CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WALES Trustees, annual report (including Directors, report) for the period To: August 31st 2025. From: Septsmber 1st 2024. Charity name: The Olive Tree Church Charlty reglstratlon number: 1196158 Company numbor: Objectives and activities SORP ￿ference Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document Pars 1.17 The Olive Tree Church is a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership formed from Blenheim Crescent Baplist Church and St Margaret's Methodist Church. in Luton, Bedfordshire. 'Ba tists and Methodists United in Christ serving our community,. The partnership was formed in 2016 and formally constituted in 2021. with the adoption of its Constitution on 21 March 2021. The purpose of the Charity is to advance the Christian faith in the Area of Benefit in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Churches. In achieving its purpose, the Charity engages in a range of activities, either on its own or wilh others, including (but not restricted lo}: the ￿lebratiOn of public worship; the teaching of the Christian faith. mission and evangeli5m' pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved; the provision of facilities with a Christlan ethos for the local community, including (but not restricted to) the elderly, the young and olher groups with special needs", and the support of olher charities in the UK and overseas. Luton is acknowledged to be an area of high deprivation, and with its numerous cross-cultural issues, we find that there is firemendous benefit in the work of thi5 church. Members of The Olive Tree believe that it is the core of our mission to sewe the community in this situation. The church vision statement includes, 'We believe we a called to be a Chriséian resence and witness in our mulÉicultural area, sharing the good news of God's love and forgiveness with air and 'We aim to be good Christian neighbours and develo dee er relationshi s with other faiths re resented in our neighboufftoocr. The Ollve Tree Church continues to thrive and serve through the grace of God. Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. Para 1.17 and 1.19 It is a privilege to introduce our fourth annual report, which documents the many and varied ways in which The Olive Tree Church lives out its mission lo be an inclusive, evangelistic, growing, justice-seeking church. The calling of The Olive Tree Church is to wholeheartedly embrace the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, expressing this commitment through a life marked by love. fellowship, and dedicated discipleship. Our mission is to reflect the love of Christ in all that we do - 'Knowing Jesus and making Jesus known, _ through worship, pastoral care, evangelism, and community outreach. This second year with our Baptist minister Rev. Michael Anokye we have remained steadfast in our vision to transform lives and bring hope to our community. A particular highlight of the year was to hold a Baptism service for four church members and to re￿1ve others inlo membership. We have continued with our local neighbourhood focus. supporting this deprived area of Luton, and although our focus has inevitably shifted without a community worker to help run and support actNities, we have Continued to be active in many areas, with a regular Baby and Toddler group, NHS Childrens, Clinic, a monthly Messy Church for local families and a fortnightly Thursday Drop-in Cafe. We have also held regular Foodbank collections, supported a Home Group. and continue to build a growing Youth Group. Social activities such as a Barbecue and Cream Tea and Fun Day have been held outside, benefiting from the good weather and the grass area at the side of the Olive Tree church. We have also held a Quiz Night with Ploughman's supper at the Olive Branch. Sunday school outings and Fundraising events have also been well attended. Harvest Supper combined lovely food, table games and opportunities to strengthen relationships, with donations to Luton Food Bank. Christmas encouraged further community engagement with a Christingle, Mativity Servits and Carol Service well attended and we were also joined by Father Luke and friends from St Andrews. Various community groups continued to use our premises, (both the 'Tree' site. previously Blenheim Baptist, and the 'Branch' site, previously St Margaret's Melhodist), including a regular Scouts, Guide5 and Brownies groups, Karate club and three different Christian churches. The Scouts, Guides and Brownies groups provide range of activities and excursions (such as visiting Wrest Park, Bletchley Park and Luton Town Hall, including attending Committee meetings), Unit Meeting Activities, working towards various badges, raising funds for charities and benefiting the community. We remained commitled supporters of both Baptist and Methodist work through BMS World Mission and All We Can - the Methodist Relief and Development Charity,. Action for