2020-12-31-accounts - Hill Cliffe Baptist Church

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

Hill Cliffe Baptist Church Annual Review of Church Ministries 2020/21

www.hillcliffe.info

March 2021

Introduction and Thanks

Please enjoy reading this annual review of our church-led ministries at Hill Cliffe covering the period March 2020 - March 2021.

This AGM Annual Review of Ministries is a bit different. It covers a year in which the church, alongside most of the world, was in almost continuous lockdown resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Consequently, we will outline the ministries of the church which continued or emerged throughout this period.

Leadership – for the period March 2020- March 2021

Our Leadership Team, comprising our Deacons - Pam, Bryan, Joe, and Tim - along with Steve (Church Secretary), Ruth (Church Treasurer), John (Church Youth Worker), and Stuart and Katharine, served the church in providing leadership for the various ministries and practical responsibilities of the church. Stuart and Katharine provided spiritual, pastoral and theological overview and direction for the Leadership Team and the church during this period.

In April, Katharine circulated a communication to the church sharing her decision – after much thought and prayer - to step back from coleading alongside Stuart on the leadership team at Hill Cliffe. She described how she and Stuart had shared and discussed this with the leadership team. She mentioned how she anticipated continuing in the other areas of her ministry in the church; including teaching, worship leading, and pastoral support.

We do want to record our huge appreciation for Katharine’s fruitful ministry of leadership, pastoral encouragement, prophetic insight and missionary zeal in our leadership team over a significant number of years.

New Sunday Services Online

On Sunday 23[rd ] March 2020, the first weekend of lockdown we filmed and uploaded our first YouTube online church service from the church. The following Sunday we made our home into a film and editing studio and began to produce services from there. Little did we anticipate we’d be producing online services from home for more than a year. Much thanks and appreciation to Katharine for doing the editing and uploading for the services, and to Paul who edited all the worship songs for a long while. Thanks also to Harry and Helena and to the many, many others who helped with the services throughout the year.

Teaching Ministry

Since our last AGM in March 2020, we have preached Sunday morning teaching and have prepared weekly Small Group studies on the following series (most recent first):

The Emergence of the Kingdom of God – Acts 1-9
Lent: A Time of Encounter, Testing & Preparation – Luke 4
Christmas Services
Advent - Hope Awakening
Following the Leader - lessons from Luke's Gospel
1 Thessalonians
A Journey in Prayer
Holy Week

New Sunday Evening Prayer Gathering

Early into the first lockdown we set up a new way for the church family to gather for prayer on Zoom on Sundays at 6pm. This has continued throughout and was a wonderful resource for corporate prayer through the most difficult days of Covid lockdowns. We saw a regular group of around 12-18 gather each week.

Prayer and Meditation Drop-in at Church

Another Covid-response initiative was the Prayer and Meditation dropin sessions which continued throughout the period of this AGM Review. A regular group of church members and the church’s neighbours would come into the quietness of the sanctuary and enjoy the on-

screen guided meditations (produced by Katharine and Stuart) and sit and pray awhile. This ministry was so valuable to some that we may run it again at strategic points in the year.

New Facebook Group – Hill Cliffe Prayer and Support Group In order to connect the church as widely, supportively and prayerfully as possible we recognised the value of harnessing Facebook. This private group for Hill Cliffe people has been used thousands of times to connect, inform, inspire and encourage the church and to share messages for prayer support. Around 75 have joined the group.

New News Feed – the companion to the Facebook Prayer and Support Group

Leah now administers a group of around 44 other people from the church (who don’t use Facebook) who wish to be connected to the stories being shared on Facebook, and are able to share likewise via Leah. So, between the two facilities we now have 119 Hill Cliffe people sharing, praying and supporting across the church family since March 2020.

New Facebook Page – Hill Cliffe Public Page

We have also set up an outward-facing Facebook page which promotes the church, and its ministries and services and values and its Saviour to the outside world. We currently now have 177 Facebook friends of the church – many of whom do not attend the church.

