Meeting of Parishioners & Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Sunday 14th May 2023, 12 noon

 

  1. AGM 2023 Agenda 

Annual Parishioners Meeting

The meeting of Parishioners will be held in St Edyth’s Church on Sunday 14th May 2023 at 12.00 pm.

AGENDA:

  1. Opening thought and prayer – Heather Daw
  1. Appointment of a clerk for the meeting
  1. Apologies for absence
  1. Minutes of the meeting held on Sunday 8th May 2022
  1. Election of Churchwardens (notification that Heather Daw and David Spottiswoode are willing to continue to serve as Churchwardens) 

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

The APCM will be held in St Edyth’s Church on 14th May 2023 following the Annual Parishioners’ Meeting.

AGENDA:

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Appointment of a clerk to the meeting
  3. Minutes of the meeting held on Sunday 8th May 2022
  4. Elections:
    • to the Deanery Synod
    • to the Parochial Church Council
  5. The Church Electoral Roll
  6. PCC Report
  7. Churchwardens’ Report and thoughts on vacancy.
  8. Fabric report
  9. Finance (Audited Accounts and Treasurer’s report)
  10. Other Ministry reports:
  11. (See Annual Reports and Accounts document)
  12. Closing Prayer 

 


PCC for 2022/23
PCC for 2023/24
Ex-officio members Ex-officio members
Revd. John Monaghan
Church Wardens Church Wardens
Heather Daw Heather Daw
David Spottiswoode
Deanery Synod
Rebecca Cross Deanery Synod
Gloria Wright Rebecca Cross
Elizabeth Marks
Elected PCC  
With 3 years to serve Elected PCC
Geraldine Richardson With 3 years to serve
John Hewer  
Zac Abraham (Treasurer) (2nd term)
Peter Marks (2nd term)
With 2 years to serve With 2 years to serve
Teresa Goodall Geraldine Richardson
Mark Temple (Secretary) John Hewer
Zac Abraham (Treasurer) (2nd term)
Peter Marks (2nd term)
With 1 year to serve
Neil Branscombe With 1 year to serve
Teresa Goodall
Co-opted Members Mark Temple (Secretary)
Graham Baker
Elizabeth Fry Co-opted Members
  Graham Baker
Elizabeth Fry

 

  1. Minutes of St Edyth’s Annual Meetings in 2022 

Meeting of Parishioners (APM)

Meeting held at 12 pm following morning worship on Sunday 8th May

Present: Eileen Jarrett, Eileen Knight, Geraldine Richardson, Zac Abraham, Anna Abraham*, Joshua Abraham*, Christine Woodhouse, Teresa Goodall, Ann Green, Memory Basvi, Elizabeth Fry, Margaret Scott, Wendy Maddocks, Karlynn Evans, Gloria Wright, Heather Daw, Paul Cockram, Sue Cockram, Helen Robbins, Rebecca Cross, Pam Jenkins, Chris Wright, Erica Wright, Elizabeth Marks, Peter Marks, Tilly Alison Dodd, Barbara Hewer, John Hewer, Sheila Roberts, Alice Monaghan, Graham Baker, Sarah Baker, Afia Danquah*, Wiseborn Danquah*, Wiseborn Danquah, Dorothy Danquah, David Spotiswoode, Sara Spotiswoode, Richard Widger, Hartmut Kopsch, Jane Kopsch, Anna Arnold.  (*not on electoral roll.)

  1. Opening thought and prayer

The Revd. John Monaghan welcomed all to the meeting and opened in prayer and led some thoughts around the theme that in the early church ‘all these with one accord were constantly at prayer'(Acts Ch 1 verse 14). 

He advised that the administrator Katharine Wiltshire had emailed the APCM report with financial accounts out to those on the mailing list and that hard copies were available on request. 

  1. Appointment of Clerk for the Meeting

Mark Temple was appointed as clerk of the meeting – nem. con.

  1. Apologies for Absence

Susan Dow, Gish Hobbs, Neil Branscombe & Pam Dawson.

  1. Minutes of the meeting on Sunday 23rd May 2021.

Approved as a true record and signed – nem. con.

