in the scheme (not all are) onto overhead projector transparencies, service sheets, or any other tangible format for use in church or school. We can make our own hymn or songbook if we wish, and add to it as new songs come along. In order to stay within the cover of the licence, we need to type or write out the words, as opposed to photocopying directly from a published book. We may photocopy our own typed or written words.
We are allowed to utilise electronic storage and retrieval methods (e.g. a computer) to enable us to print overheads or song sheets, or to project directly from a computer the words of hymns and/or worship songs that are part of the scheme.
Music Reproduction Licence
This Licence provides the right to photocopy the music and words of thousands of hymns and worship songs, from a supplied list of music books, for congregational and collective worship. This list includes Mission Praise, Songs of Fellowship, Spring Harvest, The Source and many more authorised music books.
The MRL is available only to holders of a current CCL.
The cost of these two licences, for a church of our size, is currently £249 (inc. vat + service fee) per year.
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Further licences
For the activities that take place in our church at the present time, the following two licences are also needed.
The Church Video Licence (CVL)
This Licence covers the right to play clips of videos within a sermon, show films for teaching at children’s meetings, hold film clubs, use videos and films for education and teaching. If these videos or films contain music then a PRS Church Licence (see next item) is needed.
The Performing Rights Society Church Licence (PRSCL)
This Licence covers the performance or playing of music on church premises outside of worship. Music uses would include - Concerts and recitals; discos, dances, and karaoke sessions; aerobic, keep fit or dancing classes; music on film or video soundtracks; as well as background music by means of television and radio; tape, record, CD and video players at such events as coffee mornings, youth clubs, fetes, bazaars and so on.
Where music is strictly confined to Divine Worship only, PRS will not press for a licence to be obtained for the time being.
The cost of these two licences, for a church of our size, is currently £230.09 (inc. vat + service fee) per year.