children and also donated to other charities such as Christian Aid and Azalea. These monies are passed on to Ihe charities directly. The Trustees of the Olive Tree Church have had regaKI to the guidance issu8d by the Charity Commission on public benefit, such that all of the activities, projects and services provided by the Olive Tree Church are all regarded to bè of public benefit in service to the communily. Statement confirmin9 whether the trusteès have had regard to the guidan issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 Additlonal Information (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about-. SORP refeien¢8 NIA Policy on grant making P*a 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 -NIA Contribution made by volunteers -NIA Para 1.38 other -NIA Achievements and performance Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity's work has made to the Gircumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to soGi8ty as a whole. Para 1.20 The Olive Tree ChurGh contlnues to provide benefit to.. Church members, both old and young, with opportunities to encourage and increase their falth and Christian witness, receiving regular fellowship, home groups and activities, and prayerful support with a Thursday night prayer meeting. Support continues to be provided in many different forms where needed, such as hospital and care home, and home visits to those experiencing illness, bereavement or persona5 struggles, lifts to medical appointments, pastoral care and financial help. This year we offered counselling, prayer and companionship to individuals coping with job loss. loneliness or difficult family situations and established an intercessory prayer leam to Ltplift those in need. whether in person after church Servi￿S, over the phone or in absentia. This ministry has been a lifeline for many, reinforcing our commitment to being a compassionale and prayerful communily. Children through our Sunday School, which now has up to 17 children from one year old ￿n$ to 14 yr olds. The children benefit from supporting each other, leaming life lessons from Bible stories and skills from crafts and games.They also led two All Age Services and the Nativity service, growing in confidence through reading and presenting. Two of our young people were also baptised. Our youth group as it continues to grow, teaching our teenagers to cook with various challenges such as making and tasting different types of soup, cooking and tossing pancakes, making scones and smoothies. We explored different social aGtivittes including bowling trips and walking in the countryside, as well as helping those in Eastern European countries by packing up 9 Christrnas shoeboxes. Physical and mental benefits conlinued with various types of gamès, quizzes and fun activities, teaching the teenagers to play table tennis, table football and badminton. This group also developed their reading and presentation skills through increased participation in church services and have also started to support the multimedia and sound desk, which can hopefully help to further build their confidence. Members of the community, where people feel valued, heard and encouraged, with a variety of activities to join and 5UPPOrt where needed Such as the parent and toddler group, NHS Baby clinic, drop in cafe, Youth Group activities, uniformed groups such as Scouts, Brownies and Guides, and Messy Church family activities with on average 40-55 each time from a wide mixture of backgrounds, culture and understanding of church. Messy Church follows a theme each month with a bible story, crafts, games, f¢)od and discussion. Social events have included fireworks night and a Messy Funday in July. Individuals, for example Ihose attending the Thursday Drop-ln Cafe have received a warm and welcoming space for fellowship and 6UPPOrt, with food, conversation and prayer to create a tangible demonstration of Christ's love. As well as receiving food and clothing, people have also been helped to pay for transport, household bills and rent. Our previous community worker was also supported In her book launch in February 2025, with an event for the community including refreshments for all those she has helped over the years. Local churches and Gommunity groups, by providing our buildings to rent, meet in and use. such as Luton- based 'Oasis', and the Karate Club. This yearwe also installed a new heating system at the Tree and improvements to our entrance way and paths. Luton Foodbank recipients, from regular church collections. including at Harvest Festivals. Various local Luton and UK charities by regular donations, raising awareness of their work, and supporting where needed. We continue to use a range of digital and media tools and approaGhes to advertise services and events including Facebook, the Church website. noticeboards and Instagram. Regular updates and photographs are shared in our church newsletter with good use of email and IMiat&4pp, as well as weekty