PARISH CHURCH ST JOHN THE BAPTIST STAFFORD TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT INCLUDING
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL
FOR THE ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING 18[th] April 2021
Incumbent:
The Revered Dr Carl Rudd The Rectory Westhead Avenue Stafford
Independent Examiner:
Mr Malcolm Kidd Chestnut Close Derrington Stafford
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ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, STAFFORD TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT INCLUDING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE P.C.C. FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31[ST] DECEMBER 2020
Index
Administrative Information 3 Structure Governance and Management 3 Objectives and Activities 3 Rectors Report 4 Review of the PCC Meetings 4 - 5 Church Wardens Report 5 Fabric Report 5 - 6 Deanery Report 6 Electoral Roll 6 - 7 Treasurers Report 7 - 8 Independent Examiners Report 9 Receipts and Payments Accounts 10 Statement of Assets and Liabilities 11 Notes to the Financial Statements 12 - 15
To follow World Focus Group Places of Welcome Children’s and Youth Worker Pastoral Care and Baptism Prayer Chain St Johns C of E Primary Academy Report Music Flower Group
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1. Administrative Information
The parish church of St John the Baptist is situated on Bedford Avenue, Littleworth, Stafford and the correspondence address is, The Rectory, Westhead Avenue, Stafford.ST16 3RP
The Parochial Church Council is a registered charity with the Charity Commission.
PCC members who have served since the last Annual Parochial Church Meeting are:
Incumbent The Rev’d Dr Carl Rudd Curate Vacant Readers Mrs Isobel Wakerell Wardens Mrs Anne Scott
Deanery Mrs Wendy Clark Synod Representative
Elected Members
Mr Eddy Chambers Hon Treasurer Mrs Kathleen Passey Secretary Mr Steve Gale Ms Diane Humphreys Mrs Lyn Ryder Mrs Isobel Wakerell Mrs Naomi Blears (nee Wakerell) Mrs Sue Philp Mr Suresh Rajbhandari Mr Francis Tamba
Structure, Governance and Management
The method of appointment of PCC members is set out in the Church Representation Rules. All church attendees are encouraged to register on the Electoral Roll and stand for election if they feel called to do so.
Objectives and Activities
The PCC has the responsibility of co-operating with the incumbent in promoting in the ecclesiastical parish.
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Rectors report Dear St Johns,
2020 will be a year that is never forgotten with Covid 19.We have seen the sadness with the death of Les Woodcock. We also have great thanks to give to God for his steadfast love. Knowing His consistent presence in hard times we can look to better times ahead with greater trust in His provision.
I want to thank everyone who has helped to sustain our worship, cared for our church family, our building and continued to walk with us through this time. No matter what is happening there are three things that we never want to change; Love God, love one another, love the stranger.
With this in mind I would ask you to pray for the whole PCC, all in leadership, and any you know in need. The church responded amazingly as lockdowns meant we could not meet, with phone calls, zoom chats, online services for worship and prayer. Changes in financial giving have sustained us whilst also recognising our income is not reaching expenditure.
We look to continue to deepen the faith of us all and at the same time we look to stretch out to reach those searching for God and His kingdom of eternal life. As a stronger community with deeper faith we reflect Jesus more, and as restrictions lift we look to push forward as activities will restart and new ones begin. Pray for and prayer walk the new estates, opportunities for kingdom growth.
'Let light shine out of darkness’ … we have this treasure in jars of clay to show this all-surpassing power is from God. 2 Cor 4v6,7.
Every Blessing in Christ. Carl
Carl Rudd Rector
PCC Review of the year
Due to the on-going global Covid 19 pandemic the Parochial Church Council Meeting (PCC) have been held online via Zoom for the majority of 2020. Members that did not have access to the Internet have been included in discussions/decisions by on-going contact with Carl the Rector. Relevant paperwork has also been circulated to them in paper format.
The last year has seen the need for the PCC to be flexible and open to change often at short notice, particularly in decision and arrangements for worship. There have been a variety of opportunities for worship, from open public services, online & private prayer that have been conducted in an appropriate manner as government and Church of England advice/mandate has allowed.
