Minister’s Report for the year 2021
On the day we hold our AGM one year of Covid regulations will have passed. During that period of I2 months I prepared and delivered Worship@home Services to everyone in our congregation, plus a few extras. You will remember that on Sunday 22 March 2020 we covenanted together to worship in our homes at 10.30 each Sunday until we could return to worship in church. The ‘Worship@home service’ has also been uploaded on to our website so that anyone can participate, should they wish to do so. Restrictions meant that all our plans for Easter 2020 did not come to fruition. Instead I delivered a supply of fresh and chocolate eggs to everyone on the Wednesday of Holy Week. I opened the garden for Good Friday prayer and reflection and thereafter opened the church for ‘Personal Prayer’ on Mondays and Fridays. I also served ‘do it yourself’ communion to those who wished to take it. As most of our visitors were from the Anglican church, they were pleased that the Eucharist was available to them. After a time, I closed the Friday session as no one turned up.
We did return to worship in church for a brief period. We were very pleased that we could celebrate Vivien’s 80th birthday on the 19 July with a service followed by a buffet lunch in the garden on a hot day. Paul Bright my friend from Dallas, Texas played the keyboard giving Vivien a day off. We were able to hold services and our Saturday Coffee Mornings over the summer/Autumn months, but then came the second lockdown and everything stopped again. We held Remembrance Sunday in our homes with worship services in church returning in December so that we could celebrate Christmas in church obeying the rules. Then, even though we had extra heat from the newly acquired oil-filled radiators, we decided that it was too cold with doors open so we went back to everyone ‘worshipping at home’.
Throughout the year we managed to hold the required number of Church and Congregations meetings to meet the Charity Commissions rules and our Deacon’s meetings too.
With the help of Stephen Miller, the Messenger was prepared and delivered each month. Thanks to all contributors. Although I didn’t deliver to every one each week, I have telephoned those to whom Stephen delivered the services and the Messenger to those near to him or when he was out on his daily exercise. I baked a few times to cheer people up, and some people baked for me too. I’m grateful for the sustenance including Jean and a weekly supply of peanut brittle bars from Seau Yen and fruit scones from Rosemary T. (if the Postman arrived before me then he got the scone!) The Deacons also have a Pastoral List so that they too could keep in contact with everyone. A shared task is always best. Thank you
We did pray for God’s protection at the beginning of the pandemic and I am convinced that as we have honoured God he has honoured us and kept us safe. During the year we recorded the death of Ronnie Limeburn in November and Arthur Bartlam in January 2021. Two men whose wives (Margaret and Mary) were longstanding members of our community.
As always I have spent a long time preparing for Sunday worship: we began the year reflecting on ‘God’s Promise’, we then studied Colossians and then Romans. Due to Covid restrictions we were unable to receive visiting preachers, but Vivien and Rosemary did lead worship and I read a service prepared for us by Revd. Ernie Whalley. In December the Christmas Nativity and lights attracted a huge amount of attention and we did indeed display the real reason for the season. It has been an odd year, busy but not with the usual stuff. I’m just thankful that we are able to meet in church and some day soon we will be able to welcome back all our Coffee Morning Friends. Till then, let’s keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who has promised never to leave us. Thank you for your prayers and support.
PUDSEY BAPTIST CHURCH 2020
NOTES ON THE 2020 ACCOUNT
NOTE 1
Income for other funds
| Spurgeon's Childcare | 281.96 |
|---|---|
| Air ambulance | 392.40 |
| Baptist Missionary Society | 658.35 |
| Home Mission Fund | 709.28 |
| Operation Agri | 329.51 |
| Uganda | 30.00 |
| 2,401.50 |
NOTE 2 Property expenses
| NOTE 2 Property expenses |
|
|---|---|
| Rent | 9,999.96 |
| Insurance | 772.69 |
| Cleaner | 700.00 |
| Southern Electric | 713.73 |
| Yorkshire Water | 189.47 |
| Repairs | 450.00 |
| Mainternance (incl. decorating) | 3,688.35 |
| Carpet | 3,994.00 |
| Piano | 2,180.00 |
| Sundry purchases | 1,204.70 |
| 23,892.90 |
| NOTE 4 | |
|---|---|
| Sundry receipts | |
| Bible notes | 55.00 |
| Other | 8.46 |
| 63.46 |
NOTE 3 Donations & subs
| Yorkshire Air Ambulance | 499.15 |
|---|---|
| Spurgeon's Childcare | 366.67 |
| Baptist Union Subs | 70.50 |
| Churches Tog. in Pudsey | 0.00 |
| Operation Agri | 432.00 |
| Baptist Missionary Society | 1,210.00 |
| Home Missions | 1,096.00 |
| Hope Whitby | 300.00 |
| Northern College | 100.00 |
| Min Benevolent Fund | 50.00 |
| Bible notes | 200.00 |
| Reach Project | 1,800.00 |
| College Fees | 12,993.00 |
| Swinnow Comm. Centre | 5,000.00 |
| 24,117.32 |
NOTE 5 Sundry Payments
| Auditing | 30.00 |
|---|---|
| Course fees | 45.00 |
| Crib removal | 200.00 |
| Pastoral gifts | 200.00 |
| Website | 600.00 |
| Squeaker | 150.00 |
| To cash | 500.00 |
| Other | 318.02 |
| 2,043.02 |
PUDSEY BAPTIST CHURCH Accounts for the year ending 31° December 2020 REPORT BY THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO CHURCH MEMBERS Res ective res ODsibilities of Trustees and Examiner As the Church's Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts for which you have asked me to cary out an independent examination. Basis of Inde endent Examiner's re ort My examination did not amount to an audit, but was carried out in accordance with the General Directives given by the Charity Commissioners, for the Independent Examination of the accounts of smaller charities. Nothing. has corne to my attention in connection with my examination, which gives me cause to believe otherwise than that the accounts accord with the accounting records of the Church, and that such records satisfy the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. l am not aware of any matter to which attention needs to be drawn in order to obtain an understanding of the accounts. SI¢d......... Name.....a.(&F!£C.*......L7tsLL.k.(l.l...... Di$304 Address...............................................................................