announcements in church services, to share messages and updates with the church congregation and the wider community, using a range of printed matertals for the digitally excluded. We continue to update all our safeguarding and Health and Safety policies to meet current legal requirements. Wè attend a range of Safeguarding and advanced Safeguarding training uslng experts and processes from the Methodist Church Circuit. We also have regular governance discussions at the Leadership Team meetings to ensure we remain ompliant and safe. Addltional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: -NIA Para 1.41 Achievements against objectives set -NIA Performance of fundraising activities against obj-ectives set Para 1.41 -NIA Investment perfomiance against objectives Para 1.41 NIA other Financial review review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 The unrestricted income for the year ended 31 August 2025 was £107,993 (Last Year: £114,500). Due lo the cost of living, it is likely that utility bills will continue to increase. Unrestricted expenses foT the year amounted to £118.760 (LY:144,225). This (reduction) in expenditure was mainly because of (reduced re air and maintenance costs). statement explalning the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1.22 The reserves policy for the Olive Tree Church is modelled on that recommended by the Methodist Church, which is in accordance with the Charity Commission's Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP). The Olive Tree Church receives its income from donations by church members (including Gift Aid). by letting the buildings (and renting the Manse, when vacant). Having considered our mission plans for the future, we employ a Baptist Minister, holding funds to cover at least 3 years of salary and associated costs, in addition to the cost of meeting a reduced Circuit Assessment and covering our normal expenditure and routine repair and Maintenan￿ costs for the buildings. At presen( The Olive Tree Church holds the (highefj level of reserves and these will be maintained by regular donations from Ihe ¢ongregation. If required. funding towards specific aims will be requested. and there will be careful monitoring of expenditure. Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 As at the end of the financial year (31 August 2025), the reseNes were.. Unrestricted Funds (£113, 231) Restricted Funds (£-490) Reasons for IK)Iding zero reseryes Para 1.22 NIA Details of fund materially in deficit Para 1.24 NIA Explanalion of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern Para 1.23 The Olive Tree Church continues to consolidate progress with our Baptist minister, shaping the church and enabling us to meet the challenges of the future in a very distinctive mission field. We have new members and a thriving junior church. As such we have no concerns for this charity continuing as an ongoing concem. Addltional information loptional) You may choose to includ8 further statements where relèvant about: -NIA Para 1.47 The charity's principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) NIA Inveslment policy and objectives including any social investment ￿lIcY adopted Para 1.46 -NIA A description of the principal risks facing the charity Para 1.46 -NIA Other structure, governance and management Description of charity's trusts: Type of goveming document.. for example, trust deed, memorandum and articles of association etc Para 1.25 The Olive Tree Church is a Single Congregation Local Ecum8nical Partnership which was approved by the Baptist and Methodist Church Denominational authorities and the Sponsoring Body: Churches Together in Bedfordshire on 18th April 2018, having been first brought together in 2016. The Governing Document for the Olive Tree Church is its Constitution. which was finally adopted by the Leadership Team and church members on 21st March 2021. How is the charity constituted? for example limited company, unincorporated association, cio Para 1.25 The Olive Tree Church is constituled as a Single Congregation Local Ecumenical Partnership between Blenheim Crescent Baplisl Church and St Margaret's Methodist Church. with allegiance to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and The Methodist Church to serve the Area of Luton. rustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Paro 1.25 The Constllution states that the Olive Treè Church is administered and managed by a body of Trustees consisting of A) ex officio Trustees, being the ministers of the LEP, B) Four elected Trustees, elected at the Annual Congregational Meeting and. C) Not more than three co-opted Trustees, appointed by the Trustees. Elected Trustees shall hold Offi￿ from the end of the Annual Congregational Meeting at which they are selected until the end of the third such meeting after their appointment but shall be eligible for re-election at that meeting. No person may be elected as an Elected Trustee or appointed as a