Daily Devotionals

When the first lockdown was announced we were part-way through our Lent daily devotionals. We made a decision at that point to continue writing and producing daily devotionals to encourage the church throughout the period of lockdown – which turned out to be significantly longer than anyone could have foreseen. Many thanks to those who contributed alongside Stuart and Katharine to the devotionals series, which ran for 18 months.

New Host Team for Church Services

Since returning to the church for Sunday Services we have formed Host Teams under Pam’s coordination to ensure that our congregation is

hosted safely in line with the developing Covid requirements. Recently, the Host Team has also taken responsibility for the hospitality after services. Many thanks to the wonderful team members.

Church Property Ministries – report from Peter Hindley

Church Building

The Maintenance work on the building and grounds came to a halt in March 2020 when the country went into lock down. I came back into church in August to complete the kitchen repaint and put up new metal shelving. My role as maintenance officer came to an end in September 2020.

All the inspection for 2021of the Fire equipment, PAT testing and air con were completed early this year. The mains electrical testing was completed in August with new power boxes having to be upgraded. The electricians have suggested this work should be carried out every 1 or 2 years to cut down cost as the regulations are changing so often.

Graveyard.

As most of the church family will know Stan went into Hospital with Covid-19 and spent 3 weeks on ICU.

In January Stan called me to ask if I would like to work with him. We have the field cut with Stan’s machine with no cost to the church. There have been a lot of improvements carried out on the graveyard over the past 9 months. Work around the Lychgate, headstones lifted, trees and gorse removed.

Grounds work.

Late 2020 I came back to help out and work with the guys on Tuesday morning.

This work is never-ending and always something to do to keep the church looking fresh and tidy for the local community.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thanks to Bryan Hancock, Graham Newton and Graham Palmer for the hard work

these guys put in on Tuesdays. If anyone is free on Tuesday mornings, come up to church - there is always something to do and it’s great fellowship.

Please continue to pray for Stan’s full recovery from long covid. All the work and improvements on the graveyard are down to Stan’s hard work and dedication.

Children’s Ministries – report by Bryan Hancock and Jane Quinn

Like the rest of the church, back in March 2020, face to face children's work was put on hold. As a temporary measure teaching material was put online to assist parents with home teaching their children. The material was a blend of Junior Church and Excite Club materials and included links to videos, songs and activities. We later introduced online quizzes for those who could access the internet but couldn't access a printer. Later in the year, as government and BU recommendations were slightly relaxed, we moved to a family bubble meeting scenario in the church hall. Socially distanced family tables were set up and activities completed at the tables so minimising indoor contact. 10 -12 children attended these meetings which Bryan and Jane led, however a very short time we went back into another lockdown. This was disappointing as we had been having some very good interactive sessions with the children.

Earlier this year, again as government and BU advice changed, we moved back into the church hall, this time without bubble tables and parents. We were still maintaining Covid strategies but had the children seated in rows. The meetings were led by Bryan, Jane or Ruth with the presence of a parent helper each week. Numbers averaged about 10 children, usually different each week.

Youth Work Ministries – report from John Harper

The onset of the pandemic meant an immediate switch, from meeting in person with our youth groups, to meeting on Zoom in groups.

We felt very early in the pandemic that the best thing we could focus on, during the pandemic, was the relationships and contact with the young people who we already had contact with.

This switch online was initially widely embraced by most of our young people and we developed 4 or 5 opportunities each week for young people to tune in and connect with each other and their faith. One of our early innovations happened each Tuesday night, as we introduced our event 'Social Quiztancing!'

The Bible Study and Sun Morning and Evening sessions were well attended and created good engagement in the initial 3 months (even including times of worship and waiting on God speak to us, as we gathered) and then we hit the virtual wall!

By June/July we noticed that our young people were much less willing to engage with our online content and we started to look for Covidlegal ways to engage them in person, wherever possible.

From Sept 2020 we had more opportunities to gather in a socially distanced way at the Shack. And from that point on the Shack became the home of the vast majority of our church's youth work, through the 2nd and 3rd lockdown's, responding to the various regulation adjustments.