  1. Election of Church Wardens

Heather Daw was thanked for her service and agreed to continue for a 3rd year in 2022/3. 

David Spotiswoode was proposed by Chris Wright and seconded by Di Goodison.  He was elected unopposed.

John closed the meeting with a brief prayer of blessing.

The meeting closed at 12.15 pm.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

Present: Eileen Jarrett, Eileen Knight, Geraldine Richardson, Zac Abraham, Anna Abraham*, Joshua Abraham*, Christine Woodhouse, Teresa Goodall, Ann Green, Memory Basvi, Elizabeth Fry, Margaret Scott, Wendy Maddocks, Karlynn Evans, Gloria Wright, Heather Daw, Paul Cockram, Sue Cockram, Helen Robbins, Rebecca Cross, Pam Jenkins, Chris Wright, Erica Wright, Elizabeth Marks, Peter Marks, Tilly Alison Dodd, Barbara Hewer, John Hewer, Sheila Roberts, Alice Monaghan, Graham Baker, Sarah Baker, Afia Danquah*, Wiseborn Danquah*, Wiseborn Danquah, Dorothy Danquah, David Spotiswoode, Sara Spotiswoode, Richard Widger, Hartmut Kopsch, Jane Kopsch, Anna Arnold.  (*not on electoral roll.)

  1. Apologies for Absence:
    Susan Dow, Gish Hobbs, Neil Branscombe, Pam Dawson.
  1. Appointment of a clerk to the meeting:
    Mark Temple was appointed as clerk of the meeting – nem. con.
  1. Minutes of the meeting held on Sunday 23rd May 2021
    The minutes of the meeting held on 23rd May 2021 were approved – nem. con.
  1. Elections
    a) Deanery Synod

    Rebecca Cross had agreed to continue in this roll. Gloria Wright had also agreed to continue if there was no other volunteer.  Both were elected unopposed.
  1. b) Parochial Church Council
    The rules allow up to nine elected and two co-opted members. The following new PCC members have been nominated:

Geraldine Richardson nominated by Di Goodison and seconded by Margaret Symonds.

John Hewer nominated by Peter Marks and seconded by Teresa Goodall.  Both were elected unopposed.

PCC for 2022/3 now comprises:
Ex-Officio
Vicar – vacancy from 17th May

Church Wardens
Heather Daw

David Spottiswoode

Deanery Synod
Rebecca Cross

Gloria Wright

Elected PCC
With 3 years to serve –

Zac Abraham (Treasurer) (2nd term)
Peter Marks (2nd term)
Geraldine Richardson
John Hewer

With 2 years to serve –
Mark Temple (Secretary)

Teresa Goodall

With 1 year to serve –
Neil Branscombe

Co-opted Member
Graham Baker

  1. Electoral Roll
    Paul Cockram summarised the changes over the last year. At the start of the year there were 71 on the roll.  During the year 2 died, 2 moved away and there was one new member.  At the close of the year there were 68 on the roll. 
  1. PCC Report

Mark Temple summarised the activities of the PCC and Standing Committee.  The main issues were response to the covid pandemic, repair to the nave roof, the winding down of the CAP Centre, recruitment of a children’s and youth minister and finance matters.

  1. Church Warden’s Report

There would be an opportunity to say goodbye to the Monaghan family on 15th May.  A small team is working on arrangements for the transition.  At the July PCC we will hear more from the diocese about the process for appointing a new vicar.  11th July there will be a prayer day to pray for the process of finding a new vicar. 

  1. Vicar’s Report

John Monaghan briefly summarised some of the themes in his printed report. 

  1. Fabric Report

In the absence of Neil Branscombe John Monaghan reported briefly on the work of Fabric Committee.  The main new work was finalising of the tenders for the nave roof retiling which is now close to the point of signing the contract.

  1. Finance

Zac Abraham Thanked the congregation for their generous giving.  In 2021 our balance of funds rose from £130,000 to £144,683.The PCC has prayerfully taken decisions including in January to pay 100% of our parish share in 2022.  Anna Arnold asked about the use of the balance of restricted funds donated for the CAP Centre.  Zac explained that if a new CAP Centre is established in the area then the balance of funds will be transferred to the new centre.  If that does not happen the funds will be donated to CAP centrally.