Co-opted Trustee unless he or she.. A) is a member., B) Is aged 18 or abov6. C) Is not disqualified from acting as a Trustee by virtue of section 72 Charities Act 1993 (or any statutory re*nactment or modification of that provision)-, and D) Has indicated his or h8r willingnéss to serve as a Trustee. Co-opted Trustees seTve until the end of the next Annual Congregational Meeting following their appointment. Addltional inforniatlon loptlonal) You may choose to include further statemerrts where relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees Para 1.51 NIA The charily's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 -NIA Para 1.51 NIA Relationship with any related parties -NIA other Reference and administrative detsils Charity name THE OLIVE TREE CHURCH other name the charity uses Registered charity number 1196158 Charity's principal address 4246 Blenheim Crescent Luton Bedfordshire LU3 1HB Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity Dates a¢t8d If notlor whole y¢ar Name of person lor body) entitled to appoint trustee Ilf any} Trustee nam• Offl¢e {Sf any) Rev Michael Anokye LEP Minister (Baptist) - Chair The Baptist Church Madit Grant Treasurer Annual COng￿gatIOnal Meeting Annual Congregational Meeting Helen Owen Communications Dr Louise Newport Youth Leader Annual Congregational Meeting Peace Okyere Safeguarding Annual Congregational Meeting Ramon Akib (Co-opted) Annual Congregational Meeting Claire McGluckin (Co-opted) 1 sl Sept 2024 to 31st August 2025 Annual Congregational Meeting Corporate trustees - names of the directors at the date the report was approved Ixrector name -NIA Name of trustee8 holding title to property belongirrfJ to the charity Trust¢e Mme Datès 4¢tsd If not forwhola y￿r The Baptist Union Corporation Ltd The Methodist Church Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets held in this capacity -NIA Narne and objeds ofthe charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity's objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets -NIA NIA Additional Informatlon (optional) Names and addresses of advlsers (optional Infomiatlon) Type of adviser Name Address -NIA Name of chi￿ exe¢utlve or names of senior staff members {optlonal infomiatlon) -NIA Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details -NIA Other optional information -NIA Declarations The twste8s declarè that they have approved the trustees, report (Includlng dlre¢tors' report) above. Signed on bohalf of the charity's trustees directors Signature(s nirtjrf f4 Full namels) Mrs Madit Grant Position (for example Secretary, Chair, etc Church Trustee Date 01 June 2026 preach the Gospel, g￿d create meaningful conversations about faith. These efforts have strengthened our church's presence in Luton and will allow us to touch many lives with Christ's message of hope and redemption. Pastoral Care: 8upportAng and Encouraglng Those In Need Our pastoral care team has been a pillar of comfort and encouragenient, offering vital emotional and spiritual support to those facing challenges, In 2024, we.. . Provided home and hospital visits to those experiencing illness, bereavement, or personal struggles, . Offered counselling, prayer, and eompanion8hip to individuals coping with j ob loss, loneliness, or difficult famity sithations. . Established an intercessory prayer team to upjift needy individuals-whether in person, over the phone, or absentia. This mini8ty has been a lifeline for many, reinforcing our commitment to t*ing a compassionate and prayer￿] community. Thursday Free Drop-ln Café: A Hub for Community Outreach This year we have started a Thursday Free Drop-in Café, where we opened our doors to all, providing a warm, welcDmLng space for fellowship and support. We hope and pray the this initiative will: . Foster comTnunity spirit, offering a safe place to connect, Share stories, and find encouragemenL . Serve as a bridge for those seeking faith or strnggiing with isolation, allowing us to minister to thetn in a non-intimidating setting. . Provide food, conversation, and prayer, creating a tangible demonstration of Christ's love. We pray that the café will be instrumental in strengthening our bond with the wider community and offerir￿ a beacon of hope to many. Thursday Bvenlng Prayer: Seeking God for Spiritual Renewal Recognibing the power of prayer, our Thursday Evening Prayer sessions became a cornerstone of our spiritual lrfe in 2024. These gatherings have.. . Created a sacred space where individuals seek God's guidance, healing) and restoration. . Strengthened our church's unity and commitment to interceding for our community. . Encouraged deeper faith gnd reliance on God, inspiring personal and collective transforn]ation. This initiative has not only deepened our congregation's spiritual journey but 8Jso provided an opp()rtunity for the wider community to experience G(d's presence in a profound way. The Impact of Our Mlnistry on The Ollve Tree Church and the Communlty