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2020-08-31-accounts

Rustington Methodist Church

Claigmar Road

Rustington

West Sussex BN16 2NL

Annual Report 2021

Welcome to Rustington Methodist Church’s

Annual Booklet for 2021

This booklet serves to give information regarding all of the Church’s activities during the year September 2019 to August 2020. Normally this would be in preparation for a General Church Meeting but because of the COVID lockdown the report is being received by the Church Council and then circulated within the church.

Receiving the report in this way will mean we can fulfil our responsibility to send it to the Charity Commission. It is hoped that we will be able to hold a Church Meeting in the autumn. That meeting will appoint Church Stewards and congregational representatives to the Church Council. Information about and an agenda for that meeting will be available nearer the time. As the Church is registered with the Charity Commission, elected members become Trustees.

In the meantime please contact Rev Bob Sneddon if you have any questions

The Church’s Mission Statement is on page 4.

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CONTENTS/CONTRIBUTORS

Offices Name Page
Mission Statement 4
Church Council Information 5
Minister Rev Bob Sneddon 5
Senior Steward Elizabeth Slatter 7
Finance Report Bob Slatter 9
Resources Committee Bob Slatter 11
Lay Worker Brigette Alexander 12
Safeguarding Lindsey Tilbrook 14
Pastoral Secretary Mollie Priest 15
Bring & Share Lunch Mollie Priest 15
Church Family Committee Lindsey Tilbrook 16
Communion Stewards Verena Thrift 16
The Lunch Bunch Mollie Priest 17
Consultation on Worship Helen Baines 17
Food for Thought Brigette Alexander 18
Organisations/Activities Name
Ageless House Group Simon Richards 18
Bell’s Bible Study John & Hazel Bell 19
Bible Study Group-Wednesdays Anne Bound 19
Bible Study Group–Friday Mornings Doreen Straw 19
Coffee Mornings Kathleen Tidbury 20
Christian Aid Chris Clarke 21
Church Flowers Margaret Cocker 21
Flower Distribution Dorothy Benison 22
Church Sitting Dorothy Benison 22
Hand Bell Ministry Margaret White 23
Healthy Ageing Carole Pickworth 23
Junior Church Bec Richards 23
Link to Hope Family Shoebox Appeal Bec Richards 25
Mod Mums Natasha Lee 25
Organists Colin Fraser 26
Rascals Pre School Playgroup Tracey Hubbard 26
Shoppers’Service Lindsey Tilbrook 29
Service Recording & Projection Operation Simon Richards 29
Stepping Stones Jill Corby 30
Stitchers Tessa Greig 30
Table Tennis Club Rev Norman Peck 31
The Link (RMC Church Magazine) Stephen Waters 32
Women’s Fellowship Jenny Ludwig 32
Regular Activities 35

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RUSTINGTON METHODIST CHURCH MISSION STATEMENT

Rustington Methodist Church exists for:

Priorities for Rustington Methodist Church:

In partnership with others wherever possible, Rustington Methodist Church will concentrate its prayers, resources, imagination and commitments on this priority:

To proclaim and affirm its conviction of God’s love in Christ, for us and for all the world; and renew confidence in God’s presence and action in the world and in the Church.

As ways towards realising this priority, Rustington Methodist Church will give particular attention to:

  1. underpinning everything we do with God-centred worship and prayer;

  2. supporting community development and action for justice, especially among the most deprived and poor - in Britain and worldwide;

  3. developing confidence in evangelism and in the capacity to speak of God and faith in ways that make sense to all involved;

  4. encouraging fresh ways of being Church;

  5. nurturing a culture in the Church which is people-centred and flexible.

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CHURCH MEMBERSHIP 169 at 3.2.21 Church Council Membership

The following were members of the Church Council as of 8[th] March 2020: Minister, Rev Bob Sneddon; Church Council Secretary, Paula Trahern; Circuit Ministers, Ian Suttie and Frank Okai-Sam; Church Treasurer (and Chair of Resources), Bob Slatter; Pastoral Secretary, Mollie Priest; Church Stewards, Elizabeth Slatter (Senior), John Bell (until April 9[th] ), Sue Bingham, Sue Cooper, Patrick Khoo, Kathleen Tidbury and Pam Warren; Junior Church Leaders, Simon and Bec Richards; Communion Steward, Verena Thrift and Designated Circuit Representative, John Bishop (Circuit Steward).

Church Representatives : Alan Clarke, Chris Clarke, Ruth Fraser, Colin Fraser, Jean Marshall, Ken Marshall, Joan Salmon and Stephen Waters.

A maximum of nine more church representatives are eligible for election. There will be information about these vacancies prior to the General Church meeting we hope to hold in the autumn. Please do consider undertaking this role.

Minister’s report

In my filing cabinet I have printed copies of the annual motto cards that Sandie and I have shared with congregations we have been part of since January 1983 when I first came across the idea. The printed collection is incomplete as, in recent years, the archive moved to my computer. Looking back the verses and places remind me of times of joy, of challenges faced by congregations and individuals and of the unpredictable journey of faith. I think that has never been truer than with regard to the motto verses for 2020 and 2021.

As 2020 started we were planning and organising in many ways. By April the Covid Pandemic was upon us and we were closed for worship and so were all activities on our premises. The evidence of that is scattered like shrapnel throughout this annual report. Our Motto text promised that God would give us wisdom – James 1:5!

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The long months of lockdown – which stretch beyond the formal church year September 2019 to August 2020 - have been times of sadness, struggle and tears. Yet even in the midst of that we have not lacked wisdom. We have those amongst us with knowledge about risk assessments, knowledge of how to look after our building in unprecedented times, and knowledge of how mobile phone and computer technology offers a new angle on life together. So the word Zoom became part of our vocabulary at the same time as we rediscovered the value as a letter sent by post and the value of a phone call!

We have known loss. The absence of the worship we call “normal”, weddings and baptisms delayed. The pain of bereavement where a loved one could not be mourned by all would have hoped to gather to celebrate and support. New faces amongst us are only known wearing a mask and there are people who have moved without that being marked by our traditional farewell. Again it is beyond the strict time boundary but Andie Cankalis, our Church

administrator, moved to a new job in December 2020 and we had to mark that with love squeezed into cards and gifts and flowers. We cannot wait until a church report in 2022 to give thanks for all she did amongst us!

We have opened and closed for worship as Government guidelines have dictated. The Preschool has met for much of the lockdown and there was a brief period when it looked as though some groups, at least, might return only for the guidelines to veto that.

The 2021 motto card took the words our Father gave to Paul when he prayed for release from some of the burdens of his life. “My grace is sufficient for you….” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We do not know what the future holds. We talk of the “before times” or of “the new normal” but there is so much uncertainty that is almost impossible to make any but the most basic plans. These were and are testing times – and the testing is not over. The journey out of exile is only over when mind and body and spirit are at home. It is a journey measured not with a calendar but by the human heart.