  1. Other Ministry Reports

See the Annual Reports and Accounts document.

Hartmut Kopsch closed the meeting with prayer at 12.56 pm. 

  1. Elections

(a) Deanery Synod
(b) Parochial Church Council – 4 vacancies currently

  1. The Church Electoral Roll

Paul Cockram – Electoral Roll Officer
As of the 2022 APCM, there were 68 people on the electoral roll, which was last fully revised in 2019. Since then, one member has moved away and another has died, leaving the roll at 65.

At the time of writing and since the 2022 APCM I have received no new requests for inclusion on the roll, but it remains open for these until 22 April.  Any further changes to overall membership will be notified at the meeting on 14 May.

On a personal note, it has been a privilege to serve as Electoral Roll Officer since 2010 but I have decided to step down just after this year’s APCM. I wish my successor well!

  1. PCC Report

Mark Temple – PCC Secretary

St Edyth’s PCC has the responsibility of working with the Incumbent in promoting the mission of the Church.  The PCC is responsible for sharing the leadership, management, and administration of a parish with the incumbent. Since the last Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) there has been no incumbent since John Monaghan left us and his duties devolved to the Church Wardens and a Transition Team.  Members of the PCC are elected by the APCM and serve for three years.  Its function can be summarised as follows:

  • It exists to enable the church to play its part in God’s mission to his world 
  • It exists to co-operate with the minister in sharing leadership 
  • It exists to ensure legal compliance with charity law and ecclesiastical law, in particular in the areas of finance, employment and appointments
  • It exists to care for the buildings and churchyard so that they may be best suited for the purpose of the church’s ministry and mission
  • It exists to be a channel of consultation within the wider Church through its synodical structures on matters that affect the Church locally and nationally

During the year, the following have served as members of the PCC

Heather Daw                                Church Warden

David Spottiswoode                    Church Warden

Rebecca Cross                              Deanery Synod; also Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO)

Gloria Wright                               Deanery Synod until Autumn 2023 then Elizabeth Marks (co-opted)

Voted on members:

Zac Abraham (Treasurer), Mark Temple (PCC secretary), Neil Branscombe, Teresa Goodall, Peter Marks, Geraldine Richardson, and John Hewer,

Co-opted members:

Graham Baker and Elizabeth Fry.

The PCC met 6 times during the year for its regular meetings every two months and on two additional occasions to deal with matters relating to the vacancy.

Our Standing Committee comprises the Vicar, Church Warden(s) and Treasurer. It meets every two months and has the power to transact PCC business between meetings, subject to directions given by the PCC.  Where necessary the PCC can now conduct business by email correspondence where the chair decides that it can be properly conducted that way. During this year of vacancy the three members of Standing Committee have chaired the PCC in turn.  Minutes of the PCC meetings are available in the Church Office for anyone who wishes to read them. Any member of the church who has an issue they wish to be raised in the PCC is invited to bring this to the attention of a PCC member.

We thank Gloria Wright who represented St Edyth’s on Deanery Synod for a long spell.  In the autumn she stood down and the PCC co-opted Elizabeth Marks to represent us.

Issues with which the PCC has dealt during 2022 include matters relating to the vacancy, repair of the nave roof (which was completed in the autumn), other property subjects, recruitment of a children’s and youth minister, planning events throughout the year and finance matters.

  1. Church Wardens Report

Heather Daw & David Spottiswoode – Church Warden
If last year felt like a year of ‘goodbyes’, the year since our AGM in 2022 has been a year of ‘hellos’!

Heather Daw has been delighted to welcome David Spottiswoode to work alongside her as Church Warden as we continue to navigate the vacancy. Since Rev. John Monaghan left in May last year, the church has been led by a transition leadership team, comprising Heather and David, Hartmut and Jane Kopsch, Elizabeth Fry, Zac Abraham and Reuben Coulter. It has been such a privilege serving together in seeking to discern God’s will in leading the church and sharing the good news of Jesus with our community. The team would like to thank the church family for all your prayerful support and encouragement, and everyone who has taken on a new role during this time.