At the delayed APCM in October David Blake resigned as Church Warden and also Robert Judson as Verger, both Dave and Rob will be missed and were thanked for all their professionalism and dedication they gave in carrying out their roles. Both roles currently remain vacant, although two new members
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were welcomed as PCC members Suresh Rajbhandari and Francis Tamba and we look forward to their input to decisions made at meeting.
Also I would like to thank everyone for their continued support in my role as PCC Secretary, particularly during these unprecedented times. From dealing with queries, ‘signposting’ me and on a practical level helping to ensure minutes of meeting are hand delivered to persons not on email etc., thanks again.
Kate Passey PCC Secretary
Church Wardens Report
This year has been notable for the Covid-19 virus which has governed how we as a church have been able to worship. Thanks are due to Carl, Isobel and Megan for keeping ministry available albeit in very different circumstances. To comply with Government & Diocesan regulations we have at various times had to close the doors or been able to worship while maintaining a distance.
Activities have had to be cancelled leading to loss of income and meetings with fellow worshippers. To combat this a Cascade system was put in place which has worked well. PCC and other meetings have taken place via Zoom and Sunday services are available on-line each week with readings and prayers from members of the Benefice congregations.
Before the pandemic struck, we had enjoyed an Away Day led by David Primrose at Cloverley Hall in February. A future time away together has been deferred until 2022.
Storage cupboards made from the old pew fronts have been installed in the Lady Chapel and corridor. A larger wall hung screen for the convenience of the celebrant and leader will replace the current small one. This will complete the planned reordering.
In October we said farewell to Dave Blake who has served as church warden for the past four and a half years. Peter Grainger also moved to a new location in December. Both will be a loss to St John’s and PCC. My grateful thanks to both having worked well together as part of a team.
Anne Scott Churchwarden
Fabric Report
The building fabric is generally in good condition. The Quinquennial Inspection completed in October 2019 identified that timber windows require decoration. Remedial works were required to the high-level dormer windows to resolve the ingress of water around them. Initial investigations have shown the lead work to the dormers is weatherproof and the ingress of water is due to warping window frames. Trial sealing of the timber was completed on the first dormer so all remaining windows will now be sealed to resolve the issue. During the above investigations, water ingress was noted at the roof apex. Work on this is due for completion in the early spring of 2021.
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During the Covid-19 restrictions & closure in the summer, an electrical survey was carried out to establish the high use of electricity. This showed a heating pump sticking on whilst the system was idling in the shutdown period. The cause of the intermittent fault could not be established without detailed and costly investigation and replacement of suspect parts. The heating engineers suggested that the fault would resolve itself when the system is in full operation again, but any persistent failure should be reported to them for action.
The hall floor was sealed & varnished in the summer and thanks must go to Francis for his help.
Thanks go to Di Zhang and the volunteer cleaners.
Peter has now moved to a new location but expresses his thanks to Ian Ryder for his support and hard work this year.
Anne Scott With input from Peter Grainger.
Deanery Synod Report
Sadly, due to Covid-19, there were no Deanery Synod meetings this year.
Wendy Clark Deanery Synod Rep
Electoral Roll Report
The total number on the Electoral Roll is 97 as opposed to 93 last year. The figures are as follows:
Age Group Inside Parish Outside Parish Total Under 25 2, 2.06% 1, 1.08% 3, 3.09% 25-44 11, 11.34% 6, 6.19% 17 , 17.53% 45-59 16 , 16.50% 3, 3.09% 19, 19.59% 60+ 34 , 35.05% 24, 24.74% 58 , 59.79% Totals 63 , 64.95% 34 , 35.05% 97, 100%
5 people have been removed from the Roll, 3 have moved out of the area, 1 is worshipping elsewhere and Les Woodcock sadly died to this life, and we give thanks for his faith and loyal service. 9 people have now signed their forms so are added back into the number. As we all had to sign new forms for the Electoral Roll last year, all of those included are true worshippers. The figures do not include, Carl, George or Roger, as Church of England priests are not included. There are still a few people who have not yet returned their forms so I’ll keep chasing for them.
