St Mary’s Parish Church, Leyton
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Annual Report for 2009/10
THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING FOR 2010/2011 WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, 7TH APRIL AT 7.30 PM IN CHURCH.
Vicar’s report
When we get to Palm Sunday I am reminded that our Christian lives are very much a journey. Palm Sunday is the day when we remember that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey for the final week of his ministry – a week full of mixed emotions; joy and despair, tragedy and triumph, agony and ecstasy. Jesus knew His final week would climax with the despair and hope of the cross and resurrection event – the heart of Christianity. No resurrection – no Christian faith. It’s as simple as that. But despite the agony and torment Jesus would go through – he still did it. Here’s a question to ask ourselves today; if we knew we would die in agony during the next week for the cause of Christ would we remain loyal? How important is our faith to us?
Let’s look back over the past year, by way of my report for the annual meeting to get a flavour where we are at on this journey.
I need to start by thanking all those who have worked so hard in the last year in all manner of tasks from the big upfront jobs to the behind the scenes efforts of many, without which the church could not operate. I apologise in advance for any that I might miss out but I cannot overlook certain contributions and therefore I need to thank Shaun Moore and Nigel Sharp for ably leading various aspects of worship and ministry along with Elisabeth Everton and Pat Gough who have worked hard as Wardens during a difficult year. Also, specific thanks go to Diane Crow for her work as PCC secretary and Ralph Moore for his work as treasurer. In addition John Bennett deserves special mention for his role in leading our childrens work. Added to this are other leaders and helpers of our childrens work, all those involved in the leading of prayers, reading our passages of Scripture, flower arrangers, Sidespersons, cleaners and those who assist in the distribution of the elements at Holy Communion. I also wish to thank those who have helped in providing the coffee and refreshments when necessary, the bell ringers and the whole of last year’s PCC as well as those who covered acts of worship when I have been unavailable. There are also many of you who have helped out on various occasions in all sorts of ways. As ever, your input, assistance, advice and help has been very much appreciated but I cannot possibly mention all of those occasions here. This paragraph alone reiterates just how important each one of us is to the work of building God’s kingdom here on earth. There are so many things to do. We need each other to share the load and we all have a role to play as we all have so much to offer in our unique ways.
Alongside our regular acts of worship we have been able to add in various additional events. These include the additional opportunities for meeting together throughout Lent – especially Holy Week. I cannot stress how important it is to meet more regularly than just on a Sunday if we are to grow and journey together as Christians. Encouragement and support is key to our corporate Christian lives. And that is true beyond our own church but also with others from similar and different denominations, which is why our presence at the Leyton Festival in September was so fantastic. Several churches from in and around the Leyton area coming together to offer prayer, a chance for a drink and chat, face-painting for children as well as prophetic prayer were all available as we all wore bright coloured tee-shirts unashamedly proclaiming the Jesus is the Son of God and not a swear word!
We have also been able to enjoy the flexibility of the recently formed space at the Northeast corner of the church for a variety of uses since the agreement and subsequent application for a faculty for the permanent removal of those pews. The more space inside the church the greater the flexibility it can offer in terms of being able to be used by the community. During the last year we have continued to welcome many school groups here along with an Olympics meeting hosted by the Civic Society, the Women’s World Day of Prayer service and other meetings such as the Waltham Forest Youth For Christ youth leaders prayer breakfast.
I continue to get several requests per year for Baptism but it seems that when I point out to families the commitments and responsibilities that such an undertaking involves, many people either decide that it is not right for them, they wish to delay or, for some, they were unaware that this was not their local church in the first place. The same applies for weddings. Indeed there is a general growing complexity regarding the issue of weddings. Again, of the frequent requests, some have to be turned down because of legal reasons relating to immigration and visas. Others have been unable to be pursued due to having no relevant connection with the parish whilst, others cause significant complications due to language barriers, one of them being previously married etc.. Unusually I have hardly had any funerals in the past 12 months. However, we still went ahead with the annual service of Remembrance, Thanksgiving and Hope but invited people from previous years. As a result numbers were down bucking the trend on recent years.
I continue to forge links within and beyond the local Christian communities. For example, Waltham Forest Youth For Christ who, in turn have links within schools and other places in our community. I have recently accepted an invitation to join their Council of Reference promising to pray, promote and support their work and staff. In addition we enjoy good relationships with our Friends of the Churchyard group who do a great job in up keeping and wildlife management around the church.