After much prayer, we were very pleased to appoint Gabi Groenewald as our part time Children and Families Worker at the beginning of the year. Sadly, due to backlogs at the Home Office, Gabi’s visa has yet to be approved, meaning she has been unable to start work. However, we are very grateful to her for stepping in to lead Seedlings, our Wednesday toddler group, as a volunteer, enabling Rachel Powlesland from St Marys Stoke Bishop to withdraw. Please pray that Gabi’s visa will soon be granted, so that she can fully take up her role. In the meantime, we are so blessed to have our dedicated and creative volunteers running the Sunday morning children’s group, which is steadily growing.

We have been much encouraged that average weekly attendance at services overall continues to grow, and love the vibrancy that new faces, both young and more mature, bring to our church family.

We are delighted that our 8.45 Sunday gathering is also still meeting, thanks to the dedicated commitment of its worshippers, several of whom organise the service and provide a Bible talk.  

We greatly value our collaboration with other local churches, and have enjoyed considerable support from all ASMA clergy, whom we thank most warmly for their contribution to St Edyth’s ministry.   Additional ASMA activities have included ‘Harp and Bowl’ – the monthly informal evening service – which has continued at St Edyth’s on alternate months, and the Lent course.

Whilst resource constraints sadly meant we were unable to schedule a Christingle service in 2022, St Edyth’s again joined forces with Highgrove Church to stage the ever-popular Carols on the Square.

We are grateful to Katharine Wiltshire, our unflappable Parish Administrator and Hall Manager, who has been a huge support and kept us on task!

Of course, just as 2022 saw our biggest ‘goodbye’ in saying farewell to the Monaghan family, we hope that 2023 will see our biggest ‘hello’ to our new vicar. As this report goes to print, we are shortlisting for interviews in early May, and if an appointment can be made, we anticipate the new incumbent’s licensing will be in the autumn.

 “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.”
Hebrews 12:2.

  1. Fabric Report

Neil Branscombe – Chair

The major achievement since the 2022 report is the successful completion of the re-tiling of the South elevation of the main roof. Thank you to all involved in what proved to be a protracted project.

There is a significant amount of work which will be necessary into the next period. Most urgently the repair of the church hall floor. However also pressing is the upgrading of the toilets to enable proper access to those with reduced mobility. The main entrance to the church premises is also in need of works for similar reasons.

A lighting upgrade should commence shortly and a review of the heating system is also being undertaken, both with a view to addressing the current high cost of energy. The main church building is now nearly 100 years old and will need additional general maintenance, the most urgent likely to be re-pointing of the exterior, some parts of which are in a poor state of repair.

Many thanks to all those who give of their time but especially to the ever-stalwart Barrie Havens.

  1. Finance Report – 31st December 2021

Please see full Finance Report and Statements in a separate document (if electronic) or on the back of this document (hard copy).

 Other Ministry Reports

Mission Focus Spend –  Heather Daw, Church Warden
St Edyths’ allocate a certain budget (typically £500 per organisation) to support selected ministries, both home and abroad. 

In 2022, we supported Tearfund, Christian Aid, Open Doors and our missionary partners Tom and Sarah Haig, running discipleship programmes in Malawi.   Each of these ministries have had a bearing in some way on our church discipleship – either by sharing/hearing God stories’ or being directly involved. For instance, a sponsored hymn sing was organised in the church to raise funds for Christian Aid.

In 2023, our giving looks slightly different. Tom and Sarah have moved back to the UK, and we will therefore be supporting Bristol North West Foodbank, Tearfund, Open Doors and Christian Aid. In addition, following a generous donation by a church member, £2,000 will be donated to the Syria/Turkey earthquake appeal.

The Avonside Mission Area in 2022 – Rev. Simon Potter & Rev. Jema Ball

The Avonside Mission Area (the Church of England parishes of Avonmouth, Lawrence Weston, Sea Mills & Coombe Dingle, Shirehampton, and Stoke Bishop) is a key partnership for St Edyth’s – the communities of NW Bristol and the local parish of Sea Mills and Coombe Dingle are all stronger as a result of it. 