As you will see from the above figures 2/3rd of the congregation live in the parish. This has gradually increased which is so good. Also 3/5th of the congregation are in the 60+ age group. We still need to reach out to the young people around us but what a pleasure it is to see some of them reading regularly in church.
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Thankfully most of our older people are fit and play an active part in our activities, however due to lockdown I think we may see changes in the future. There are some people who have been watching the services online who for a while may continue to do that. Nationwide it has been noted that there are more people joining in worship online than attending real worship. If they are new Christians, explorers or sheep returning to the fold, I pray they will continue to be fed and that they will be brave enough in the future to actually come to church. At this point I need to say a very big Thank You to all of those who have been involved in getting our services recorded and online, and to those who are on the rota’s.
I can’t help but feel that in this day of technology the Anglican Church has to think seriously about how it collates the number of Christians. Every church has regular members who do not want to fill in Electoral Roll forms especially the younger generation. They regularly attend services like church@4 and feel that they belong to that local church, but because they don’t complete a form they are not included in the numbers given to the Diocese. Jesus would not exclude them for He says in Matthew 18 v20 “for where two or three come together in my name there am I with them”
God bless you all and wishing us a safe and happy pandemic free future.
Diane Humphreys Electoral Roll Officer
Treasurer’s Report
Finance report for APCM 2021
2020 has been a year like no other, and certainly a challenging year in many ways for us all. My thanks, as usual, to all who have assisted me-Treasury Team members and sides people.
As this year’s transactions have not taken the usual pattern, I have taken the opportunity that Covid offers to make the task easier for myself by adopting Receipts and Payments accounting as allowed by The Charity Commission. This means that I have not allowed for amounts outstanding and receivable at the 31[st] December as well as not apportioning amounts paid in the year that refer to 2021 (prepayments) and calculations of expenditure to 31[st] December that will be included in 2021 bills (accruals).
Accounts for 2020
So bearing the above in mind, the deficit on the Unrestricted funds of the church showed a deficit of £2,850 for the year which is remarkable given the circumstances. (Compared with 2019 income was down by £10,358 but expenditure including the transfer from the Youth Worker fund was also down by £17,716 reducing this year’s deficit by £7358.)
What is even more remarkable is the generosity of you, the Church members who, including Gift Aid, contributed around £57,000 towards church finances and I thank you all for your generosity.
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The Unrestricted funds of the Church are the General Fund and the Designated Funds. There was no movement on the Designated funds this year so the total General Fund income for the year was £63,762 and expenditure £74,908 giving a deficit of £11,146. This deficit included a full year of our Youth Worker’s salary and expenses paid out of the General Fund. It was possible to transfer £7,956 from the Youth Worker Restricted Fund to offset expenses and allow for a contribution towards overheads. This transfer and an allocation from the Away Day Fund (£340) reduced this year’s deficit to £2,850.
General fund income was boosted by £7,305 as your response to St John’s Gift Day Covid Appeal and £6,670 from the Government’s Furlough Scheme. Expenditure was reduced by 3 months Parish Share at 50% a saving of £5,917. Without these sums our deficit on the General Fund would have been almost £20,000 more and would have put us in real financial difficulties.
Reserves Policy
The Charity Commission dictate that it is only the General Fund that is “readily available”. At the 31[st] December 2020 the balance of the General Fund is £22,866.
Based on this year’s running costs, the above figure is insufficient to satisfy our Reserves policy of representing six to nine months operating costs.
Quinquennial Survey
PCC agreed last year that the Designated Fabric Fund should be used for Quinquennial costs, (required by the five year survey of the building). The balance of this Fund at the year end is unchanged at £16,047. Expenditure over the next few years is expected to exceed this figure.
Conclusion
Our financial situation over the next few years gives cause for concern and will need to be addressed by the PCC.