Not knowing what the future holds poses a question about the bedrock of our life as believers. Who or what holds the future? Is it, from hereon in, a Covid gripped future where viruses and vaccinations rule? Or does our God - Father, Son and Spirit holds the future?

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The future is not about restoring the past. It is not about newness for its own sake. It is about living the life and promise of our God who is the Life Giver, the Pain Bearer and the Joy Maker. It may not be easy or straightforward but “His grace will be sufficient”.

Rev Bob Sneddon

Senior Steward

The role of a Church Steward is many and varied. On Sundays they supervise each service and support the preachers, aware of the congregational needs. They have an oversight of the spiritual life of the church and an awareness of the social and pastoral aspects of the Church Family. Regular meetings with the Minister review the past few months and look forward to services and events planned for the future, discussing other issues and concerns. Stewards have a place on the Church Council, so have a very broad view of the church as a whole and its role in the wider community.

Steward Helpers and Counters work well alongside the stewards on a Sunday and we would not be able to manage without their assistance.

Since the Lockdown in March we have been doing things rather differently. We opened the church for private prayer in early August and later in the month we re-commenced services, though in a different form because of all the restrictions.

As some of our regular stewards were unable to serve, for various reasons, we currently have a team of people who are serving the church by stewarding at these services. They have been especially trained to the different regulations and way of doing things to keep the congregation safe from the COVID19 virus. I think the church should say a very big thank you to them all for stepping forward to take on this new role, we would have been unable to re-open without them.

I would like to thank all the Stewarding team, Stewards, Helpers and Counters along with the Aisle & Door stewards, who do such a good job of welcoming people into our church They are very supportive and willing to work together, being flexible within the various roles. Their support is essential for smooth running of the church on Sundays.

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Appointments

Kathleen Tidbury stepped down from her role as a steward during the year, but I am sure she will be assisting the stewards in other ways.

John Bell has moved away from the area, so has resigned as a steward. Thank you both for your dedicated service to the church in this role.

Sue Bingham has completed seven years of service and has agreed to continue as a steward at the 9.00 service. Sue Cooper, Pam Warren and myself have each served six years and are all willing to continue in this role. Pam Warren has been the steward for funerals.

I bring the following names to you as stewards for the coming year:

Sue Bingham, Sue Cooper Patrick Khoo Pam Warren Elizabeth Slatter willing to serve as Senior

As you can see this leaves us very short – we ideally need a team of 8 stewards. I have no names of prospective new stewards, so, I request that, should a suitable person offer to serve within the year, the Church Council can agree the appointment and it be ratified at the next General Church Meeting.

If you would like to offer for any of these roles, or would like more information about them , please do not hesitate to speak to Rev Bob Sneddon or myself to find out

more.

Elizabeth Slatter

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FINANCE REPORT

Annual Accounts for the year Sept 2019 to August 2020 have abbreviated below. They reflect 6 months of normal activity and 6 months following Covid19 restrictions.

Adjusted Income
Interest on Parry Legacy

Circuit Grant re Family Worker
Circuit Assessment Rebate


INCOME
ChurchGiving
Income Tax Recovered
Gift Aided Giving
SpecialCollections
Fund Raising Activities
Lettings
External Bodies
Church Based Bodies
Interest
Weddings/Funerals
Coffee mornings etc
Legacies & Living Gifts
Self-funded activities
Recovered Costs
Circuit Grant re Lay Worker
Circuit Grant and Rebate
Sundries
Total Income		 INCOME EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE EXPENDITURE
ChurchGiving 64,532 Assessment 78,892
Income Tax Recovered
Gift Aided Giving		 13,401 Church Donations 4,440
SpecialCollections 1,071 SpecialCollections 1,071
Fund Raising Activities 420 Fund Raising Activities 119
Lettings
External Bodies		 7,169 Worship Expenses
Organists/music		 2,222
Church Based Bodies 6,761 Youth + Junior Church 570
Interest 1,691 Church Administrator
Salaries/Office Costs		 9,295
Weddings/Funerals 150 Property–maintenance 3,218
Coffee mornings etc 1,085 Utilities (Gas & Electricity
and Insurance)		 6,273
Legacies & Living Gifts 0 Cleaning 4,868
Self-funded activities 389 Self-funded activities 322
Recovered Costs 374 Church Projects 9,892
Circuit Grant re Lay Worker 6,840 Church Family Worker
Paid by Churchbut funded
from Reserves		 18,968
Circuit Grant and Rebate 8,285
Sundries Sundries 29
Total Income 112,168 Total Expenditure 140,179
Adjusted Expenditure
1,374
6,840
Church Projects 9,892
8,285
Church Family Worker18,968
£95,669
£113,319

This shows that our adjusted expenditure exceeded our adjusted income by £17,650. Regrettably our Church Giving was £10,000 below budget.

We have been fortunate that again this year the Circuit has found that their actual overall costs for the previous year, were not as high as budgeted, so they were able to rebate part of the original Assessment to all the churches, which has been of great assistance in this difficult year - without this our shortfall would have been even worse.

During this Pandemic, many people have been letting us have their collection envelopes and donations by several means and others have changed their method of giving to Standing Order which has been very beneficial. Thank you very much.

Bob Slatter, Church Treasurer

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RUSTINGTON Church METHODIST

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2020

SECTION A Unrestricted
Funds
Restricte
d Funds		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricte
d Funds		 Totals
this year
£
77,934
1,691
7,169
24,303
111,097
78,892
4,440
17,978
6,273
31,526
139,109
(28,012)
281,826
253,814
253,814		 Totals
last year
£
81,698
1,720
11,066
53,031
147,515
72,958
4,801
21,938
6,815
31,577
138,089
9,426
272,400
281,826		 Totals
last year
£
81,698
1,720
11,066
53,031
147,515
72,958
4,801
21,938
6,815
31,577
138,089
9,426
272,400
281,826
£ £
a1 RECEIPTS Note
a2 Offerings andTax recovered 77,934
a3 Bank and CFB interest and
Investment income		 1,691
a4 Lettings 7,169
a5 Other receipts 24,303
a6 TOTAL RECEIPTS 111,097
SECTION B
b1 PAYMENTS
b2 CircuitAssessment orShare 78,892
b3 Donations 4,440
b4 Repairs andMaintenance 17,978
b5 Utilities (Insurances, water
charges, heating & lighting)		 6,273
b7 Otherpayments 31,526
b8 TOTAL PAYMENTS 139,109
SECTION C
c1 NET RECEIPTS/PAYMENTS
FOR THE YEAR
(a6-b8)		 (28,012)
c2 Total funds brought forward
from last year		 281,826
c3 Sub total(c1+c2) 253,814
c4 Transfers and adjustments
c5 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR
(c3+c4)		 253,814 281,826
SECTION D
d FOR INFORMATION ONLY: MONEY RECEIVED AND PASSED ON TO EXTERNAL ORGANISATIONS
(these amounts are not to be included in total receipts/payments
figures above)
£
£
Balance broughtforwardfrom last year
Offerings/Gifts- receivedforexternalorganisations
1,071
2,719
Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations
1,071
2,719
BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)
d1 Balance broughtforwardfrom last year
d2 Offerings/Gifts- receivedforexternalorganisations 2,719
d3 Offerings/Gifts-passed to external organisations 2,719
d4 BALANCE STILL TO BE PAID (d1+d2-d3)

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RESOURCES COMMITTEE - PROPERTY REPORT

Our role is the upkeep of the premises in a safe way, sensitive to all its users and uses, though this year has been more challenging than most due to the National Government Lockdown in March caused by the Covid19 virus pandemic.