Throughout the year we have tried to continue to meet with our Thurs night youth club for ages 10-14 (made up of largely unchurched young people) on Zoom and wherever possible outside on our church field. The good news is that as we now emerge from all the lockdowns and regulations, we have retained contact with the vast majority of the young people and our levels of attendance are at least the equal of our pre-pandemic youth work... Thank you God. We know that one of the big challenges we face is increasing the depth of discipleship for young people, as we return to more normal gatherings and so we ask that you join us in praying for our young people's discipleship.

Small Group Ministries – report from Joe Martin

When the Covid 19 pandemic hit house group meetings were forced to stop. Most groups quickly adjusted to meeting on Zoom on a regular basis. Where folk struggled to adapt to the technology or were

uncomfortable with the online medium, small group leaders responded brilliantly by maintaining contact, pastoral support and practical help where needed. A couple of groups decided not to meet on Zoom but have maintained contact and support for one another on the telephone.

Many groups grasped the opportunity to meet together face to face where Covid social distancing rules permitted. Several groups have met outdoors in gardens, on the church field or walking together.

Whilst the initial novelty of house group meetings on Zoom quickly wore off, the value of meeting together online was never in question and there can be no doubt that being able to meet virtually was a real blessing during dark days. When many other aspects of life came to an abrupt halt, the small groups continued to be places of worship, discipleship, prayer, pastoral support and practical help.

Worship Ministries – report from Tim Grainger

Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help with the worship ministry over the past 18 months or so. From online worship to "in person" services, there have been lots of adaptation required. A particular thanks to the AV, sound and camera teams for all that they have done to ensure that worship can be facilitated in the most unusual of times.

Please pray as we consider how best to progress the worship ministry in the months ahead and look to use bigger bands again.

A special mention regarding Doug Fairbrother, who was a faithful and reliable part of the worship team, he will be missed.

Finance Ministries – report from Ruth Hughes

Like for so many in the community that we serve, because of COVID-19, 2020 saw a squeeze on our finances. While our standing orders

remained strong, with some addition due to weekly givers changing to online banking, we saw a huge fall off in our income from other areas, due to the limits on using our church building. However, the prudence of previous years has meant that we have savings to call on to see us through the difficult time. Whilst we had some decrease in our

expenditure our main cost, staff, remained the same as our staff found new ways to reach, disciple and pastor. Our income for the year was £133,566 (compared to 2019 £161,990) and our expenditure £145,292 (compared to 2019 £154,686) giving a deficit of £11,726. As always, we thank God for what He has given us and want to share with others. Therefore, we are delighted that, despite a squeeze on our finances, we were able to fulfil our commitments to give generously and during 2020 gave £33,896 to local, UK and overseas mission.

Outreach Ministries – report from Stuart

Local Mission/ Outreach Partnerships

We continue to partner with several local outreach ministries, providing volunteer, prayer and (at times) financial assistance from our church to support them.

Serving our Neighbours

Many thanks to all who participated in the initiative to serve our street neighbours, the Warrington Food Bank, and the many who suffered devastating damage to their homes during the flooding in Warrington. In partnership with Kings Church, Bethany Church and Urban Church we provided food, clothes, cleaning supplies, and over £4000 in financial support to help the churches buy replacement white goods for their neighbours. Thanks also to John and the BYP staff who helped deliver and uplift goods.

World Mission Ministries – report from Mary Evans

We are committed to supporting Stephanie Darling in her work in Malawi. Stephanie has been with us over the past year and many

people have talked with her and prayed for her. She is hoping to head back to Malawi within the next month or so, to a slightly different ministry focused less on the college work and more on developing lay training. It would be good if a few, maybe newer people, could talk to her in the next couple of weeks and perhaps commit to writing a letter to keep her in touch with life here so that we can report on that next year.

We are also committed to support BMS and in particular Dan and Annie Dupree at Tek Ura project in Albania. It was really good to see and hear from them earlier in the year. Our support from them is largely through our giving to BMS and also in prayer. Their regular prayer letters have been made available via e-mail and the web. I know the small groups have prayed for them. Again it would be good if a number of people could commit to writing to them once every few months.