Eddy Chambers Hon Treasurer
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ST. JOHN THE BAPnST CHURCH STAFFORD CHARITh REGISTRATION NUMBER 1138834 INDEPENDENT EXAIIINER'S REPORT 145(5Xbl olt* 2011 • . M. O. KW¢PFA
P•ro¢hl•l Church co¥1 ol St John Ihe B•ptlK Slthord Reger& ClwityNumb¥ 1138634 REcPT$ PAYMEPlfS ACCOUllfS IOI11M¢ RESOIJR¢ES 65.285 9.688 337 2.838 In¥ttlnI Int• 21C} 21*1 Other IncoMg itrSOurt8s 6.670 6.99D 12 Costof ge19 tund% Co¥1ofgeneratsryvoluniaryiDc(e 3(al 2D7 119.565 èrn?ble èthitie5 fQ5ts hEr 50[re5j 3(Gl 3(dl 3(el T49 246 246 1.284 TOTAL HES(MJFKESUSED EXCE55 OF HECBPTSOVER Pl4YMElIts BEFORETHPJ4SFEHS -11.145 -17.304 TFtANSFERS8ETWEEN FUNDS GT05S traDsfets tN¥eens. GT05S traDsfets teNVeeTrfLth. NET MOVEIIEKf FUNDS -17,J04 FIECONCILIATION OF FUNDS 2&n6 219JS 51.371 io
Paro¢hlal Chur¢h Coun¢ll of St John the Baptls( Stsff) STATEMENT OF ASSEfs and LIABILrnES- 31st DECEMBER 2020 Ure#i fu1 Retricttd End¢ T4)tsI Totsi fvnds 2019 Cash fu Cash ai bank In h•id Deposit fvndS-CCLA -1.185 24.OS1 2.312 16.268 18.580 6,724 7.851 40.319 48.170 15,832 37,138 52,970 6.724 Other rnonelary assets LDBF.RecI(TecWdDN fLhid 1.325 1,325 A•eets aIned for¢huw¢h Me F4ano 2,000 Cuywtht Aggetg DebIorSa prepawwts Curwent Llabllttles Creditots 3,387 2,267 326 2,513 U116t Churth bthe A9cY ¢dl8(ons Monies iecei¥ed in thaKe 1.439 1.439 2.59S ,455 1,642 5,692 1.439 1.439 N.B kny stto114is(xepan(ieswill ts%arisen dueio io ihe neare* wund. proved byThe Palochl thJr¢h Coun¢llon 8th March >)21 Rev Drc Rudd LAY ChA li
Parochial Church Council of St John th8 Bapti< Stafford
Notss to the Flnandal Statements tor the year ending 31st December 2020
Accouniiwj Poll¢lÈs
These financial 5tsients have been xwdarKe with the ChJr(h Acwjntsry Regulatys 2W8
together apKAi¢able aardS aThJ Lhe StateTh of Re(ed Pra ISORPI 2015. iaking
advantaoe Df ihe r¥axabonsfN mll chantes.
These finaal siaierents have been prepared the his¢31 (tyi 0)Th¥eDn. With effect frcm ihe 1s1 January
2020 the church has adopied Rectrpts and PaJiYMts XL¥Mmiiro. Whilst IraDS11nO 'wue" receipts and
p8yrfEnts figures a affected bytran$knts setoff due and a315 thdt
ere br¢uohlf£K£ Irom L4Stvearfs actnts.