Through our various ministries and initiatives in 2024, The O]ive Tree Church has witne ssed incredible transformation. The positive impact includes: . Stronger faith and discipleship as individuals have grown in their knowledge and love of Christ. . A more connected and supported community where people feel y￿lled, heard, and encouraged. . A greater sense of purpose as we extend God's love to those around us. As we enter 2025, we are more committed than ever to our mission. Wkth renewed energy and faith, we will continue to be a beacon of light, sharing Christ'8 love and serving those in need. Looklng Ahead With unwavering faith, we expand our ministries and deepen our outreach efforts. We invite every member of our Con￿'egatIon and the wider community to journey with us in fakth, servi￿, and love. May God continue to bless The OIKve Tree Church as we embrace the opportunities and challenges of 2025, standing firTll in His calling and pury)ose for us all, In Christ's love and service, On behalf of The Oliue Tree Church Leadership Tea Rev Michael Anokye Senlor Steward's Report This year has passed rapidly. The past few months have been particularly busy for both me and the team. their supwrt has been invaluable, making the tasks at hand significantly more manageable. East. year we put together schedule of events. Over the past year we have had several enjoyable events. Mary Huffinan's book launch Saturday 24th February. Coffee moming with cake8, Invitations were sent out to the wider community families to join us. On 17th Mareh the children of the Olive Tree Church invited all church members and friends to lunch straight after the service to enj oy some time together and to Share fo(d and drink prepared by them. Quiz Night Saturday 18th May at the Tree. The quiz night is a regular featurp in our social calendar, and we usually do it by selling a table of 6 tickpts and the person brings their friends and l&mily to be in their team. We do it differently each year, but I would say it is easy to manage this way and easier to sell tickets. All donations received go to charity, In May we celebrated a Baptismal servkce when Jack, Jacob, Brittani and Ben were baptised, The Church Barbecue and Cream Tea event twk place on Saturday, 3rd August at the Tree. Strawberries and cream were served with some music on the church laThTL. There were family games and actlVLties. The barbecue was well-attended, and many people participated in the event. Harvest Supper 28th September - buffet with a range of foods and desserts. With games for the family and some music. This year the Harvest gifts were donated to the Luton F(x)dbank. In November we were pleased to welcome Peace, Marvellous, Mariam, Hannah and Vincent into church membership, Toy and Nativity Service- 15th December. Gifts of toys went to the Salvation Army Christmas toy appeal as in previous years. We also collected to buy gifts for the ladles 8upported by Azalea, A Christmas Carol Service by candlelight took place on 22nd December it was a joint Carol Service with St. Andrew's Church. We have been pleased to welcome new people coming to Sunday services, but we also have to record those of our fellowship who have died during the year- Beryl Fulcher, Arthur Fielding, Kathleen Snoxell and Ron Wright. They have all served the Ojive Tree in different ways and we are ￿&teful for their contributions to the life of the church and give thanks to God for their service, Our weekly worship services have been led by our minister Rev Michael Anokye and visiting preachers from both Baptist and Methodist churches. Madit Grant Trustee5 Report The OliveTree Church is a local ecumenical partnership of Blenheim Crescent Baptist Church and St Margaret's Methodist Church, in Luton. The partnership was formed in 2016 and formally constituted in 2021. It is a privilege to intr0dL￿e this annual report, which documents the many and varied ways in which The Olive Tree Church has faced the challenges of the times and lives out its mission to be an inclusive, eva ngelistic, growing, justice-s￿k1ng church. The calling of The Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out it5 discipleship in worship and mission. Most of the work of the Church ttcurs within or is associated with local commLtnity within Luton. Luton is acknowledged to be an area of high deprivation, and with its nunerous cross-cultural Issues, we find that there is tremendous benefit in thi5 work. Member5 of The Olive Tree believe that it is the core of our mission to serve the community in this situation. The church V15ion statement include5, 'We believe we are called to be a Christian presence and witness in our multicultural area, sharing the good news of God's love and forgiveness with all. and 'We aim to be g(x)d Christian neighbOU￿ and develop deeper relationships with other faiths represented Tn our neighbourhood. As well as our l(xal neighbouthood focus, we are committed supporters of Baptist work through