2020-12-31-accounts

AGM Pastor’s Report - 03/10/2021

• This is our AGM for the year 2020-2021. It is later than planned as we only had our 20192020 AGM in Jan 2021 (with the Charity Commission’s permission) and we are having this AGM now to catch up with ourselves and to ensure that we are back on track for our 20212022 AGM next March. Even though our last AGM covered the finances from 2019-2020, the other reports took us up to January, so the reports that we will be giving will be providing updates of church activity since February this Year and the accounts from 1[st] Jan 2020-31[st] Dec 2020 as per our church’s financial year. I hope this makes sense. Our next AGM will be in March 2020 and will then bring us up to date.

• It has been a very trying year for us all but since our last AGM a lot has changed.

• Name – On the 29[th] June 2021 the Charity Commission granted us permission to change our name to Community Life Church. We believe that what God has taught us over lockdown and how he has grown us closer together as a community, how he has highlighted the priorities that we have and the direction that he is taking us as a church has been a lot like a redefining of the church and that the entering of this new season feels a lot like a rebirth. Just as we name babies when they are born, the Leadership felt that in order to mark the significance of what God has been doing among us this year, that God would give us a name that encompasses His plans and His purposes for us as a church family. It seems that the destination of this journey of seeking God was closer than we thought, and even though there was an incredible sense of ‘rightness’ when the name Community Life Church was brought to the leadership, we still encouraged everyone to wait on the Lord for a month and to seek Him for confirmation. One of the ways that God confirmed this to us was through social media! The day after having this discussion Anna Hammond – our local Coop Community Worker posted this word cloud on facebook recognising people that had been nominated as working well for the community. I was mentioned as Pastor of Community Life Church!

• Also on here, lots of our volunteers are recognised by name for volunteering at the Community Life Centre and Wendy is recognised for the Wellbeing Garden Project.

• The name Community Life Church was a name that all at once felt familiar, right and a name that to a degree we were already embodying through the centre. We believe that we have been called by God to bring His life to this Community – for people to find new life in Him as we share the Gospel to our community and to see His kingdom increase and the blessings to all in the community that will flow from His kingdom whether they realise it or not. That peace, safety, provision, health, joy and faith would increase in the community for all residents through our church, making an positive impact in our community both spiritually and practically.

• Changing priorities and Moving location

• For the last month and a half I have been meeting with local churches to explore using their buildings for our worship services. One of the big shifts in our thinking over lockdown is the idea of prioritising welcome over work. There were a few people who faithfully and wonderfully set up and packed down every piece of equipment on Sundays to ensure that the transformation from School Hall to Sanctuary was completed every week, but that faithful service meant that more often than not, those who were setting up and packing away were unable to welcome and get to know the guests that we would get walking through our doors. For us to be the irresistible community that God is calling us to be, it is important that we are all available to be welcoming to every guest that walks through our doors, wherever we are meeting. People visiting a church will generally get a feel for whether they want to come back or not in the first few minutes of walking through the door. Smiling faces, warm welcomes and good conversation where people take an interest in them are the things that are going to ensure that people want to come back and join our church family. Meeting in a church where a lot of the setup we used to do is already done leaves us the opportunity to prioritise welcome over work. It also means that our setup should be completed in time to spend time in prayer and worship before we start welcoming guests in, therefore preparing the atmosphere and setting the tone for the service as well as ensuring that everyone is free after prayer to welcome and chat to each other and to any guests that may have joined us.

• Leaders.

• Tom and Jess have formally been invited on to leadership in recognition of their giftings and the call of God on their lives.

Annual General Meeting 2020 Treasurers Report

3[rd] October 2021

• 2020 was unusual for all of us, and the accounts reflected this to a small extent.

• One large expense was radically reduced, which was renting the school hall and some little expenses like refreshments became unnecessary.

• Even with the church operating in a mostly online format, the expenses do not disappear and giving is still vital for the church to continue operating.

• A notable income source, which is the offering during services, disappeared completely.

• However, most giving generally takes place by bank transfer and this fact enabled the church to continuing operating despite us not being able to meet face to face.

• Thankfully this source of giving remained mostly unchanged and we praise God for this.

• A valuable source of income is by Gift Aid Claims which allows the church to claim the tax paid on givers earnings.

• I used to claim this annually, but now do a claim each month and this has improved cash flow during the year.

• Ali managed to secure a part-time position at a school and so went parttime with the church. This relieved a significant salary cost to the church and eased cashflow.

• The Community Life Centre remained open and was an essential hub for outreach and support to the community, particularly with the Food Bank being in such demand, so any monetary donations received for the Centre were vital in keeping it open.

• There were many such donations from individuals and organisations like the Romsey Food Bank.

23 Fleming Avenue, North Baddesley, SO52 9EJ

• A number of individuals give by Standing Order each month and these are very, very, gratefully received.

• A few grants were received as well, mainly towards Food Bank.

• The church was able to give towards other organisations as well including The Sailors Society, David Tuckers Words of Life Ministries and the Hazel Project which supports homeless people in Southampton.

• The Building account has been mostly used up to support operating expenses.

• The investment account with Kingdom Bank was closed due to being a legacy account which no longer paid interest and no other options were available with them that suited the church, so a savings account was opened with Lloyds and the small restricted balance from the building account and the entire investment account has been deposited in one Lloyds savings account which does actually attract a small amount of interest.

• At the end of the year, with Ali being paid part time and the giving remaining good the church ended the year in a comfortable position which has generally been maintained throughout this year so far. With the church being able to meet face to face once again, it means that expenses will increase although perhaps not quite to the previous levels as this point.

• We are so thankful for God’s blessing on the church during 2020 and pray the He will continue to do so throughout 2021 and beyond so that we can be a blessing to the Community or North Baddesley and beyond.

23 Fleming Avenue, North Baddesley, SO52 9EJ