  • The past year has been a good demonstration of the ways in which God has used St Edyth’s to inspire and equip the Mission Area and the support that the Avonside Mission Area (ASMA) has offered to ongoing parish ministry in Sea Mills:
  • During the vacancy, ASMA clergy have helped to support Sunday services – in particular our ASMA curates, Rev Sonia Home and Rev Julie Summers, who have been involved with the worship life and weekday ministry of St Edyth’s as part of their training and ministry in the Mission Area.
  • Over the past year, there have been shared services in the Mission Area after major festivals to allow St Edyth’s clergy and leaders a well-deserved break.
  • There has been support for the Seedlings parents and toddler group from staff team members at St Mary’s, Stoke Bishop working alongside others to help ensure its ongoing viability.
  • Clergy and staff from St Mary’s, Stoke Bishop have also covered weekly assembly slots in Sea Mills Primary School during the vacancy to ensure a continuity of Christian presence in the life of the school.
  • St Edyth’s has continued to open its doors to ASMA in our shared Harp and Bowl prayer and praise celebrations, which it established with St Andrew’s Avonmouth and which continues to grow and encourage those who attend.
  • St Edyth’s members have taken a significant lead in pioneering the ASMA link with Kintsugi Hope and the mental health awareness materials and groups that it offers. These groups now operate in three of our local ASMA parishes and have been of enormous support to those who attend.
  • St Edyth’s members have enjoyed sharing in the regular ASMA Lent Course which moves around our churches. ASMA church members have very much enjoyed being hosted by St Edyth’s as a way of strengthening the ties in Christian faith which encourage us so much.
  • St Edyth’s PCC members shared in a ASMA PCCs Together morning in September with CPAS facilitator and Acting Director Rev Graham Archer as a way of sharing encouraging news, good practice, and praying together.
  • The St Edyth’s churchwardens and Leadership Team have received support from the leaders of St Mary’s Stoke Bishop in relation to the preparation of the parish profile and the forthcoming interview process.

The churches of ASMA have been pleased to support the amazing congregation and efforts of the parish leadership team during the vacancy. As ever, it is true to say that ASMA is much the stronger for St Edyth’s involvement, and church ministry at St Edyth’s is stronger as a result of ASMA too.  

Children’s Ministry Report – Reuben & Grace Coulter

The children’s work is going well and they are growing in their faith.

For the past 9 months there has been a vacancy of Children & Families leader, but amazing volunteers have stepped in to fill the gaps. We are delighted to have identified a suitable candidate for the position but are awaiting her visa approval from the Home Office.

Saplings, our Sunday children’s group is going well with 6-10 children attending weekly. The mid-week Carer & Toddlers group Seedlings is also well attended with between 15 – 22 children. The carers appreciate the space to build community and the children are flourishing.

 St Edyth’s APCM Safeguarding Report –  Rebecca Cross, Parish Safeguarding Officer

The parish of St Edyth’s is committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults at risk.

The Safeguarding policy was reviewed on 9th October 2022.

Safer Recruitment & DBS

The PCC oversees the following activities and is responsible for safe recruitment of people wanting to work with vulnerable groups.

  • Make Lunch 15 helpers, (2 new helpers recruited this year)
  • Saplings/Creche 7/5 helpers, (4/3 new this year)
  • Pastoral Care 8 helpers
  • Seedlings 4 helpers, (1 new this year)

DBS Checks

As part of the safer recruitment process, where eligible, volunteers working with vulnerable groups have been DBS checked at the level appropriate to the role. There are 27 volunteers / PCC members who require a DBS check for their role and 25 of them have a current check.