We began the year with some alterations and refurbishment.

Alterations were made to the existing toilets in the church vestibule area. A wider passageway created and the furthest area converted to an Accessible Toilet with baby changing facilities. The remaining toilet was redecorated and designated as unisex. All existing flooring replaced.

Following the replacement of the old window, the Church office was redecorated and updated.

The carpet to the church vestibule area was replaced with carpet tiles which extend into the newly refurbished church office.

The Resources Committee, who met regularly until March, have been responsible for the oversight of these projects along with the Monday Team keeping up with all the regular maintenance needed around the premises, building and gardens. .

The Annual Risk Assessment was carried out in January though the group are regularly checking and re-assessing the building and reviewing health and safety, as well as fire risks in all areas of the premises.

We were challenged by having a couple of homeless gentlemen pitching tents in our grounds. One remained for an extended period, but was eventually found safe permanent housing during the first Lockdown and seems to have settled there.

Once the Government Lockdown was in place, the building was effectively closed with just a few key workers entering as the need arose. As many tasks as possible were undertaken from home.

Because of the Pandemic many special measures had to be put in place to make the building safe. PPE was purchased to be used as per government guidelines. Water heaters were drained, toilets flushed and taps run regularly to keep the water circulating. The dishwasher run regularly to keep that clean too. This is an ongoing situation until the building is in full use again.

Our preschool playgroup returned in June and that part of the premises is being kept exclusively for their use to reduce the risk of contamination from other users.

The Church opened for private prayer in August and later that month for services. Additional very specific Risk Assessments and instructions have been created so these events are safe. This involved some movement of church furniture.

A limited number of people have been working, in small numbers, maintaining our grounds so they look colourful and well kept. Our gardens have been much appreciated by people in the village able to meet friends, even if they are socially distanced, over the past months.

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Many thanks to all who assist in any way in keeping our premises in good shape.

Bob Slatter Chairman of Resources / Property and Finance Committee

Lay Workers Report

It was a good start to the year with lots of events planned, however, little did we know how much our world would be turned upside down, when we were forced to shut the doors to our Church building on 22nd March. I remember that day very well.

I thought it was very important to let the village know that although we were no longer able to open our doors God was very much with us all. So I started putting posters up on the front door. They were like an enormous post-it note with a Bible verse on and I changed the verses weekly. More recently I have put up other posters announcing that we are opening for private prayer on 16th August and then to let all know that we will be open for weekly Sunday services on 6th September.

Open the Book had a Saturday afternoon event for all their teams at the Methodist Central Hall in London, we met the author and founder of Open the Book, Bob Hartman and we were able to hear about other groups' experiences of retelling the wonderful Bible stories to children and young people. Our team did more stories for Rascals and those coming to shoppers services. We were about to give the whole Church family an opportunity to see us in action on Palm Sunday but sadly that had to be postponed for another year. But we are planning on doing a recording of one of the stories to be used as part of a school assembly and linking it to the food bank.

It was a real privilege to help organise and attend Pam Hallam’s 90th Birthday Party in the hall on 20th October 2019, I think all those who came will agree

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with me that it was a very special occasion and one that won't be forgotten, especially by Pam.

Pastoral care has, as usual, been very busy this year, although the second half of the year was very different. We had to find different ways of offering ongoing support to those in need. Sadly visiting people in their homes, in hospital or nursing homes has been impossible since March. The telephone has proved to be a lifeline for a lot of people. We have recently had times when we were able to see people outside, maybe to go for a walk or have a coffee and chat outside a cafe. Other ways of keeping in touch have been explored and implemented such as emails, regular letters and zoom.

Zoom group meetings were set up soon after lockdown and we started with a general conversational meeting on the first Wednesday evening in June. These quickly turned into weekly meetings with a large variety of subjects. We also run short Bible studies and had a very successful Songs of Praise style sing-along in July. We have also listened to a variety of speakers and discussed their content afterwards, Speakers included prison chaplain Jonathan Aitkin, Bishop Michael Curry and Alpha founder Nicky Gumbel.

Holiday at home was a very successful outreach social event that started in August 2019 but sadly it was unable to take place in August 2020 due to the government restriction in place at the time, but I plan to see if we will be able to run it again in the future.

Food for Thought continued to grow and develop during the first six months until we had to cancel group meetings due to government restrictions. We were able to hold events with very diverse topics but all linked to us growing in our faith.

As we had no idea how long we would be in lockdown for I set up a Church Prayer Chain in April 2020. Some of the group receive the prayers via the phone and others via a confidential WhatsApp group, Everyone prays in their own way daily for those who have requested prayers. It has been much

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appreciated by both those who are prayed for and by those who are praying, This is something very worthwhile doing and I feel it should continue when we are able to meet up again.

Several of our wonderful knitters had been very busy knitting gorgeous Easter chicks which we were going to stuff with a small Easter egg and give out to everyone in the services on Easter Sunday, sadly this also had to be postponed,

A visit to the The Pines day centre in Durrington, a day service for adults with learning disabilities, resulted in us being able to invite their choir to come and share their singing with us at a Shoppers service, it was a very emotional time.

As always I am available and happy to have a conversation with you to talk about what else I’m doing and what is in the pipeline.

Brigette Alexander

Safeguarding Report

Updates to the Safeguarding Policy were accepted by Church Council in November 2019. Can I just take this opportunity to ask you to let me know via the Church Office if your group has new contact details and/or officers as they may well need to be issued with a copy of the Safeguarding policy for the Church.

Of course, the Pandemic has meant that all who are involved in safeguarding on behalf of the church, have been very busy indeed – reading seemingly endless documents from the Government and The Methodist Church that have been constantly updated. We have had to produce our own Risk Assessments to send to Circuit for approval. Putting all the regulations and restrictions into practice has not always been straightforward or popular but we thank all who have attended worship for bearing with us. Our thanks should go to the team of volunteers who have enabled Worship to take place whenever possible and of course to Church Council, without whose permission, none of this could have taken place.

Lindsey Tilbrook

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Pastoral Report.

Rustington Methodist Church appointed 30 Pastoral Visitors who readily offer care to the members of the Church. They assist the Minister and Lay Worker by visiting members in their home, Care facility, or hospital. Since lockdown, the natural way we offered support for people in our pastoral group needed to adapt and adjust.