B￿% World Mission and Methodist work and charities such as All We Can - the Methodist Relief and Development charity. Action for children and others. While the church ha5 achieved notable successes, it also faces challenges that must be addressed thoughtfully and collectively. Key issues impacting the church's growth and sustainabi li ty and proposes actionable steps in alignment with it5 m15sion and purpose. In conclusion, the challenges facing The Olive Tree Ch urch-financi al, operational, or spiritua [- must be add￿sSed with prayerful discernment and a commitment to unity. By fostering open dialogue, ensuri ng fi nancial sustai nabi li ty, and embracing the divef5ity of worshlp styles, the church can overcome these challenges and thrive as a Local Ecumenical Partnership. Let us remember: 'How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unityl" (Psalm 133.11 CAMEO report The Olive Tree Church Youth Group-'CAMEO' ('Come and Meet Each Other ) is led by Mark and Louise Newport and Usual￿ meets on the last Sunday each month from 5.30 to 7.30pm at the Tree site in Blenheim Crescent. We are grateful for the help of Peace and Marvellous Akib as well as the dedication of parents who supporttheir children to come and tske part. Activilies for this year have inclu(kd coc&ing challenges - making and tasting drfferent types of soup, cod(ing and tossing pancakes, makllig scones and smoothies, also going bowling in Dunstable, walking on 'Pegsdon Heights near Hitchin, packing up 9 Christmas Sh￿boxeS for 'Samaritsn's Purse, and of course quizzes and playing var￿uS games together, including giant 'pick up sticks dipsticks Vvhatdo you merne?,, tab￿ tennis, table football and b￿mintOn. This year our young peop￿ have also taken part in church servres, developing their reading and presentation skills, which we hope to do more of. We will also start to explore the drfferentways Ihal people help around the church, to see where our young people can shadow others and begin to help out, for example with refreshmenls aNI multFmedia, learning new skills and experi￿Ce as they do, which Can hopefully build their Conf idence. We regularly have a core group of6-8 children rarvJing from 9-14 years okl from our church families and if s been great lo see them growing in cOnf￿enCe and getling to kn￿ each other better. Other children joining us from time to time include families from Messy Church and Scouts. Whilsl we are in touch with Sl Andrews, they do not yet have young peopb to join us. We are also connected to Youlhscape, sharing details of activities that our young ones can join in wrth. As ever we would welcome your prayers, both for our young people and leaders, and we are a￿ayS interested in hearing new ideas for aclivlies. Finally, if you know anyone who is interesled injoining us, p￿ase call Louise on 07976 743767. Thank youl Sunday School 2024 has i*en a really busy year in our Sunday School, where we now have up to 17 children from 14 years to one year old twins regularly joining us. Louise looks after the olde.r chtldren whilst Christina, Loess and I lead the under IO'S with great help from Helen, EIaine and Peace. The children get on well together and the older ones have been great at supporting our younger ones. Every Sunday we follow a programme called R(K)ts from Scripture Union and in our sessions have a mixture of bible story telling, crgft, games and thought appropriate to their ages. This year the children successfully led two All Age SeNices and the Nativity service. They are growing in confidence in reading and presentkng and we are very proud of them. This year Jack and Jacob got baptised and it was great to see them growing in their faith and also j oining in our church activities. We lost Brittani and David and their family when they moved to Peterborough. We have recently welcomed Dion to our Sunday school. We enji)yed going to McDonald's and Smyths Toy shop in December before j oining the Carol Service. 14 of us had a fab aftemoon. In 2025 we want to continue to get our young people/ children more engaged in the life of the church and will be leading some more all age services. It is lovely to have such a growing and vibrant Sunday school - a real success in the life of our church. A big thanks to all our Sunday school helpers and for those who support us looking after the very young children. We are always looking for more helpers so do consider volunteering if you can. Messy Church Messy Church meets on the second Saturday-of each month and we encourage our church families and those of the wider community to come along. We average 40-55 each time from a wide tnixture of backgrounds, eulture and understanding of church. We follow a theme each month will a bible story) crafts, games, food and discussion. During 2024 we have done Messy Fathers, Mcssy LL>ve, Harvest, Christingie and Messy Palm Sunday to name a few. We have also had some social events like our freworks Night and our Mes sy Funday in