The Church website has been a very useful tool even if has taken a huge amount of time to set-up. I know some people have been sceptical about the cost but I still feel that our package offers excellent value for money. In that package there is access to data informing of which pages people are most interested in and how many hits or visits it has had and where they have come from. I can tell you that people have logged onto our website from literally all over the world; from Australia and New Zealand to Canada and the USA, and from Japan to South Africa as well as the expected visits from several European nations and, unsurprisingly, by far and away the most popular place from where people have visited is London, here in the UK!
I am delighted that we have had plenty of social events throughout the previous year especially in hosting our annual PCC social BBQ at the Vicarage.
It has also been encouraging that some members are on the course in Christian Studies. However this has had a detrimental effect on the Home Group. Conversely there have been disappointing numbers in Lent events considering how keen people were to put prayer as their top request yet very few people actually have taken up any of the many opportunities we have on offer.
Over the course of the previous 12 months I have been really encouraged with our worship in church. Whilst attendances fluctuate I believe that worship is the heart of what we do is of paramount importance. It is not a numbers game, but about seeking out and following the will of God – not “bums on seats” but rather “hearts in heaven”. And that’s why we need to make sure what we do is right. It wont always be what any of us necessarily want or feel comfortable with but, if we are to be a church that genuinely welcomes all – as we say we are in our recent Mission Statement, then we need to be aware that people have all sorts of different tastes. How accommodating would we be to a Goth? Clubbers? Or even someone with dyslexia? It’s not just about the initial “hello” welcome but also about what we have on offer in terms of worship styles and our liturgy.
In the light of that we shall now end the current evening service with immediate effect. This is to allow us to focus, think and prayerfully consider what we should do with that Sunday evening slot, as it currently does not appear to be meeting any need that we meet elsewhere.
And so, as ever the future growth and development of the church is laid at your feet. I, as your Vicar, will lead where I believe God is calling us but you too must take up the call and follow. We are the body of Christ. One part cannot exist properly without the help and support of the other members. We are all vitally important. I can’t and won’t force anyone to do anything. This is your church and, as we journey together, you have to decide if you are happy with the status quo and think that that is the best way for a lasting legacy. This wonderful historical building has been the legacy of thousands of faithful believers down the centuries. We need to make sure that we all play our part that it is here as a centre for worship for generations to come
May the peace and love of Christ fill your hearts now and forever.
For any further details or clarification on these, or other, matters please speak to Tim, the Vicar.
CURATE’S REPORT
I am not going to list things that have happened to me in the last year for two reasons; firstly they will not be news as you have been part of them, and secondly I don’t believe that is how I will remember my time here. What we do is important but more important, I believe, is who we are.
As Paul reminds us:
“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:3)
It is the love that I have received this past year, the support and encouragement from many people, which will stay with me. It is love that marks out the Christian community from the world. The best witness that we can give to a self-centred world is to love each other, and that means knowing one another as sisters and brothers in Christ.
We read in 1 John 4:
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (v.7)
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No-one has seen God; but if we love each other God lives in us and his love is made complete in us” (v.11-12)
So a huge thank you for your love, for the meals that I have enjoyed, for the fellowship, for the laughter and for the practical help to someone living so far away. And to all those who have prayed for me and sustained me in my work at the Crown Court.
May God bless you as you have blessed me.
Shaun
Churchwardens’ Report
This has been a busy year. Pews have been mended, doors opened. The Visitation was last May at East Ham. There were clergy and Churchwardens from all over the Deanery.
We give thanks to our Deputy Wardens for their help and support when there have been difficulties.
We appreciate that change can bring greater understanding and more depth in worship when it is handled sensitively.
The removal of the pews at the front of the North aisle pews in the main body of the church has proved beneficial as the space created has been useful to small groups on weekdays and to the children’s group when the children discuss what they have been learning in their group.
It is really lovely to see the results of the hard labour clearing the garden and planting flowers by the West door. We give thanks to those who have done this work.
It has been a hard and bitter winter but many have arrived on Sundays, Maran atha and prayer groups braving the chill winds, that snow and the ice.
We have families and groups volunteering to keep the French Drain clear of weeds
It is very pleasing to see members of the congregation chatting and either reinforcing or building new friendships. We give thanks to all those who do so much to keep our church a welcoming and friendly place of worship.
Pat Gough
Elisabeth Everton
ALIVE 2 GOD
“In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11).
Alive 2 God developed from the prayer meeting that was held on a Tuesday evening. It was felt that we wanted to respond to the love of God shown to us in Jesus who died and rose again that we might have a relationship with God.
We meet at 7.30 pm in church and have a drink and a time of sharing. We move into a time of worship, intercession and ministry. No week is ever the same – and never without feeling the presence of God.
Alive 2 God is a practical activity where we allow ourselves to receive from God and we respond with praise and thanksgiving. The average attendance is eight.
