PCC Draft Minutes - December 1st 2008

Parish of St Andrew’s, Tarvin with St Peter’s, Duddon

Draft Minutes of the PCC meeting
1st December 2008
St Andrew’s Parish Room

David welcomed everyone to the meeting and then read from Mark chapter 1, with emphasis on verse one, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” , which has no mention of the Christmas story. Advent is a time to get ready for the Kingdom, not just for the birth of a baby.

David then explained his protest/petition to the Asda advert with the song “It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” It looks like they are trying to sell a Christmas survival kit. You'll get through it with smiles, stuffing and silly hats.
I have started a petition to protest - where are the dark clouds, where's the light shining in the darkness, where's the young pregnant girl, where are the crowded streets, where's the baby? It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Oh no it's not!

So we then all joined in saying the Lord’s Prayer.

Present
David Herbert, Alex Henderson, Jane Holmes, Mary Burgess Peter Ladd, David Ferguson, Michael Burgess, Bill Turner, Ron Fuller, Margaret Marr, Yvonne Albon, Richard Tuckwell, Richard Orfanelli, Karyn Bright, Hilary Banner and Eric Plenderleath.
Peter Collins and Mark Wyatt were welcomed as observers.

1. Apologies
Jane Parker (and Barbara Shilton the following day)

2. Minutes of last meeting
The minutes were accepted as a true record.

3. Matters arising
3:6. Health & Safety - Yvonne reported that she had obtained new first aid kits for the bell tower and the Z team shed. She also has a stock of replacement equipment.
5 Buildings - The Faculty application for the Felt replacement on North aisle roof, re-pointing and tracery repair on East window has been sent to the Diocese.
- South Aisle roof restoration donation – the Diocese have informed us a Faculty is required for the erection of the plaque – this application has been made.

4. Electoral Roll
There were no applications to report.

5. Development Groups:
• Buildings – met on 28th October - report attached Alec highlighted:
Disabled Access to the Parish Room – path to be laid with York stone by Z team, costs £400. Proposal to proceed by Alex, seconded by Michael – all in favour.
Slippery path signs now made and will be installed shortly.
Gas smell reported – Boiler was serviced last week – no leaks. When the boiler fires up in cold/windy weather gas in the cold flue can result in ‘the smell’.
Next meeting - 23rd February 2009

• Health & Safety - met on 22nd September - report and chart attached
Yvonne highlighted the chart which shows the actions the group had undertaken and the resulting policies. When completed the H&S file will need to be will displayed.
Next meeting - 12th January 2009

• Worship - met on 16th September - report attached Richard highlighted:
Passion Play is on again for 2009 – Ron is the organiser
Godly Play – good to see new youngsters attending
Songs of Praise, 5th Sunday evenings, have been well received and congregations increased
Young Servers will start soon
Next meeting - tba

• Pastoral - met on 18th September - report attached Mary highlighted:
Visiting – anybody can recommend people to be visited, just give names to members of the Pastoral Group.
Holiday at Home names have been given to Friendship Lunch organisers – NB more St Andrew’s helpers always welcome.
Next meeting - tba

• Mission & Ministry - met on 3rd November - report attached Ron highlighted:
4. Christmas Activities – Printing of Posters for the villages and A5 fliers for each household should arrive this week. (Fliers to be given out from Christmas Market stall)
St Andrew’s Open Church 22nd, 23rd, 24th, December - 10am to 3pm - Coffee & mince pies
Ron has a rota for volunteers
Next meeting - 5th January 2009

• Tarvin Ecumenical - met on 23rd September - report attached Yvonne highlighted:
It was hoped to arrange event for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity but time was now too short.
We were reminded that the group was open to all who wanted to meet ecumenically.
Next meeting - 17th February 2009

** Tarvin Environment Group** Hilary gave a brief report:
This new village group had been formed following a Living Hope meeting and meets monthly. They have leafleted the village and will be sharing the Christmas Market stall giving advice on how to save energy and money. Details available on www.tarvinenvironment.org.uk

• Finance - met on 11th November - report attached Michael highlighted:
United Utilities – dispute over vastly increased bill proceeding. Need for the tap in Church discussed as money could be saved if removed. Taps in Z team shed, churchyard appear to be linked to Parish Room supply. U.U. engineer to visit and discuss issues.
Insurance – significant increase and reduced cover on lead – need to be vigilant. Use of Smartwater marking essential.
Annual Accounts may be better than breaking even and may reach the cut-off figure for appointing a professional auditor.
Fundraising events have all gone to window protection this year – we must consider the church as a whole in future events.
Quinquennial – Eric had received a letter today confirming the appointment of Tony Barton as Architect. We can now proceed in arranging the Inspection – probably for Feb 09. Costs are covered by the Diocese.
Next meeting - t.b.a.