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These È¢¢ounts indude al IMSthxlS. assets lthlits fLY PCC is te$ible in lèw They do ntst
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Church
Voluntary inwme and pital Our
Parochial Church Council of St John the Bdpbsl Slallord Notes to the Financial Statem RECDPTS 2030 2019 Total VOLVNTAFIY INCOME ReoulÈrGiwrto tlean5 and OtherGiwtwJ Gifl Days Cow&19 Giwry onff Gifts Tax REcovEr8d onGrftAided &wtwJ Legacies tring Gran1Y Wtthr 21a} 3S.268 1.570 4.740 40,(A)8 .570 7,305 717 10,722 41.060 4.457 257 l.W32 18.43B 12.563 4.3 11.892 4963 65,285 88,938 AcTlEs FOR GENERATWG FUNDS Acbwties and Events Incor from Churth Hall 14) 2,110 190 2,110 2,300 704 8,984 9,68B IN¢014É FAOIA INVESThIENTS Interest R1ve 337 CHURCH ICHARrrA8LgACTivfTIES Fees fromweddinosand Funerals Church Hall Letbngs4)Wves L(um Chaplain 21d} 1,239 523 523 160 2,839 1.218 OTHER INCOIAING AESOLIRCES Grants-Coron&Viws Job R•enuon Re5trided ReceiptsftDmGroup Fun I)lr Funds G8neiated 21&} 6,670 6,670 321 321 6,670 321 2,071 63 762 12.212 7S.974 103.872 N.Bknysrydl drKYll1 tr4v9aiwdueto r1ral0 the re$l wund. 13
Parochial Church Council of St John the Bdpbsl Slallord Notes to the Financial Statem Forlh? yearendlThJ 31 Il•ceth2WJ) PAYMENTS 2DI9 GE[1 Dgnated Resth(ed Tolal Tolal COST OFGENEFIATION OF VOLuKfARY INCOME 3(al FUND RAJ5WG TRADING COSTS tivitiesand Events 207 CHURCH (CHAR[TLE) EXPENSE Chatrtable Gmng Parish Share Youth Worke¢s Salarysnd Expatses Administratotrs-ary Chuich Office Administrabon ExtEt Expenses of Clergy and LayReadw Mls&¢n and Trnini Upkeep of SeNce5 Church RunninlnsurarKe Cleaner's Salary ar Exrnses Church Maintenanc8 MislIaneOUS exwnses chUh Running-utilibes R&ordaring of Church 31¢} 4.270 41.424 10.248 5.826 4.270 0 41.424 0 10.248 5.826 832 7.420 46.187 24.1S3 817 817 299 556 1.7TF 2.321 4.072 6.334 4.157 4.IS7 120 120 0 2.343 702 702 702 75.511 4.214 14.883 119.566 74.809 fjOVEAfiAN¢E ¢OSTS 3(dl OTHER RESOURCES USED 3(el Resthcted Eynditure frotn Gt(M41 Funds 1.284 T4.6 948 75.856 TRANSFERS BEfwEEN FUNDS The PCC apptoved transfetsttr Ger£I Fund [[( a Youth Work8r Fund aSa¢thri ?Fds Overheads b Youth Worker Fund asa nInb0 to salary and sxpgnw payTtwts c Atsy Days Fur altri of lpts io 2.0 -6LNJ 7.356 -7.356 -7.35fj 7.3 16.210 -16.210 340 .2 N.BknysThAII dnCle$ wll he arisen due rJdIng io the neast wund. 14
rnlJI 000 h) h) O¢b o oj 15
World Focus Group Report
WHO WE ARE;
We are a group made up of members of the congregation that support the Church by taking responsibility for allocating the Church giving to charities.
We do this by meeting regularly, usually at a member’s home to discuss and plan how the allocated church tithes should be shared out. We then choose members or groups from the church and ask them to choose a charity they wish to support, this is in addition to our annual giving, it is our responsibility to ensure the chosen charity meets all the church and charity commission guidelines, if this is approved, we then allocate the money.
Throughout the year we are often called to give one-off emergency donations to respond to national and international crises. This request, if approved by the group is then presented to the PCC for their agreement.
2020 has been a difficult year with the Covid pandemic that meant we were unable to have our usual meetings. We were also unable to meet with other groups within the church family to enable us to receive suggestions for their chosen charities however we have still been able to respond to request made by members of the church for donations to Katharine House and Stafford Women’s Aid
Along with the allocation of church giving the group also organises church collections such as Christian Aid week. Sadly, this year we were unable to host an event so our Christian aid giving was from the envelopes in church with extra from our monthly tithe added. However, we were able to meet in church for Harvest giving which included food from the St Johns school as well as the congregation, and our Christmas collection was given to Stafford Salvation Army. Along with this, we have also organised collections of nonmonetary items i.e., blankets and gifts for charities such as the Stafford Women’s Aid and House of Bread.