July. Me88y church always finishes with refreshrnents including much pizza and cake ..which the children love. Do try and come along one month and see it in action. Our Messy Church has now been running over 10 years and a big, big thanks to all our hclpers who supEx)rt it every month. It's a great outrcach act.ivity for the O]ive Tree, C18ire Thursday Prayer Meetlng Our Thursday Prayer Meeting is open to the whole of the O]ive Tree Church Family. To join for a powerful tiTne of prayer, fellowshipi and sharing testimonies of God's goodness. This is a time to come together, lift each other up, and be reminded of how God is moving in our lives. We ask members to come with an open heart and the expectation of experiencir]g G¢xl's presence and healing. To let each other st￿a together in faith, cdebrate their victories, and lrft up any burdens we must bring before the Lord, Our storie s may be the spark that ignites hope and faith in someone else's lite. Never underestimate the power of shaTing what God has donel It is good to hear them and to receive whatever messages God speaks througb them. We eagerly await god's presence and anticipate God's miraculous workl We sometime celebrate Holy Communion as part of prayer meeting. This sacred time of remembrance and unity allows us to reflect on Gixl's love and grace. We meet each Thursday at 7..30 the meeting ends at 8:30pm. And afterwards we have some food and drinks to enjoy together. As part of our Thursday prayer meeting, each of us is called to be a witness to Jesus Christ. We all evangelists of the gospel. Jesus said, 'You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1.81. But we are going to step up to create an Evangelism Team. The Evangelism Team is for those wil]ing to encourage people to become more vital, vibrant witne88es to the love of God and to tnake Jesus Christ known in Luton and worldwide. Madit Treasurer Report Whilst the Olive Tree Church operates as an LEP the two ch u rches still exist in the ir own right. st Ma rga rets is still a member of the South Beds District Circu it and as such is still required to contribute to the ru nn ing costs of the circuit. Whenthe OliveTree Church ministry is being undertaken bya Baptist minister the calculation of how much is needed by way of assessment is calculated after leavingth8 Cost of Method 1st ministers out of the tota I circu it costs. The f inancial sustainability of The Olive Tree Churc h requires attentlon. While paying the minister's S81a ry and related costs is vital, several issues u nderm ine the cu rrent f inancia I model: 1. Mlnisterial Fundi ng Clarity: o The re is insufficienl cla rity on the funding responsi bilities for rninisters trom different denom inations le,g., Method 1st vs. Ba ptistl. This could lead to inequities or financial stra in. 2. Di sproportionate Fi nancial Contrlbutions: o The chu rch cu rrently pays a Ba ptist minister while covering the Methodist Ch urc h assessment. 3. Heavy Reliance on Renlalg: o The chtjrc h depends heavily on rental income to off s8t its expe nses. Any decline in rental revenue could jeopardise itsfinancia I stability. To address the se concerns, the following steps have been proposed- 1. Develop Diversifled Incomestreams: o Encou ra ge tithing. offerings, and other f undra ising efforts to reduce dependencyo n rentals, 2. 1 ntroduce a Fl nanc ial Sustainability Plan: o Establish clear Eu idelines for equita ble f inancia I contributions f rom the Baptist and Methodist churc hes, ensuri ng transpare ncy and fa irness. The challenges facing The Olive Tree Chu rcWfinancia I, must be addressed wrth prayerful discernment and a commitrnent to unity. nesda OUS8 Grou There are 8 members in the Wednesday evening house group, and we have met monthly during the last year. on Zoom during the winter months arKf at the Branch when the evenings were lighter. We have shared leadership and discussed a variety ofthemes, using malerial from Michael's Lent readings and from the Women's Worki Day of Prayer, as well as other Bible readings chosen by whoever was leading Ihe meeting. As well as readiThJ and discussing the Bible we a￿ayS spend some time praying for each other and people among our families a￿1 friends or within the fellowship who n*d our prayers. This is an important part of our group as we support and encourage each other. We also met for Iwo social events, a barbecue in Madit and Roy's garden in the summer and a Christmas party atthe Branch in December. Kate Sihmood Social ActivÈties At the Olive Tree we have a Social Activtty ca lendar to h8ve regular events and 8CtThiities both for our church members and our widerlinked community. We have a small numberofuswho plan and oryanise the events. A bigthanksto Jess, Rèbecca. Madit and Roy, Elaine and Helen and Louise and Loess- and all olhers who have helped. In 2024 we have had anolher Quiz Nightwith Ploughman's supper at the Branch. It was great to seeso many attend and Jess gave the m a