We always finish by 9.00 pm. If you would like to join in please speak to me. Lifts to and from church are available.
Please don’t forget that if you are unable to be with us you can fill in a prayer request form and we will pray. Alternatively, why not pray along with us at home on a Tuesday evening?
Shaun
CHURCH CLEANING
Margaret, Jessie, Ayshea and myself use our domestic skills to clean the church every Thursday afternoon (Jane, Liz and Diane come and help when they are free).
Sadly, Beryl has had to hang up her duster due to an operation on her knee. We all say a big thank you for all the years that Beryl has given her support. There will be a welcome to Beryl if she can return.
It is a pleasure to serve the Lord in this way. If anyone would like to join the team or just come along and have a time with God you are all welcome.
Yvonne Danaher
FLOWERS
First I would like to thank the three other flower arrangers for their help during the year in doing the flowers on the required dates. Thank you too for all the donations I have had during the year for the flowers and on special holidays when it costs more to decorate the church. The cost of the flowers each week for the chancel is still at £7; for once the cost has stayed the same. We had donations of £125 for Christmas flowers and plants. I used £70 on plants and flowers and donated £30 towards the Christmas tree. The rest of the money went into the flower money.
Once again we were able to keep up the tradition on Mothers Day, March 14th, of giving daffodils to all the ladies.
Again, thank you to the flower arrangers and to the people who come and help on special holidays. Also thank you for the donations, because without them we would not be able to put flowers in church each week.
Please see Dave or myself if you have any special dates you would like a flower display or you wish to give a donation
Janis Hughes
Bell ringing
We meet most Monday nights. We have had a visit from a band from Colchester who were on a ringing tour of East London. We continue to participate in Association events when we can. Unfortunately as we are so few it is not possible yet to resume our Sunday Service ringing. Due to the bad weather in January the District Annual District Meeting which was to be held at Loughton was moved to Leyton at the last minute.
We are in great need of ringers so if you would like to learn or know of anyone who would be interested please let me know or come along on a Monday night and have a go.
Sandra Lee
Intercessions
I thank all those who give their time to prepare and lead intercessions at the 10.30am services in church. The prayers are sensitive, thoughtful and many people respond to these prayers in a variety of ways. As there are different people leading intercessions there is an interesting variety of approaches and this inspires us to think about what is being said and how we can pursue these lines of thought.
Pat Gough
REFRESHMENTS
A team of volunteers provides refreshments after the morning service on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, and I should like to thank Beryl, Margaret, Yvonne, Gloria and Janet for all their help over the past year.
Chatting together over a cup of tea or coffee after the service is a way of getting to know each other better.
I would welcome anyone else who would like to come on to the rota - please speak to me.
Ann Canonier
MARAN ATHA
Maran atha began as a series of Lent reflections in 2009 that were held on Sunday evenings and then repeated on Monday mornings at 10.30.
The group decided to continue meeting on Monday. After a few months it was felt that we did not have enough time to do all that we wanted so we moved the start time to 9.30 am.
Maran atha means “come O Lord” and that is the purpose – to meet together and receive from the Lord.
We begin with coffee and catch-up time; this is followed by a time of worship. We then spend time looking at a theme from the Bible, either part of a series or something that has come up in previous discussions. This leads into a time of prayer and praise before more refreshments!
The atmosphere is relaxed and the meetings are for fellowship as well as discipleship training.
The average attendance is 12, made up of all ages as we include children in the school holidays.
Why not come along one week?
Comments from some of those who attend:
“It gives us more time for fellowship and discussion following on from Sunday services”
“Gives us opportunities to discuss what we wouldn’t normally have time for”
“Useful to hear different viewpoints and to talk about spiritual issues that affect us personally”
“We can get ideas from one another”
“I feel I have grown in my spiritual life as a result of coming to Mara natha ; as well as enjoying fellowship I’m learning more about what it means to be a true disciple”
Shaun
BUILDING REPORT
For most of the year there was not a lot of work to do on the church building. The French drains around the church were re-lined with treated timbers and then topped up with new pea shingle. Many thanks to all who gave their time to this job. There was a small cost to the church for materials.
Out of the blue the alarm system started to play up and in the end we had to have a complete new system installed at the cost of £1,300. This was a cost we had not envisaged having to pay out this year.
We have now had the Quinquennial Report (about 6 months late) from our architect. The work in this report needs to be completed over the next five years, so after studying the report and itemising the jobs to be done we will have to find ways of funding this project.
Also the church heating boiler was serviced and the maintenance of the organ was carried out (this is done twice a year). A faculty has been applied for for the permanent removal of the choir pews (this was a PCC decision).