• St Peter’s - met on 20th October - report attached Peter highlighted:
The work on the Churchyard had been completed
Quinquennial – two items left to complete
Next meeting - 26th January 2009

** St Peter’s Re-ordering** Peter reported and presented a paper for discussion
The Diocesan Chancellor has granted a faculty for The St Peter’s Project.
The Re-ordering can be divided into two basic stages, with a decision to proceed taken after completion of the first stage, viz:
Stage A Obtain an accurate price
Determine if it is possible to phase the work to suit the availability of funds
Investigate other issues that need clarification
Stage B Proceed with the work
After discussion it was agreed to establish a Re-ordering Committee which would initially comprise of Peter Ladd, David Herbert, Eric Plenderleath and a Treasurer (Rita Grimshaw and/or Richard Orfanelli). They would in the first instance determine the Terms of Reference.

6. Member’s Business:
History Group Presentation – Peter Collins & Mark Wyatt
The group, (Peter, Mark, Jackie & Tony Bland, Eric Plenderleath and Jane Holmes), was set up in July to consider how to develop the display of church artefacts/documents/photographs etc. Links with the Grosvenor Museum, Chester have been established regarding the eventual display of the pieces of the ‘Tarvin Cross’, found during the building of the new housing development, and regarding the Tarvin Silver on loan to the museum.
Artefacts in church and items, such as photographs, belonging to group members have been considered for inclusion in the displays.
The main display area at the end of the North Aisle will house display cases and information boards. Two ‘mock-up’ boards, the result of much research and hard work, were shown and considered excellent.
A second display would be a case, made like a bay window, fixed to the south wall of the foyer area. The total costs were predicted at around £2,500. The PCC gave approval for the plans to proceed.
Peter and Mark were thanked for their presentations and commended for their hard work on the project.

• Bishop Peter’s letter re. Growth Action Planning (GAP)
PCC Secretary reported that the letter, together with emails from the Rural Dean, had given details of the GAP initiative which is to be offered to all parishes from April 2009. It has an overall aim “to set both parishes and diocese firmly on the road to growth”.
Our Deanery presentation will be on April 27th, 2009 (N.B. Need to alter out AGM date)

7. Agenda Item:
“What is Church” – first discussion from SWOT analysis - David
This was deferred to the next meeting as it will need at least half an hour.

8. Deanery Synod Report Mary reported:
There have been two meetings of the Deanery Synod since the last PCC meeting:
• The Synod Eucharist which was here at St Andrew’s on Oct 2nd.

• A meeting on Nov 27th at St Michael’s, Plas Newton
This was the last meeting for our Rural Dean, Bob Toan. With his wife Pam he is starting a new ministry in Cambodia next year involved in support work for their mission partners. No news yet about a new Rural Dean.

The main item was a presentation by Helen Chantry on
Lay Discipleship and Ministry.
She involved her audience by asking us questions and discussing:
The dependency of the congregation on their vicar
What does it mean to be a disciple?
How do you learn?
Diocesan Synod has endorsed the aim to give opportunities for lay people to deepen their discipleship beyond what they learn attending church on a Sunday and would like to see parishes putting on courses and advertising them widely. I have leaflets about the resources available.

The next meeting is on February 26th 2009, at Guilden Sutton, and will be about Youth Work, with several very different parishes giving presentations about their work.


9. Clergy Report David reported:
• Music at St Andrew’s – Following advertisement and interview Michael Reynolds has been appointed to the post of Director of Music. At the interview he played several pieces on the organ and taught a new piece of music to a small group of people. Michael takes up the post after Easter 2009 as he has to give notice to his present church in Whitegate. We are incredibly fortunate to appoint such a talented young musician who also lives in the village. John Winward is to continue to play for Sunday evening services.

• We welcome Alison Linfield from Christchurch, Chester, on placement as a trainee Lay Reader. She will be with us for six weeks from the middle of January.


10. A.O.B.

Tarvin Christmas Market stall – Friday 5th December 2009. We are sharing the stall with the Environment Group. We will be selling raffle tickets - donation of prizes still welcome and also helpers on the night, from 6.30pm onwards.

Yvonne asked us to consider asking for and using the ‘religious’ Christmas postage stamps in preference to the pantomime ones.

The signed lease for the Parish Rooms has now been returned.


Dates of next PCC & Standing Committee meetings

PCC Monday 2nd February 2009 at 7.30pm
Standing Committee Wednesday 14th January 2009 at 3.00pm