St Johns is a generously giving church and we each feel privileged to be in this group. If you would like to join us, please speak to any one of them members we would love you to join us.
Lynda Ryder. Isobel Wakerell. Eddy Chambers. Kate Passey and Steve Gale.
Lynda Ryder World Focus Group
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PLACES OF WELCOME
OPEN DOORS REPORT FOR APCM 2021
It is very sad to have to acknowledge that, since our last APCM, St John’s doors have not been able to open as we would like on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings – consequently we have not been able, so far, to operate as a Place of Welcome.
The next paragraphs, in italics, were included in the last APCM report in the Autumn of 2020 but they are included again as a reminder of where we are with this initiative.
The Open Doors Team and the PCC agreed a year ago to apply to be part of the ‘Places of Welcome’ scheme and St Johns has been accepted onto it and is now included on the ‘Places of Welcome’ website. The scheme is not exclusively Christian but the Diocese is represented by Rev Dr David Primrose.
PLACES OF WELCOME
The main criteria for becoming a ‘place of welcome’ is a commitment to 5 values:
PLACE An accessible and hospitable building, open at the same time every week
PEOPLE Open to everyone regardless of their circumstances or situation, and staffed by volunteers
PRESENCE A place where people actively listen to one another PROVISION Offering free refreshments (at least a cup of tea and a biscuit) and basic local information
PARTICIPATION Every person will bring talents, experiences and skills that they may be willing to share locally.
At an Open Doors meeting on 25[th] February 2020 we discussed various possibilities for improving our publicity within the ‘Places of Welcome’ Scheme eg new boards, posters and A5 flyers – this is to be discussed further with the PCC.
On 22[nd] September 2020 and on 1[st] December 2020 Liz Clarke attended Zoom meetings linking together ‘Places of Welcome’ initiatives throughout the Midlands and on 8[th] December 2020 Kate Passey and Liz Clarke attended a Zoom meeting with Lesley Bovington - Places of Welcome Facilitator - Transforming Communities Together.
Although St John’s Open Doors Team have not been able to operate as normal during the past year, this enforced break does provide a positive opportunity to make a new start as a ‘Place of Welcome’ – let us pray for new members of our Church family to become part of this ministry which operates for the benefit of all, both within and outside the Church. Also, it would be wonderful to be able to open St John’s on an additional morning or afternoon.
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Hebrews13 v1
Let brotherly love continue.[2 ] Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels
Members of the Open Doors Team:
Rev Dr Carl Rudd (Rector), Alan and Margaret Bancroft, Martin Bogle, Wendy Clark, Liz Clarke, Lynn Eaton, Steve Gale, Di Humphreys, Kate Passey, Sue Philp, Pauline Raven, Pauline and Tony Pittard, John Shuttleworth Anne Scott (Church Warden)
Liz Clarke Places of Welcome
Children’s and Youth Worker Report
This has been a year like no other and has affected everyone differently and in many ways. Due to Covid-19 I was furloughed from April to July. This period was followed by the summer holidays, so I returned to work in September.
Children’s Church
Children’s church is available for those children and young people who would like to explore and understand more about God. Usually, we meet during the Sunday morning communion services and we learn about the same bible readings that the sermon is be based on. Once the first lockdown commenced, it became clear very quickly that we would have to change our approach for reaching out to the children. Before being furloughed, I did this by sharing resources on a weekly basis with the children that included an information, or ‘teaching’ sheet on a bible verse, a sheet with craft ideas as well as an activity sheet. Once church began to reopen its doors and I returned from furlough, my teaching resumed as before, with sessions involving a game or activity, as well as a bible reading (which would be read or shown via video), teaching based on said reading, prayers, and a craft relevant to the teaching. On the first Sunday of the month, we have an all-age service where the sermon is more interactive for the children, where they can play musical instruments, as well as work through a craft and activity sheet. As time has moved on, so have the ways in which I communicate with the children. From the beginning of November, I started to record videos of myself teaching the lesson for each Sunday (as I would in a usual session) and posting these on Youtube for the children to watch. This was in addition to continuing to send the teaching, craft and activity booklets. We are still in the process of gathering feedback from the children and parents, but the video views and examples of crafts that I received from parents, show that families have engaged during this period.