Training

Safeguarding training at different levels is a requirement for all roles, the current situation in terms of meeting the requirements in the parish is as follows:

Basic Awareness

Number in Role Number completed training in last 3 years Number with no or expired training
22 26 11 from Make Lunch (reminded),
1 other

Foundation Safeguarding

Number in Role Number completed training in last 3 years Number with no or expired training
24 20 4

Leadership Safeguarding

Number in Role Number completed training in last 3 years Number with no or expired training
5 4 1

Domestic Abuse

Number in Role Number completed training in last 3 years Number with no or expired training
12 10 2

Reporting to the PCC

The PCC was updated about Safeguarding matters at every meeting. During the year there was 1 safeguarding matter.

Action Plan

The PCC has an action plan created by the Parish Dashboard. Progress is reported to the PCC meetings and current progress on our Parish Dashboard is 66% at level 3.

Women’s Fellowship – Gloria Wright

Once again, I have looked back over the year and so many changes have occurred. We continue to meet on a Tuesday afternoon at 2pm for 3 meetings each month, where we share our highs and lows as a Christian group. We enjoy singing to the Lord, hearing His word, and thanking Him in the prayers we offer for our church family, members of our group and the World.

We are diminished in number to about 10, having lost dear Nancie who has gone to be with the Lord and Doreen who is now unable to join us due to ill health. On the third Tuesday of each month we join with the Methodist Church. We always have a blessed afternoon and look forward to tea and cake!

I couldn’t manage without Ann who is our very competent treasurer and has sent several donations to various needy causes on our behalf, approximately £370.00. We may be reduced in numbers but we are still the same loving group. Please pray for more people to join us and our continued meeting together.

Pastoral Care – Karlynn Evans, Coordinator
The Pastoral team are still going strong, there are seven volunteers and they are a great team. They are very good at looking out for those who need help one way or another, often providing lifts for those who are unable to come to church on their own and visiting those who are unwell. We try to meet up every so often to chat and pray about those who may need help.

 ASMA Mental Health Groups – Rebecca Cross

Since the last APCM a Kintsugi Hope Group was run in Shire and another at Sea Mills School. A group recently started in Stoke Bishop too. So far, across ASMA, we have run 9 groups with 49 different people completing. Whilst many seem to grow in their faith journey we are now seeing a few non-church goers joining churches too.  Praise the Lord.

We continue to run a small zoom and a small face to face follow on groups as missional communities following the mission area 4 Ws of welcome, word, worship, and witness. They are safe spaces to share and pray. Leaders are mental health first aid trained. Reps from most of the ASMA churches are on a steering group and KH leaders also meet occasionally to plan and pray.

The aim is to make sure our churches are safe supporting spaces for everybody and that we talk about mental health and reduce stigma.

Please consider who outside of church you might invite to join you at the next group. Going with a buddy for the taster session is really supportive.

Parish Centre Bookings – Katharine Wiltshire, Hall Booking Manager
It was great to have a steady stream of hall bookings during 2022 and we are glad to have new regular bookings using the hall.

We continue to advertise where we can in the Community Voice and on several venue websites including ‘A Church Near You’.

Along with regular bookings, we are still getting interest for children’s parties and one-off groups, which certainly helps to boost our overall income. In 2022 our total income was £11,785, which compares with £10,048 in 2021, so we are gradually recovering the income lost in 2020 due to Covid. Thank you to everyone for your continued support and please spread the word about our amazing spaces available for hire.

 Prayer Ministry Report –Richard Widger, Teresa Goodall, Karlynn Evans
Praise be to God for an amazing year in the Prayer Ministry Team. There has definitely been an increase in the activity of the Holy Spirit this year. We have had some wonderful services where many have received prayer, anointing and healings, physical, emotional, and spiritual healings.

Already we have had many words and pictures that have meant something to members of the congregation, and people are so willing to respond and come for prayer.

Like last year the team has lost a few members, and some are taking a break, so we are looking, hoping, and praying for new members to become involved. If anyone feels called to a ministry of praying for others after the morning service, please do get in touch. We have already had a few people who have come forward but could still do with some more prayers.

We hold monthly training evenings on the first Thursday of the month, either at Karlynn’s home or in the church hall at 7.30pm. With a new vicar coming this year let’s hope he/she is a keen advocate for the Healing Ministry. Blessings to you all.