Nick and Liz Byles were with us very recently and are now back in Cambodia. During the year Nick has changed his focus from working with the Web Essentials Company to joining EMI (Engineering Ministries International), focussing on helping the church develop building projects and reach out through such projects. Liz is still working with World Renew in health areas. Both Liz and Nick are also getting involved with the International Christian School in Phnom Penh. They would really love to hear from people here, either e-mails or via WhatsApp.

In addition to these personal links there is ongoing support for Christian Aid, Tear Fund and Fair Trade.

Church Family Bereavements

During this dreadful period of lockdowns, some of those most particularly affected by the restrictions were those who suffered the loss of loved ones.

We were saddened by the passing of our dear friends Mary and Doug Fairbrother, Ruby Gould, Keith Prest, June Wogan, and more recently,

Pat Woodrow and Tony Bennett. For each of these loved ones we grieve, but not as those without hope. We’re grateful in each case to have the assurance that they are held secure in their Saviour’s hand, and will be with him forever following the resurrection.

Psalm 23.6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Church Membership at Hill Cliffe:

There are 3 key elements to how we describe Membership at Hill Cliffe. Church Members are:

COMMITTED – to our Church Family, our Church Covenant (Values), our shared Vision Emphasis and our Leadership

INVOLVED – in our Church Family Gatherings, Ministries and Vision INVESTING – in our Church Family Resources and Vision Emphasis

If you would like to explore becoming a member at Hill Cliffe please contact Stuart or Katharine.

Annual Church Covenant:

The Church Members at Hill Cliffe have committed that each year we will covenant together on the basis of our agreed Church Values (Based on Baptist Union Values) in God’s strength. Please see Appendix 2 below for the Annual Covenant.

This covenant represents our desire and aspiration to live a godly life in following Jesus, and to do so with the support, fellowship and accountability of our brothers and sisters in the Hill Cliffe Church Family. What it does not represent is the pretence that we are going to fulfil our aspirations perfectly. The Church Members are requested to make a fresh commitment to this Covenant each year at our AGM.

Appendix 1: Overview of Church Ministries March 2020-2021

----- Start of picture text -----
Youth Outreach Property
Children’s Leadership
Ministries Ministries Ministries
Ministries Ministries
Impact Club Adult Outreach Church
Crèche Sunday Impact and Mission Stuart & Manse
Sunday Excite Youth Bible S & K McPhail Katharine Minibus
Excite Club Study McPhail
Day Camp Mentoring Pam Lança Graveyard
John Harper Coehlo
Bryan Hancock
Peter Hindley
Jane Quinn
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Leadership Team Structure – March 2020
Pastoral Care Church Secretary LEADERSHIP TEAM Pastor Catering
Ministries Steve Gray Pam Lança Coelho, Tim Grainger, Steve Stuart McPhail Ministries
Treasurer Gray, Bryan Hancock, John Harper, Ruth Youth Worker
Bryan Ruth Hughes Hughes, Joe Martin, Katharine McPhail, John Harper Eileen
Stuart McPhail
Hancock MacDonald
Leadership Working Group
Katharine and Stuart with
Sunday World
Services Steve Gray Mission
Ministries
Planning
Preaching Welcome and
Small Group Missionaries
Prayer Stewarding Worship Ministries Mission
Ministries Ministries Support
Katharine Stuart & Bryan Porter Bands & AV Joe Martin
McPhail Rhys Chong Tim Grainger Mary Evans
----- End of picture text -----

Appendix 2: Annual Church Covenant

Annual Church Covenant

As a Church Membership we have committed that each year we will covenant together on the basis of our agreed Church Values (Based on Baptist Union Values) in God’s strength. This covenant represents our desire and aspiration to live a godly life in following Jesus, and to do so with the support, fellowship and accountability of our brothers and sisters in the Hill Cliffe Church Family. What it does not represent is the pretence that we are going to fulfil our aspirations perfectly.

We will make our new covenant at our AGM Church Meeting. Because we take this joint-commitment seriously, If you are not able to make it to that meeting, please indicate the renewal of your covenant via email to Steve Gray, steve.gray@hillcliffe.info or in writing a brief note.

Hill Cliffe Baptist Church’s Church Values