TnT
TnT is a youth group that meets on a Tuesday evening to discuss challenging topics and where the bible is used as a tool to understand these more. The group has been well attended over this difficult period, with the young people even joining the Zoom sessions. During the last year, we have seen incredible life-changing events that needed discussing, including Covid-19, Black Lives Matter and using our God given gifts. Whilst on furlough, we created leaflets
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for the young people to read and discuss at home with their families and I have anecdotal evidence from the members themselves, that good conversations were had. Can I take this opportunity to thank Wendy Clarke for her help with creating these booklets. More recently, we have taken our discussions onto Zoom. Currently, we are exploring the ten commandments by unpicking the work of J.John, in his book ‘Ten: the chapters of love’. In preparation for each meeting, I record an overview of J.John’s thoughts on one of the commandments. I will send this video, together with a question booklet ahead of each meeting. We then meet over Zoom and discuss J.John’s thoughts on the commandments. The young people have engaged really well with these Zoom sessions.
Zone
Unfortunately, since the start of the pandemic, we have been unable to run Zone. Although we deliberated with the idea of re-starting the sessions from September, we decided it was not viable to run the sessions given the implications of social distancing for the sessions, as well as the potential mixing of different schools’ bubbles. When the time is right, we will relaunch the group and create new relationships with the young people within our community.
Sunbeams
Sunbeams is a pre-school play group that meet on a Monday morning. It is a wonderful community for both babies/toddlers and parents/careers alike. With the exception of the periods where we have been under lockdown/furlough, this group has otherwise been running consistently. The numbers attending the group have remained steady (despite restrictions and the introduction of a booking system), and we have even welcomed new members. We have received encouraging feedback about our Messy Play activities, which are new and inventive each week. Before furlough, myself and Kate Norman (can I pass on my thanks to her) would share videos of songs and story time, which were recorded and posted to the Sunbeams Facebook page. Currently, Sunbeams is being streamed live every Monday morning on Zoom.
Church @ 4 and Messy Church
As was the concern with Church Services continuing over this difficult period, Church @ 4 and Messy Church have been stopped for the time being. Myself and Carl have used this time to reflect on the format of these sessions and where we think changes or improvements could be made. More information on these exciting new developments will follow in due course.
St John’s School Worship
School worship was paused from February to August, but was restarted in September, with the new academic year. Currently, it is being accessed in the form a video (similar to the Children’s Church format). We are continuing our good relationship with the School and I look forward to a time when I can return in person.
Megan Davies Children’s and Youth Worker
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Pastoral Care and Baptism Report
Baptism
Sadly, due to the pandemic there have been no baptisms in the last year. There are several families who made inquiries and are waiting for baptism when it is safe to do so. These include those who completed the START course in late 2019 and early 2020. There are also some people still awaiting confirmation. Contact has been kept with these families throughout the year, please continue to pray for all seeking baptism and confirmation.
Isobel Wakerell Lay Reader
Pastoral care
Due to the pandemic pastoral care has increased throughout the year. However, with the restrictions most ‘visits’ have been by phone, email, etc. A Cascade system has been introduced to reach all members of the various congregations. This has involved several people, not just the pastoral team, having regular contact via a phone call, text etc and relaying any concerns to the Ministry team. It seems to have worked well and it has given opportunities for people to get to know members of the congregation they may not have known before. With so many services unable to take place in church it has been a way of continuing fellowship.