Pastoral care became especially difficult during bereavement, or when someone was admitted to hospital. At these moments of immense need, the Pastoral visitor could not physically stand alongside to offer support and compassion. However, we wrote letters and cards and continued to pray regularly for those in our care. We made frequent telephone calls. In these ways, we expressed comfort and support in times of sorrow and when life was tough but we also rejoiced with those who had good news to share.

My gratitude to all those who have reached out, in a variety of ways, to offer pastoral care during the year.

Mollie Priest

Sunday Bring and Share lunch.

For some people, returning home to an empty house and eating alone after Sunday worship at Rustington Methodist Church is a very difficult time. For this reason, the Bring and Share lunch, meets on the first Sunday of each month after the second service in the coffee lounge. About 20 people enjoy company, friendship, and happy conversation over a shared meal. Because of Covid restrictions this group has not been able to meet since March 2020.

Mollie Priest

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Church Family Committee

It all began so well in the Autumn of 2019! We were able to organise a Hymn-a-long in October which was well attended and followed on from our morning of Chorus singing the year before.

In December, we broke with tradition and held our Christmas Party on a Saturday morning to give our younger groups a better chance to attend. This was a great success and Brigette did a stalwart job in the small kitchen, producing a huge amount of hotdogs for the hungry party guests.

Our only event in 2020 was a visit from the Brighton Male Voice Choir in February – again enjoyed by a good, if largely different number of people. Obviously there has not been any opportunity for the Committee to meet for over a year or plan any of our usual events.

Lindsey Tilbrook

Communion Stewards Report

Members of the team: Sheena Baker, Anne Bound, Christine Carr,

Joy and Terry Smith, Verena Thrift, Joan Welham-Jones, Margaret White and Wilma Walton.

Rev Norman Peck is also part of the team sharing the 10.45 services with our minister. We were able to assist Rev Bob Sneddon at the various Communion Services during 2019.

The services over the Christmas period were enjoyed by us all and the rota for the first quarter of 2020 was ready.

Sadly the Services stopped in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

When we were able to meet again in the “New Normal” Rev Bob Sneddon prepared the Communion Elements himself and also served the Communicants on his own.

This is an ongoing arrangement due to Covid19.

We are very much looking forward to be able to assist Rev Bob again when restriction are able to be eased.

Verena Thrift

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The Lunch Bunch.

On the second Tuesday of each month a group of people from Rustington Methodist Church, who had experienced bereavement had lunch together. Occasionally the group would eat out in a restaurant, but generally we would meet in someone’s home where 14-20 people could be accommodated for a buffet type meal.

Together, over a meal, we shared concerns and difficulties about living and alone. We offered support and encouragement to each other and laughed as well as cried. A group holiday was organised each year to Cyprus but the 24 booked to fly in March 2020 now have to wait for travel restrictions to be lifted. Mollie Priest

Consultation on Worship

Rustington Methodist Church usually holds a Consultation on Worship three times a year, when all who worship at our church are invited to meet with the minister to review recent services, discuss current worship styles and make suggestions for the future worship life of the church.

In the past year period, September 2019 to August 2020, meetings were held in October and January, with the scheduled June meeting being cancelled due to COVID restrictions. Attendance was between 6 and 10 folk per meeting.

In addition to feedback around recent services and events, and the consideration of upcoming services, the meetings also offered space to discuss particular aspects or topics relating to worship:

At these two meetings the direction of the ‘Sunday Celebration’ evening service and the progression of the ‘Food for Thought’ worship were discussed, and this led to separate meetings being held for those directly involved with these services.

Other items discussed within these Consultation meetings included the pros and cons of using glow sticks rather than candles for the Christingles on Christmas eve, the best timings for including the crèche children and the young people from Junior Church within the Communion services, and suggestions for ways to cater for large baptismal parties within the 10.45 service.

It is felt that the Church greatly benefits from constructive feedback and fresh ideas with regards to worship. It is hoped that the worshipping congregation of Rustington will have opportunities to contribute to such meetings in the year to come. Helen Baines

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Food for Thought

Food for thought has been going for nearly three years now. It takes place on the 3rd Tuesday of every other month. We had meetings in September, November, January and March. We also ran a full length feature film in January relating to the January title ‘Homeless’. Our last meeting was on 17th March and was titled ‘Tell Me the Old Old Story’

The evening is based around food, fellowship and a topic. There is no definitive format and it has taken on different guises depending on who is involved in organising the evening and on what the topic is. We have had speakers, film clips, quizzes, prayers, music, debates, bible readings, poetry, silences, hymns, personal reflections, a labyrinth and much, much more.

Sadly we have not been able to run any more meetings since we were forced to go into lockdown on 22nd March. From the feedback I have received Food for Thought evenings have been greatly missed and although we started an evening zoom group it is not possible to include us eating a meal together.

We are always open to consider new topics that anyone might suggest. It is an excellent way to meet, get to know and form lasting friendships with likeminded Christians in a relaxed, informal and friendly environment. It is not a club and there is nothing to join. We only ask that you let us know you are coming and about your dietary requirements, we don’t want you to go hungry! If you haven’t been before please do come along as soon as we are back up and running again.

Brigette Alexander

Ageless Home Group

We meet on a Monday evening and follow a Bible study. We chat about our lives so that we can support each other through hard times and rejoice in happy events. We have not met since the end of March due to Covid restrictions, but have kept in touch with each other.

We will review the situation when lockdown restrictions are eased.

Simon Richards

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Bell’s Bible study

It is with great regret, due to the Corona virus pandemic, that we have not been able to meet for our bible study in over a year.

We still do not know when it will be possible to hold our meetings at the church due to self-distancing and our meeting room is so small.

However, we know that everyone is keen to get together for study again and we trust that we will soon be together again to study God's word.

Hazel and John Bell

Bible Study Group –Wednesdays

Prior to lockdown the group met as normal and then broke up for Lent to be part of the Churches Together meetings.

The group has not met since

Anne Bound

Friday morning Bible Study group.

What is there to report on for this last year?

The Pandemic causing a very strange year has put paid to our weekly meetings where we discuss what we have read in the Daily Bread Bible study notes. We have always found the discussions to be a great help as we listen to each other’s understanding of the notes and Bible passages, and how each reading has given us cause to look at our own lives, at what we felt God was saying to us. Some of us have continued with our Daily Bread notes at home and others decided to use some other source. We have found plenty of help in our lives of faith from Radio, T V and Bob's reflections, and the free time from not having to run here and there has given us more time to look around and appreciate God's goodness in his wonderful creation .

We look forward to being able to meet together again in the not too distant future. Once this happens we hope to meet again at 9-45 am each Friday in room one on the church premises for one hour. If you would like to join in with

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a small and friendly group of very light hearted Bible Study to help you get little more understanding of what God is saying to you, then please feel welcome to join us. We certainly don't do DEEP study as some other groups. Our aim is to help each other to read our Bibles each day.