 Bristol West Deanery Synod Report 2021–2022 – Rebecca Cross
There were 3 Deanery Synod meetings in the last year and covered the following topics:

  1. New diocesan strategy ‘Transforming Church. Together’

Key parts of the strategy include: • Investing in people • Investing in people’s wellbeing. • Investing in volunteers. The church is not representative: we need more under-18s and minorities. People are critical of the church’s treatment of women, the Windrush generation and LGBTQI+ people.

Key is sustainability, supporting the local church, making sure there are churches where they are needed, developing fresh expressions and activities that may be attractive to outsiders. Also ‘Growing Faith’, a national church programme helping church members to share faith with children.

  1. Uganda update

13 people visited Uganda. £6,000 has been sent to support girl children who have become pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic. A co-ordinator in Nebbi is supporting about 300 children providing vocational education. New project is to support essential needs in a remote hospital.

  1. The Cost of Living and Energy Crisis

Discussed issues around the Cost of Living and Energy crisis and how we can show the love of God through providing Welcome Hubs across the city to provide warm places.

  1. TC.T Missional Communities and Missional Engagement

Missional opportunities discussed.

Home Groups / Small Groups – Liz Fry, Small Groups Coordinator

We have 5 small groups, meeting in the afternoon or evening, either weekly or fortnightly to cater for differing needs. Most groups meet in person after Covid, while some have continued over Zoom either for all members or for some members only, in order to meet the needs of those who come to the group. Groups have tailored studies to their own group’s needs.

We had a small group leaders’ meeting in March 2023, when we were able to pray for each other and our groups. We are looking to increase the number of the groups and to raise the profile of small groups over the next year.

We thank God for our leaders who give up their time to prepare and lead their groups in Bible study, prayer, and support of each other and in encouraging discipleship and witness.

We thank God for all who attend a small group and for how their commitment contributes to the church’s walk with God, discipleship, fellowship with each other, deepening commitment to St Edyth’s and our witness in Sea Mills, Coombe Dingle and beyond.

Kitchen Hospitality– Barbara Hewer, Church Hospitality Coordinator

Praise the Lord a continuous year of being able to have a ‘cuppa’ and fellowship after the 10.30 service. It’s a valued time to catch up with old friends and make new ones as we welcome visitors. A big thank you to John and Gloria for extending this to the 8.45 service.

It’s been a blessing to reinstate the monthly church lunches. Thank you, Lord, for delicious food and willing helpers!

All this can only be done with a wonderful, reliable team of volunteers. Do please join us, we’re a friendly bunch and it’s not very difficult!

 Make Lunch – Sea Mills Breakfast Club – Gill Slee, Coordinator

‘Gather the people, tell the stories, break the bread.’ I love these words by John Shea, originally about the church, as they sum up much of what’s happening at our school Holiday Club. We do gather the people, we do break the bread and sometimes we can tell the stories.

Every school holiday we open the kitchen on a Wednesday morning at Sea Mills Primary School and around 50-60 parents and children walk through the hall door. A free, healthy breakfast is available for parents/grandparents/carers from 10-12 noon. No one is asked to pay and all are generously served as our guests. Many parents are quite young; many have school aged children on free school meals, others are JAM families (just about managing).

Holiday hunger has been around for a long time. However thanks to the generosity of Sea Mills Primary in allowing us to use their amazing kitchen and hall, and wonderful help from our volunteers, we have an amazing story to tell.

Donations come from many organisations and individuals (including TLG, Highgrove and St Nick’s) and financial backing from St Edyth’s. This year we have had a very generous donation from the craft group at St Monica’s and regular financial support from Anna Arnold and Dancercise.

Volunteers mainly work in the kitchen preparing, cooking, and serving the breakfast whilst Nicky (Family support worker from the school) walks around the hall listening and supporting. Children spill out into the playground after breakfast or enjoy the craft activities that are available. Parents chat over a coffee and there are few mobile phones in sight. It’s a time for them to relax, knowing that their children have been fed and are safe and happy. It’s a time for the volunteers to get to know the local families and join in the Hokey Cokey at the end of the morning!