However, nothing can replace a face to face visit especially when in hospital, care home, or suffering/recovery from illness at home. In such situations many prayers have been shared over the phone. Comforting the sick and dying and those mourning has been particularly challenging. We continue to trust in God’s unfailing love and His guidance in caring for the pastoral needs in the parish and congregations.
Isobel Wakerell – Lay Reader
Prayer Report
Prayers have been said for many in this difficult year particularly for the NHS staff and all others in caring roles during the pandemic. Members of our congregations, their friends and families have been grateful for prayers in numerous ways & formats throughout this time and for many individual needs.
A special prayer group had been set up in March by the family of a critically ill grandchild and we have been able, through our prayer chain, to pray for and share in her most amazing recovery which continues still.
Prayer Works!
Thank you to you all
Helen Dart Prayer Chain Coordinator
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St Johns C of E Primary Academy Report
We have had an extremely busy start to our academic year in September. We currently have 373 pupils on roll with 48 staff.
Our links with the Church are still strong and this adds to our Christian ethos. Rev. Rudd is Chair of our Local Academy Committee and visits our school frequently when we do not have lock-down restrictions. Both Rev. Rudd and Megan have developed on-line worship for the pupils at home and in school. Life in school has been a little different this year as we have been unable to carry out all our school visits, social events and charity fundraising. Children are having to be taught in their own classes and not mix with other bubbles. This means that we do not come together for whole school worship but this is carried out in their classrooms. We did manage to have the majority of pupils return in June.
Online learning has worked very well and parents have feedback that they are pleased with the provision that we have. There is a mixture of live and recorded lessons. We also provide 1-1 academic support where necessary as well as 1-1 emotional well-being sessions. Families at home also receive weekly well-being phone calls from the class teacher or teaching assistant. Our website www. st - johns - stafford .staffs.sch.uk has photographs and further information regarding all of our activities in school. We also have a facebook page, which is St Johns CE Primary Academy.
Miss Evans Principal St Johns CE Primary Academy
Music Report
No doubt we have all missed normal music in church this year and with restrictions on singing this has been a difficult year. When services did go ahead in church we were allowed to hum along, behind face masks, to videos or the piano or guitar. Congregational singing has been banned for the foreseeable future but eventually restrictions changed and one person, socially distanced, sings at the front. The percussion instruments boxes have been well used to make a joyful sound in accompanying the humming of hymns and songs.
Carl has prepared an online service every week including hymns and songs so that the congregation can sing along in the safety of their own homes. This has been a real lifeline, particularly for those isolating, shielding, isolated or physically unable to attend services when the church has been open for worship. A huge thank you to Carl, Aileen and Lydia for all the extra work this has involved. Also, thank you to the musicians and singers who have played live when allowed and for all the recordings of hymns and songs that have been used in the live and online services. Carl now has quite a library of recordings and as the seasons change it continues to grow.
An outdoor Carol Service in the car park was very successful, despite the rain, and we were allowed to sing! Sadly, outdoor singing since the New Year has now also been banned. However, I would encourage you to sing along to the online services, the radio, BBC Songs of Praise or any other resource in the safety of your own home. God created us to sing and make music, it nourishes
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the soul. ‘I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being’. Psalm 104:33.
Isobel Wakerell Lay Reader
Flower group
What a strange year for all of us, flower arrangements until the onset of Lent, and the distribution of small pots of daffodils for Mothering Sunday to as many ladies as possible, then came lockdown.
Thankfully there have been a few occasions when we have been blessed to use the amazing beauty of the Lord’s creation, the joyous occasion of Naomi and Geoff’s wedding on the 5[th] September followed by the resumption of flowers for a few weeks which incorporated the wonderful time of harvest. Poppies for Remembrance Sunday in November, the Advent ring and the Stars for Christmas.
We are a small friendly group with a love of flowers and would very much welcome new members, if you feel able to assist please make contact. I record my sincere thanks to all group members and pray that soon we will be able to resume our ministry.
Blessings
Barbara Maltby Chair Flower Group
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