Doreen Straw

COFFEE MORNINGS

Sundays, Tuesdays, Fridays & Saturdays

Sunday, after morning worship, there is an opportunity to meet with other members of the Church family in the coffee lounge.

Also coffee mornings are run in the coffee lounge on most Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays! You can enjoy a warm atmosphere, friendly conversation, a Fair-trade cuppa and a biscuit all for the price of 50p!

Sadly all coffee mornings, including after the morning services, ceased with effect from Sunday 22[nd] March 2020 when the Government guidelines stated that we should all stay at home to reduce the risk of catching corona virus. During this time of enforced retirement I have reached the decision that I am no longer able to be in charge of the coffee mornings, due to failing eyesight.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the loyal team of helpers, without whom we could not have offered this service. The Church is always looking for more helpers. Kathleen Tidbury

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Christian Aid Activity and Accounts

July 2019 – July 2020

Before the pandemic made a dramatic effect on our charitable work and that

connections with local churches.

Total Remitted to Christian Aid:

£4850

In addition, Gift Aid recoverable was, £817

The world-wide implications of the pandemic, especially for the poorest nations weighed heavily on our minds and we were grateful that we could at least make some small contribution to the vital work of Christian Aid.

Restrictions continued to impact on our ability to serve the community both locally and nationally.

More detailed accounts have been published previously and are available on request.

Chris Clarke

Church Flowers

In the past year sadly we have not had many Sundays with fresh flowers in the church. The silk flowers have been changed according to the seasons. Any money donated but not used is safely in the flower fund bank account and will be available whenever we are able to arrange fresh flowers again and the requested dates will, if possible, be honoured.

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If anyone would like to add their name to the list of donors Doreen Straw or I will be pleased to hear from you. We suggest at least £20 for flowers in the pedestal and a small arrangement on the organ. If specific flowers or colours are requested then the cost may be higher. We try to accommodate a request for a specific date.

The arrangements are always appreciated as are the flowers when they are distributed after the weekend.

Margaret Cocker, Doreen Straw

Flower Distribution

The ministry of taking flowers to members continued from September 2019 until March 2020 when the first lockdown came in to force. This is something much appreciated by folk who have a need or just a thank you. It is a lovely job taking a couple of hours on a Monday morning and is enjoyed by the small team who deliver the flowers. New helpers are welcome – all you need is a ready smile and the ability to drive.

Dorothy Benison

Church Sitting

In normal times the Church is open for private prayer on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Two people are needed to guard the church and offer a welcome to any visitors. This is very vital service to the community. It is not an onerous job and is mostly an opportunity to get to know another Church member really well. Sadly it is yet another form of outreach that has had to be dropped during the pandemic. New names for the rota would be welcome for when we are able to resume again.

Dorothy Benison

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HANDBELL MINISTRY

During the past year we have not met to practise or play due to the Pandemic.

We usually play the bells at Easter, Harvest and Christmas services and rehearse monthly on a Sunday morning between the two services.

We realised that we had a limited folio of music so requested a grant from the Church Council to buy some more music. We were delighted to receive £100 which enabled us to buy enough books for the team and we were looking favourably at playing some new pieces just before the pandemic struck.

We understand that we are likely to lose two or three members of the team and we therefore will need some new recruits. If anyone would like to consider joining us, when we are able to meet once more, please be in touch with me or Kay Wilson.

A knowledge of musical notation would help! We would love to have some young people join us too.

Playing bells is essentially a team effort so if we do not recruit anyone else we will not be able to play all the bells needed to create beautiful music in the Church services. It really is fun!

Margaret White

Healthy Ageing

This class was started in August 2017 as a Chair Exercise Class and has been consistently well attended.

Period September 2019 - August 2020 were also proceeding as planned until classes were stopped in March because of Covid 19.

Carole Pickworth

Junior Church

The last time Junior Church met as usual was 8[th] March 2020 but we have kept in touch in several different ways during the many months since.

We formed a WhatsApp group which consists of an adult from each of the fourteen Junior Church families. Almost every day since 28[th] March 2020, we have shared a Christian song via the group. The choices cover a wide variety of

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styles, ages, tastes and themes and while some favourites get repeated, we have probably shared well over three hundred songs reminding us of God’s love.

We have also reached out to all the families with deliveries during the year, with something for each of our twenty-eight children ranging from under 1 to 18yrs old. The first was a bag of craft activities which linked to stories and craft videos sent via Whatsapp in Spring 2020. The second delivery was an end of Summer Term gift which the children would usually have received at our Anniversary Service. In the Autumn term everyone received a chocolate Advent calendar and a Christingle kit and during Spring 2021 there have been Lent-in-a Bag deliveries and Easter goodies too.

Some Junior Church families attended our two “Lighthouse” services at the church in October and December 2020. We shared in family-friendly worship with a difference – actions to songs (but no singing!), videos to watch, stories to hear and prayer activities to do whilst sat in family groups.

In December it felt important not to miss out on our usual Nativity fun, but with lockdown it needed to be different. We used a rhyming script “God is with us – everywhere!” by Fay Rowland and made a stop-motion animation with characters made from paper cups! Each of our children and young people recorded themselves reading their lines and with some clever technology (and a good chunk of time) our Nativity film came together. It’s still available on YouTube if you haven’t seen it yet!

Over the months, I have been adding craft videos to our YouTube services, often with help from my lovely family. Recording myself takes me rather out of my comfort zone which is why you usually only see my hands! But I hope that these have been a blessing in some way to our Junior Church families and perhaps the wider church family too.

I am very thankful for the new ways we have found of connecting and sharing with each other this year.

Bec Richards

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LinktoHope Family Shoebox Appeal

With such a strange year in which everything has been so different, it has been important to find things to celebrate. One such thing has been the generosity of Rustington Methodist Church friends and families towards the LinktoHope Shoebox Appeal. Sadly, it was not possible to meet together in a large group as we usually do. However, many folk still made and donated items, gave money and offered prayers, and some met in small groups or families to fill boxes with gifts and love. It was humbling to drop off 129 boxes to the charity warehouse with sufficient money to cover the transport. There was even a little money, some knitted items and toiletries to spare! Thank you so much!

Bec Richards

Mod Mums

Mod Mums has had a very quiet year due to not meeting since March 2020. However, from the period of September 2019 – March 2020 the group enjoyed various activities, including Zumba, talks from speakers on topics such as domestic abuse, an auction, a craft morning and a sign language session.

When the world went into lockdown in March, we continued to use our Facebook page as a community hub. Each week our social secretary arranged talks by different speakers (some from the beauty industry and one charity etc). which they filmed beforehand or did live at the same time a normal Mod Mums session would run.