Thank you Lord for providing this gathering and this bread over the last six years and the opportunity to reach out with love to support our local community. Amen

 Dancercise 2021 – Anna Arnold
The class has thrived since COVID and continues to grow. We are now meeting regularly in the church itself and not using the hall at all. This is partly for space but also for the wonderful atmosphere created when we move to worship music in the church itself. Moving the chairs is still a heavy task with many thanks to John Hewer who often helps beforehand.

The mix of attendees is roughly 50/50 Christian to non-Christian with new attendees being introduced by personal recommendation. We continue to offer a time of fellowship after the class with a regular number staying.

Several of the class attendees came to the 2022 St Edyth’s Carol service including at least 2 non-Christians. It would be good to have one or two events in the year to invite them to, such as the Women’s Christmas Craft evening we used to do.

Financially the class is now supporting Make Lunch with a regular £25 monthly donation. Other donations since March 22 have been given to Make Lunch (£172), BNW Foodbank (£400) and to St Edyth’s for heating etc (£700).

I am so grateful that the Lord provides the time and space for these classes. Please pray for all the attendees, that they would experience the love of God through these classes.

Sea Mills Community Initiatives – Rebecca Cross, Chair of Trustees

SMCI is a charity with trustees from St Edyth’s Church and Highgrove Church which seeks to show God’s love to the local community through the staff and many volunteers working in the café, baking cakes and helping in the community garden.

A new Operations manager oversees these initiatives and the running of the Methodist Church Hall. The café is valued and well used by the locals, the garden has hosted fire pit night, harvest lunch and Christmas pulling the parsnips events and now has a pond. The annual apple day is popular. The Methodist Hall is used by various community groups.

We thank God for the many stories of how God has blessed people through SMCI. A small group meet to pray for the work and finances/resources of SMCI and would welcome more people to do this. New trustees from St Edyth’s are also needed. Do prayerfully consider if you are being called to volunteer, pray for, or help run the charity. 

 Flower Guild 2022 – Di Goodison

Thank you to people who firstly have given money to enable the flowers to be purchased and secondly have commented on and complimented the displays. I have been helped by Gish Hobbs and Hillarie Adams, especially on the festive arrangements. We have challenged ourselves with diverse arrangements and currently face a greater challenge to restrict the use of Oasis blocks, used as foundations for arrangements, due to the environmental damage that occurs on their disposal.

Many churches have reviewed their policy regarding flower displays in their church, in light of the financial difficulties everyone is experiencing. Prior to Covid hitting us in 2020, the funding of our flowers came from congregation members who donated in memory of departed loved ones, plus weddings and the occasional funeral. Reviewing this in 2023, however shows that 50% of these donors are no longer church members and there may come a time when our church finances will be reviewed and a decision by the PCC has to be made regarding the expenditure on flowers.

The flower team have been buying and using artificial products mixed with fresh flowers for some time. This last year we have been using all artificial arrangements in church and leaving them in situ for longer periods of time. We currently aim to produce one flower stand in church and one in the foyer, and we aim to use fresh flowers for main festivals in church life – Easter, Pentecost, Harvest, Christmas.

Church Cleaning – Katharine Wiltshire

Our church cleaning team still remains small since the ‘Gleam Team’ disbanded. John Hewer has been incredibly helpful in keeping the church space tidy. We are also thankful to Paul Cockram who keeps our toilets clean, an essential task and we are so grateful to them both for their time and hard work. Thanks also to Di Goodison, Gloria Wright and Barbara Hewer who also help out with cleaning from time to time.

Our paid cleaner, Chihenyo has been great at keeping the parish centre clean and tidy on a weekly basis. She has kindly worked around our hall and room bookings and come in at varying times to keep the space fresh.

Finally, we must give huge thanks to Barrie Havens who continues to help keep the church and parish centre ticking over. There is so much he does, a lot you may not even be aware of, and we really don’t know what we would do without him.

The church is enjoyed by everyone, but at the moment it falls to a handful of people to keep the space clean and in good repair. If you can spare an hour or two once in a while to help clean or repair things around the church, please let the office know. 

  1. Closing Prayer