Although the church clock has been cleaned and serviced it still gives problems in keeping good time.
Dave Hughes (Building Officer)
CHILDREN’S WORK
Since September 2009 the number of young people attending the Rocks group on a Sunday has been steady and good. The average attendance has been between 8 – 9 which is very encouraging. And it is great to see that at St. Marys we have the chance to watch several of ‘our’ young people grow up with God.
Those of full time School age, 5 years and older, meet in the vestry approx. twice per month, normally the second and fourth Sundays. Whilst the age limit is around 11, no one would be turned away and are actually of benefit if a younger brother, sister, cousin or friend needs help with any activity.
Those that are under the age of 5, for example pre school or younger, are able to meet in the glass fronted room at the back of the Church under parental supervision. Again it is noticeable that this room gets good use and assists in deflecting any embarrassment that a parent/carer might feel or experience.
Unfortunately, the only downside is that we currently operate with only one Sunday School Teacher, hence the reason for Rocks meeting no more than twice per month. So we must pray that someone or some people will come forward and join in this very exciting and challenging work. Anyone interested should pray about how they feel and seek God’s guidance – please feel free to speak to me at anytime.
Remember, anyone is welcome to join in one of our lessons or indeed talk to the children – come and be a guest or share something with us.
God is doing great things with the younger members of St Mary’s and WE must pray and keep this going – who is with me on this?
John Bennett
FAITH IN ACTION
The Faith in Action Packing Group meets monthly on a Wednesday and as well as packing items to be sent to Malawi we enjoy a light lunch together. Currently the group consists of Yvonne, Maureen, Ayesha, Eileen and myself and we are always happy to welcome anyone who would like to join us. Please contact me if you would like to come along or if you would just like to receive the Faith in Action Newssheet.
As well as the usual boxes of clothes, stationery, wash kits, sewing kits etc FIA has sent mosquito nets (see Newssheet on church notice board), fertilizer. In the Lower Shire crops have died because of irregular rainfalls and windmill pumps have been provided to help with crop yield. Funds for Maize seed have also been sent. This is a fast maturing crop and if successful will provide food for the following year. Business loans have also been provided to help generate poultry farming and basket making. Money has been sent to construct wells, washing blocks, bicycle ambulances as well as goat distribution to help extended families.
Any donations I receive are used to buy items for the stationery, washing and sewing kits, but I am happy to receive any donations of the following:
Pens, pencils, notebooks, 6” rulers, rubbers, sharpeners, face cloths, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towels, comb,nail files, clippers, soap boxes. Square biscuit boxes are also welcome, in which we pack the sewing kits.
Since the last AGM we have sent 4 half boxes of stationery (cost of sending £18 each), 4 whole boxes of sewing kits (£36), 3 whole boxes of wash kits (£36). We currently have 3 half boxes of stationery sets and 2 whole boxes of wash kits waiting for pick-up. We would welcome any donations towards the cost of sending these boxes.
Thanks to all those who donate and to those who work so hard packing.
Liz Sage
SOCIAL EVENTS
During the year we held the following social events: Cultural evening, seaside trip to Southend, Picnic, Harvest Supper and Quiz Night, all of which were attended by a wide variety of members of the church family.
We had a particularly enjoyable cultural evening and were impressed with the range of “talent” displayed by the church family!
Two coachloads of us went off to Southend for a lovely day, when the weather was kind to us.
Both the Harvest Supper and Quiz Night were fun evenings and enjoyed by all.
We see all social events at church as being an opportunity of getting to know each other better and look forward to more opportunities to do so during 2010.
Jo Davis
Open House
Last September the Church was opened to the public so that our treasures could be seen. We have a wealth of historical artefacts in the form of prints, engravings and copies of historical documents. Many people want to know about John Strype who was rector and vicar in the 17th and 18th centuries. It takes time to set out the artefacts and to tidy them away but we are grateful to those who give time to help with this or to be in the church to talk to visitors on the day.
Pat Gough
Every Day with Jesus
This is a bimonthly publication and contains a bible reading and explanation for each day. Many of us find it very useful and back copies of the magazine are on one of the tables at the back of the Church if you are unsure about taking out a subscription. They are not expensive so if you would like to subscribe please let me know.
Sandra J Lee
Gift Aid
Thank you to all those people who contribute to Gift Aid. If you would like to gift aid your donation please let me know. You must currently pay an amount of income tax at least equal to the tax that we reclaim on the donation and you can cancel at any time. Forms are on the table (near the font). I am indebted to Geraldine Joseph for all her help and assistance during the changeover.
Sandra J Lee
Office Address:
35 Church Road
Leyton
London
E10 5JP