The team tried to keep this engagement going as long as possible, often posting funny memes (funny texts or pictures) and anecdotes to try and brighten someone’s day. A huge concern we have had has been parents and carers feeling isolated and lonely. It was around August that the weekly talks petered out due to the strain on the team to keep them up and things opening slightly for summer.

When Mod Mums was in session, the babies and children really enjoyed playing in the crèches, making new friends whilst their parent or carer had a good chat with the other adults in a separate room. We are really grateful to the church for enabling the crèches by proving the helpers and doing their

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DBS checks etc. And of course we would like to extend this sincere thanks to the crèche ladies themselves – we have missed you all!

Numbers were a little low just before lockdown in March 2020, but since we have been more engaging on social media, we have had a number of new followers and people enquire about the group. We are hoping with the right promotion, we can enjoy a larger number of attendees again, once it’s 100% safe to do so.

In July’s AGM we chose a new chair who chose ‘St Barnabas’ as our charity, and 3 members of the team did a sponsored sunrise walk in October 2020 to raise funds for them. Obviously other than that we have not actually worked with them this year. Our accounts were detailed in the same AGM and obviously these figures also haven’t changed.

Natasha Lee

Organists

Michael, Ann and myself have covered Sunday and shoppers’ services and preschool praise but it has been a relatively quiet year with only two funerals, no weddings and lockdown starting in March.

The Christmas services were kindly covered by Ann and I was able to spend rare time with family. Thank you Ann.

The support and encouragement of Rev Bob and the church family is much appreciated.

Colin Fraser

Rascals Playgroup

This has been a very different year at Rascals Playgroup.

As the news of Covid 19 hit the headlines and the country went into lockdown we closed our doors to the children on March 20[th] at 12.30pm.

We were asked to remain open for children of key workers and for those children with an Educational Health Care plan but all of our families were able to safely keep their children at home, so we remained closed until 1[st] June. As the majority of our income at that time was coming from West

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Sussex County Council in the form of free entitlement, we were able to continue paying all of our staff a normal wage.

We maintained contact with our families via our private Facebook page, emails, texts and we hand delivered an Easter egg to every family which was appreciated.

We reopened on 1[st] June and welcomed back children of key workers and had a small group of about 11 children. Two members of staff remained at home on full pay as they were clinically vulnerable with Asthma.

We produced a Covid policy and asked all the parents to sign a Covid 19 parent’s agreement. Our new enhanced cleaning regime became embedded into every day practice and the wearing of masks became a familiar occurrence when speaking to parents/carers.

Our end of year celebrations were all cancelled and some of the children left Rascals without us seeing them again which was very sad. In these cases we hand delivered the children’s learning journals with a small gift and our best wishes for their transition to school.

Usually around this time teachers would visit us to meet our children but this was all cancelled and our transition conversations were all held over the phone. For those children who required additional support with the transition to school, we made sure all our paperwork was shared with the relevant school and long telephone conversations took place regarding each child’s needs.

We welcomed a few new children to Rascals in September and welcomed back all of our remaining children until another lockdown hit again in January. This time we remained open to all children as requested by the Government, however, half of our families chose to keep their children at home because they had older children at home. This time one of our supervisors had to remain at home on full pay as her eldest child couldn’t go to school.

Again, luckily the majority of our income was from Government funding and after a tense time of it being suggested we wouldn’t receive this funding, it

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was then confirmed that funding would be in place even for those children remaining at home which was a big relief to us all.

On 8[th] March we welcomed back all of our children and staff. Transitions to school will again be supported by phone calls rather than visits which is a shame but we are now able to invite Health visitors and Educational Psychologists into the setting to support some children.

We have a visit to Summerlea Forest School booked for July which we are really hoping can go ahead. We also have a photographer booked for May which parents are looking forward to.

During this strange year, I have felt fully supported by my staff team and also by Bob Sneddon the minister and Bob Slatter for which I am extremely thankful. It has been an emotional rollercoaster with lots of personal issues for us all to cope with but we have all pulled together and got through it supporting and caring for each other.

We are hopeful that our numbers will be healthy for September and we are currently busy answering new enquiries which is positive.

We have all been thankful as a staff team that we have had exclusive use of the church hall during this uncertain time and have felt extremely grateful for the support provided to us in this respect. We do understand that other groups will soon be operating again and look forward to seeing the church being used more often and we will be happy to work with other groups to ensure the safety of all users.

We all hope that other church groups have all remained safe and well.

Tracey Hubbard – Manager

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The Friday Shoppers Service

Prior to Covid 19, the Shoppers service, for many years held on a Friday, took place for just 15 minutes and offered the 30-40 strong congregation a variety of styles and speakers. This included the very popular Pre-School Praise and Rascals Pre-School Playgroup Nativity -standing room only!! I am sure that all who usually attended so regularly (including those from residential homes) really missed this annual event in December 2020 and also the week-by-week Friday slot that was open to all but was obviously unable to take place during the pandemic.

Lindsey Tilbrook

Service Recording and Projecting

During this year services were recorded weekly and sent to 3 people up until lockdown began in March 2020. Following this time there were no further services due to Covid restrictions.

Preparing for and projecting services took place shared between three of us on a rota basis up until the Covid lockdown.

In August we started a YouTube channel and produced an online ‘service’ with the plan to continue this format while people could not attend church. The online service included a reflection from the minister, Bible reading, craft activity and input from members of the church talking about their lockdown experience.

Simon Richards, Margaret Cocker, Corrie Brown

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Stepping Stones

The Club resumed meeting in September after the August break, with a Social evening of Housey-Housey. Later that month our gentlemen joined us for a very informative talk about ‘ The Old London Docks’.

In October we had a quiz and a speaker who’s fee went as a donation to The Motor Neurone Disease Association.

A ‘Good as New’ sale in November raised money for our chosen charity : Safe in Sussex. We specifically targeted their Women’s refuge in Littlehampton also donating bed-linen and towels among the items.

Our Xmas Hat Party was a great success with various headgear worn and plates of food brought along. Xmas Lunch was enjoyed at The Angmering Manor Hotel in December.

The New Year started with a Beetle Drive and we were joined by the gentlemen when The Littlehampton Camera Club visited.

A fish and chip supper was enjoyed in February when Louise Gisbey came to tell us more about the Women’s refuge.

Bob Sneddon Chaired our A.G.M. which had been brought forward a week to comply with the new financial year date. Our ‘Silent Auction’ was also held for our charity that night.

In March we heard about the life of a Lighthouse Keeper. The club was then hit with the first lockdown. Members were kept in touch by ‘phone or email during that time. Money from club funds was donated to Safe In Sussex, and more linen was collected and donated by members.

Over the year we have lost Barbara Ayling, a loyal and valued member after a long illness. May she Rest in Peace.

Jill Corby

Stitchers

Remember September 2019? Life was “normal” and we were all busy enjoying our various projects and trying to keep up with the new techniques and styles we were learning. Soon we were planning a couple of special events for 2020.

