## **’ - Secretary s Report for May 2020 21** Well, here we go again with another year ending for Cornerstone, and who would have thought that again the year end would be dominated by Covid? What have we aimed for in the year and what have we achieved? Firstly, trying to stay safe, and we have largely done that. Having done so, what about our ongoing wellbeing and faith? Challenges of various levels have certainly hit most of us, in fact all of us will have seen some problems during the year. So how have we coped so far? Individually, many may need support, even if that is only more of the friendship that members have been offering each other. For many that is a personal Cornerstone of lives whether it be one or two friends or larger groups. Others may need more trained help from the NHS or other specialists. All of us can of course benefit from prayer and whilst praying for each other is not a formal part of Cornerstones existence we have shared in prayer during the past year and it has been found to help those being regularly prayed for. Should we go further and form a prayer group? If anyone would like to do so, it is certainly something we would consider so let me know and we can see if it can be tried. Services have continued with much help from Amanda, our Minister, who is coming to the end of her time with us. We thank her for all of her support over the years which have shot by, and also her challenges to us to take further steps on Jesus’s path in building Cornerstone’s presence in Uckfield. Adam has also fitted lots of time into helping us and others during his ministerial training. We thank him and his wife Gillian for their many recordings that have enabled us to hear traditional singing at our Services. Jess and Clare have also done a lot of work learning how to use the laptop and associated equipment, giving us the chance to continue with the normal Services that we have become used to. Helping ensure Services continue has been Norman’s co-ordination and distribution of Services & information sheets whilst also organising church and trustee meetings for which I in particular am especially appreciative. John Harriyott and John Lane have again also worked on the building and the former is progressing ideas to improve its usability. Meanwhile Linda has spent time continuing the cleaning and garden maintenance as well as what has become so important to all organisations, the legal check-ups’ where we work with others that we refer to as Safeguarding and DBS. In reality these help show that we care and want to try and avoid potentially horrible things happening to others.- for all of this a lot of thanks are due from us all. Doug has done his usual great work looking after our finances, and now following his health scare has helped Clare to be able to take over – he is of course is still helping, including leading many of our and other Church Services. Our other trustees, Carol and Christine, do lots of help in the background – often there are no titles to important work, but it’s crucial to any church or leadership group. We should, and do, appreciate their efforts including setting up and running the Jigsaw exchanging at church, and, with Norman promoted Cornerstone at Uckfield’s Big Day. Whilst raising some more money is important, it was also part of helping others hear and see the Lord working in Uckfield through us all. Others helped on the day and it’s by coming together we can still achieve much more that we can as individuals. Has Covid changed our, and Cornerstone’s life? Of course, but only time will tell if that’s for the worse or whether we can make something positive from it as we come out of the pandemic. Our Pastoral team members have been keeping contact going, helping us know how people are doing, asking for prayers for those who feel the value when in need. We thank them and ask they keep doing what they can as we are not back to our pre-pandemic lives and caring for one and all is always crucial. How might that be? Possibly because we’ve all faced things that have affected us and challenged us, even perhaps our faith, that can that give us strength? We will need to use our strength to get Cornerstone going again in the various formats needed, both online and together, whilst supporting one another and each doing what we can. Can we attend bible groups, coffee gatherings and work parties, possibly helping to organise them? Each of us contributes in different ways building God’s church, and all of those ways are needed for any worthwhile Cornerstone. Having left us with our challenge I want to remember my final thoughts for the year. Unsung supporters, yet very valuable to us all need a mention. Derek still organises our organist’s rota and instrument maintenance, whilst in Millington Court - where a significant portion of our members live – despite health problems of his own and with his children, Tony has been a massive help to us by printing and distributing to residents the weekly communications. All of the named members need and deserve our prayers. In addition, we need to keep in our prayers on those suffering and those who have managed to come through the pandemic unscathed on the face of it, as we will all face changes to our and Cornerstones lives. God bless you all. Jeremy ## CORNERSTONE CHURCH UCKFIELD ## ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2021. Regd. Charity Number 1174774 ## CORNERSTONE CHURCH UCKFIELD ## ANNUAL ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH APRIL 2021. Regd. Charity Number 1174774