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A whole day workshop would be held in the spring featuring Seminole patchwork. Members were set to work preparing various materials for our big day. Then came Covid and just a day or two before the workshop date lockdown was announced. Twelve weeks “they” announced, so the workshop was postponed. We had also planned a one-day exhibition of work as a charity fund-raising event. But - Watch This Space – eventually both these plans may come to fruition.

We turned to making scrub bags and so on for the NHS.

However, four of us attended the Quilters’ Guild Regional Day at Chichester College on 7[th] March which was very enjoyable and turned out to be the last event any of us could attend. In the meantime, we continued with our own projects, with advice, help and suggestions by phone or email, until we were able to meet in small groups a few times in Elizabeth’s garden later in the summer, so there was a flurry of activity to finish some work for a Show-n-Tell (when everyone shows their work to members and explains the inspiration or incentive involved in making the piece) and of course to enjoy a chat and catch up on everyone’s activities.

We have been amazed to find ourselves swapping patterns for masks and making them for friends, family and neighbours and have continued to make quilts or blankets for the Linus Foundation.

Tessa Greig

Table Tennis Club

The Table Tennis Club continued its usual format from previous years. We have 2 tables in constant use, playing doubles which means 8 people competing at the same time. Those waiting to play sit and watch whilst having social interaction with one another. We have a half time break for

refreshments, during which the leader has a sharing of news with one another, and shares a few funny stories and some interesting sports tales. Our

membership has remained fairly steady, with some retiring with “old age”, but fresh faces have appeared to take their place. The spirit has kept high, with the reputation that there is no other Club like ours, so we have greatly missed our Friday afternoons since our last meeting on March 13th 2020. After expenses have been paid for from the weekly membership fee, all our profits are paid directly into Church funds. Norman Peck

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THE LINK (RMC Church Magazine)

The Link is produced in the Church Office and informs on the life of our Church. When the usual activities of the church ceased in March 2020, owing to the restrictions necessitated by the Covid pandemic, it was important for The Link to continue to be produced. Along with the Minister’s message, various church members continued to contribute poems, occasional articles and other items, and these are always most welcome. We have continued to distribute copies of The Link to members and anyone who is interested in receiving a copy.

I am very grateful to Andie Cankalis who was the Link Co-ordinator for the year 2019/2020, to Colin Tompsett for his artwork and to Jan Elliman and Margaret Rudlin for their invaluable help during the year.

Please continue to send any items you have for inclusion, by e-mail, to the Church Office so that they can be processed.

Stephen Waters

WOMEN’S FELLOWSHIP

When I began this report in March 2020 the work of WF was continuing much as usual. Statistics were fairly constant at 54 members on the register, average weekly attendance around 30, and 7 new members. Once again, we had said farewell to several much-loved and sadly-missed friends who had died since my previous report.

We were continuing to look for ways to freshen and revitalise our meetings. One change we had made was, with Bob Sneddon’s assistance, to update our New Year communion service to make it more relevant for current members. In the process, we realised that aims, meaningfully expressed by WF members several decades ago, were not entirely appropriate for our 2020 membership, and these have been altered (as below):

‘With a clear Christian ethos, Women’s Fellowship aims to provide a relaxed, happy place where women can meet regularly to greet old friends and make

32

new ones as, together, we engage in a varied weekly programme of speakers, performers and ‘home-grown’ activities.

‘We acknowledge that each person’s faith journey is unique and we welcome women of faith as well as women of no faith trusting that we might learn from each other.’

It’s always a relief - twice a year - to have managed to produce varied weekly programmes of speakers and activities. As always, we were extremely thankful to church members who willingly came to entertain - and often challenge our ageing brain cells!

There had been more fingernail-biting moments when two speakers let us down in the previous programme and we quickly decided that booking any of the emergency services to talk to us was a lost cause. The fire service was called out to a fire 20 minutes before they were due to speak - having already cancelled a visit some months earlier - and, more embarrassing as we had opened the afternoon to others, the speaker from Air Ambulance went into hospital and no one was aware until it was too late.

Then Covid-19 struck! Meetings and speakers cancelled,

Early in the pandemic, the committee took up Lindsey Tilbrook's suggestion that we divide our membership into small groups (in alphabetic order so we didn't just phone our friends!) and phone each member regularly to keep in touch. That has worked well and all agree it has been a positive experience for phoners as well as receivers.

Comments from 3 of our phoners:

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''The bonus of this year's non-events has been keeping in touch with the members on my list . Three I phone every week and the other three every two weeks. I have been able to build up a good relationship with members and we now know one another much better - something we don't have time for at a meeting with duties to carry out. I look forward to my Tuesday mornings of making the phone calls and am pleased to report my members do too. When we are able to meet again on a Wednesday afternoon it will hopefully be fresh to us all and lovely to see each other face-to-face.'

'We've had lots of lovely chats, and being one-to-one is much more personal than is possible in a meeting. We always manage to have a laugh about something, and it's reassuring to find we're all experiencing the same feelings and worries.'

'How lovely it has been to get to know everyone on my phone list so much better over the past year or more. Even though all our activities have been so restricted, there has always been plenty to talk about. It will be wonderful actually to see everyone again in person when regulations allow and people feel confident to do so again.'

On a personal note, lockdown has proved a very welcome sabbatical, enabling me to spend more time at home with my husband, helping more in the garden and just sitting about and chatting (something we hadn't done for a long, long time).

‘But one thing we do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, we press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us…’ Amen to that!

Jenny Ludwig

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Regular Activities

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays Rustington 10-12noon Church open for prayer 1.30-4.00pm Stitchers (1[st] & 3 Methodist[rd] Thursday) contact Tessa Greig: 786896

Fridays

Church

10.45am Shoppers’ service – Refreshments served before and after 12noon Christian Aid Lunch (3[rd] Friday) contact Chris Clarke: 782458 2.00pm Table Tennis Club (weekly) contact Norman Peck: 731356

Saturdays 10.00am Coffee Morning

Rascals Play Group meets on 4 days (term-time): Monday & Tuesday (9.30am – 3.30pm) and Thursday & Friday (9.30am – 12.30pm) contact Tracey Hubbard: 07546 584314

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Rustington Methodist Church

Claigmar Road, Rustington West Sussex, BN16 2NL

Minister Rev Bob Sneddon

60 Westlands, Rustington BN16 NW

Home 01903 717035

gorsefore@googlemail.com

Lay Worker Brigette Alexander

Mobile 07757 717730

brigette.rmc@gmail.com

Church Office

01903 776900

rustingtonmethodistchurch@gmail.com

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CHURCH RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS THE METHODIST CHURCH STANDARD FORM OF ACCOUNTS Church FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 August 2020 WORTHING ICoa8t& Dovm$ Clr¢utt Clrwh no Regl•tor8d Chartty-¢hartty RtylitrAWon number If not a regithred chanty Hor •nd Custr￿S Glft Ald Trumber HMRC number is equiwd￿nt lo a registered chatity numLr w) term¥ of evKlence ofcharrtabk sta 8nd may te u5ett lo gi￿t0 don0￿ or grant funder8 VisliNJ to $86 8Mdonce oftha organtsaiion's charitable status. Meth￿Ist charrt￿$ in Eryland and Wales that are not registeTpd chaiitw are excepted from rayistration urthr Statutory In5twment 2014 No.2421 1134888S Minister. Revd Robert Sned(bn Churth Stewards. klrs Eltiab8th Sl8tter Mr Patri( Khoo Mrs Joan Sèlmon Mts Kath￿ fidbjry Mrs Susancooper Mrs sus￿ Bingha MrJohn Bell Mrs Pamel&Warren Treasurer.. Mr Robert Slfiller c￿￿RI￿1P2￿l5￿

ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEARENOED 31 AUGUST 202 Chur¢h SECTr)N A Fund Fun yoar ¥1 RECEIPTS F4ot• Offei Sa￿ Tax Bank and CFB Inteiest and InvestmeniiThxm 77,934 81,898 a3 1,691 7.169 24.303 111.097 1.691 7,169 24,303 111.097 1.720 Lei 11.WS 53.021 147,515 85 Other re￿Ipts TOTAL RECEIPTS SECTION B b1 PAYMENTS CircuitA¥sgwnent orshare b2 78.892 n8kn5 4.440 Irs and Mathn8ntÈ Ubltss Ilnsurancej, Wakr ha heatng & lighti 17.978 21.938 6273 b7 p￿entS TOTAL PAYMENT$ 31.526 139,109 31,528 139,109 31.S77 138,OB9 SECTION C NET RECEIPTSIPAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR c1 8012 28.012 9,426 Totsl fvnd5 bl￿ghtf￿[dIrt L&Styear 281.828 272.400 8vbtoil c1+(2 253,814 253 14 281 Transfets andad'ustrnents c7 TOTAL FUNDS AT END OF YEAR {¢3+c4} 263,814 253,814 2B1,826 Icel SECMON D FOR INFOIIWinoN ONLY: MONEY RECEIVEDAND PASSED ON TO EXtERNALORGANISATION8 urnk4bove (th￿ •rnouThts r• notto b• 1￿Clud0d In iot•l Th¢fjl d1 Ba￿n￿ b ht lo￿1d frorn la51 d2 . tsextgmal o ani5atim5 t.071 d3 -P￿Sed toefftma1 1.071 BALANCE STILL TO Be PIJD 01+42431 2015

￿EC￿¢]N 477 TOT• 24&S98 45.T25 TO7￿C￿FuNDsTr￿LD¥￿cb J416J9 5ECrtNQ 335011 2381711

Name of Church .. R￿n￿￿On Il•thddknt Church Declarations and Scrutiny I confimi that Ihe8e Re￿Ipt and Payment bas&J accounts forthe year lo 31 August 2020 have ieen prepared from the records ef the Church and that they include all funds under the contrd of the Church tNstee5. Sign8lure of treasurer....... Date./.- Name and addross of treasurer.... ... I.+ Presgntslion ts th¢ Church tru8toos confimi that the annual report and accoun15 for the yearended 31 August 2020 w￿re￿Wil pre8enled lo Ihe meeting of the ChurGh tru51ee5 held o Signature of the Chairof the m88ting Name oflhe ChaiTofthe meeting ...¢.K rf'Z Indo￿ndent Examiner's Report to th• Trust••s of th• Charity Number. 11348885 Re8pon8lbllltl88 and b8518 of report I report to Ihe truste88 on my examiTratson of the accounts of tho................. . Church for the year ended 31 August 2020 set out on pages... to.. As the Church's tsuslees, you are responsible for the preparation ofthe aGGounts in accordano with the requiremènts of the Charl￿8 Act 2011 I'ts ACYI. I report Ill res￿ of rny examinat#)n ofthe Churth's accounts carri8d out und8r section 145 of the Act and. in carrying out my examination, I have all the appI￿ab￿ Directions gwen by the Charity Commission under sectron 1451Sllbl ofthe Act. ' tlele1&9&&￿awVrapriate

Name ofchurch ........................... Melt￿￿tch￿r Indepgndent Examlne$ Stat•rnont I have compbted my examination. I confirffi that no material rn8tter8 have corne to my attention in ¢onnection wrth the examination I in, any material r88pe¢t I which gNe me ¢au5e to bel￿ that the a¢¢ountiryJ Tacords we not kept sn a¢yyxdance vthh section 130 of the AL#., or aco)unts do not ac¢ord th8 8cix)untirvJ records. Ithe Ilhe I have no eoncems and have come a¢ross no other matter5 in connecbon with the 8xamination to wh￿h attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a propef uThlerstsnding of th8 8(xxJnts lo be reached. I havelhave not" obtained independent verffjication Df all investments %wth the Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes or in othertru8ts. bank balances and funds at the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church whKh are indiwdualty in exew of £10,000 (ten thousand pounds) at tl* balance sheet dats. Skjnature of iTrJependent examiner Narna of independent examiner . Mr Le5IeAJkn rx Re18vant profe$5ional qualrfication of independent examiner City & Guild BoDk-Keeping & Accountancy lequWe￿rrt to ICB Levèl 31 Name (where appropriatel ....Arun Book.Ke4pry &G• Addre$$ Post Code .... BN17TGW Date Joio dd8t8 or circb as appropriat8 S8p19 2015ttArfthR4tsJP. Sots

Name of Church ........................... MEthodNt Chjrch Indepondent Examinerfs Statement I have ¢ompWed my examination I confirni that no material matters have come to my attention in nnection ￿th the examination I I which give me ¢ause to trel￿ve that in, any material respect.. the a¢rxiunting records wre not kept in awjrdanrx with section 130 of Ihe Act.. or the accounts do not accord with the aecounting record5. Ith8 Ithe I have no COn￿m$ and have come a¢ros$ no other matters in connection the exarntnation to h￿h attention should be drawn in tho report in order to enabè a proper undet5tanding of the accounts to be reached. I havelhave not. obtsined independent verification of all inve5trnents wth the Trustees for meth￿liSt Church Purposes or held in other trusts, bank balan￿$ and lunds at the Central Finsnce Board of the Meth(NJist Church ￿Kh are ifidwidualty in exLSS of £10,000 (ten tho¢Jsand pounds) at the balance sheet date. SvJn8ture of independent exami Name of independent exarnlr￿r Rekvant professional qualrfi¢atk)n of Independent examiner Cty & Guikl Book-Keeping & Accountsncy lequivelent to ICB L8¥813j of firm Iwh8re appropriatel ANn & GempAW Address . Linw Cthe, Lrtlleh8mp￿Th, W•$isu$8ex . Post C¢xle .... BN177GW ioio dekte orarde as appropiiate Sep-19 2Q15chutthRK P Sofs