challenging but f un quiz to work throu￿. We will be repeating this in 2025. In the Summer we had a Barbecue and Cream Tea in August at the side ofthe church. Itwas slso lovelyto have music played byRogerand Martin. The weatherwas good and wew8re able tohave it outside. We had gamesand actwities forthe childre n. In September we had our Harvest Supper where we had some lovelyfood, some table games and a chance to catch upwith people. Chrisbnasgave us a a great opportunityto encourage our community into our buildingand to celebrate togeiher. Our Ch ristingie, Natwity Service and C8 rolse rvice all were great social and networking opportunities as well as an opportun ityto workshop together. It was lovely to have Father Luke and the St Andrews f rie nds join us for the ca rol service. Claire 22nd LUTON BROWNIES In March 2024 we celebrated Mother's Day bymaking cards and paper coneswhich wefilled wf(h chocolates for the Mums. For St. P8lricl<'s Daywe had me mbers of an Irish Dancing grou p come to teach us som e Irish dancing. It was quite diff icu It but we had som e soda bread to keep us goi ng. After Easter we continued w¥th our celebrations the me with Eid and St. George's Day in April. The n we started working on the Reflect Skills Builder badge lea rning about fe elings. our local community and celebrations. At the end of April wevisited Wrest Park to splatter paintArtem is, the hare bought by Bedfordshire Giriguidingtogo in the Short T8iITrailforKeech Hospice. She wason display inThe Mallforallto see and is now visiting lots of units throughout the County. We visited Woodcroft,our Guide Activiiy Centre In Bramingham, at the end of May but it was so wet we did our acttvities inside instea d! We made ca rds for Father's Dayand gave each D8 d a bar of their favourite chocolate. In June we wentto Woodcroftto learn howto throwtomahawks. The Brownies a¢tuallyused Smaller ones ca Iled "angels" and had to throw the m into targets. l am pleased to say that a good time was had by all and everyone ca me home wlth all limbs intact. The 8rowni8S the n worked on their Charities badge- each grou p choosing a charity to raise money for. The oneschosen wereThe Alzheim8r's Society,. Keech Hospice. Noah and Street Soccer. Some of the girls came toth8 Woodcroft table top sale at the end of June to selltheir wares, However, we had 8 big f undraising ev8n ing on 9th Julywhen ihey sold drinks, ca kes and other thingsthey had made. They raised £40 each for Keech Hospice, Noah and Street Soccer and £50 for the Alzheimer's Society lasthey had a £10 donation). In July we also visited Bletchley Parl< as part of a trip orga nised by Bedf ordshire Girigu iding. We did craft actwities, learnt a bit o11940s d ancing, code breaking and had time to explor8 the house and sheds wh8 re the code breakingwas done. It was really inte resting- so much so that the Leaders returned in September for another visit (without the girlsll. We ended our summer term with a funfairevening, doinglots ofgames like Hook a duck, shove ha'penry and hoopla. Ice cream was also on the menu and enjoyed byall. In September we starled work o n the Skills For Your Future Skills Builder badge. We focussed a lot on the money aspect of this - havi ng fou nd the girls had d iff iculty working out what to pay inthe souve ni r shop at Bletchley Park. We also lea rnt about tools and whatthey are us8d for. made Slime and lea rnt how bestto cut upvegetsbles gnd grate cheese to make fajitas, We also invited some parents along to talk about the ir jobs. We had a tea che r. an optician and someone who worl(s in 8 la bo ratory testing vaccines. We wenton an indoor holiday atwoodcroft In October. Our theme waswoodland Adventures and we had a lady from Ha rlingto n who looks after hedge hogs come to talk to us. The Brownies brought in kitte n food for the lady totake to feed her hedge hogs. In Nove mber we had a Firework Party- including apple bobbl ng and culminating wf(h sparklers in the ca r park. It was quite a sight whe n theywere all lit and being twirled around. Three Brownies proudlycarried and escorted ourf lag in the Re membrance Day parade in Ma rsh Road, when a poppy wre ath f rom Luton North Division G iriguiding was la id at the memoria l in Me morial Road. A special badge was designed by Giriguid i ngfor this event, anrj the girls who attended were given this badg& For Parllament week we sent Rachel Hopl(ins, our local MP, Som e qLtestions fo r herto answe r, as she was unable to come to Dur meeti ng in person. She replied via a video link and was very i mpressed with the q uestions asked. We also learnt a little bil about how Parliame nt works. At the begi nn ing of December some of the girls went to the ci nema for a showing of Moana 2. This was arranged by Luton North Division and around 100 Ra i nbows, Brown ies and G uides attended a private showing on a Su nday morning. It was brilliant and the girls thoroughly enjoyed themselve& To celebrat8Christmaswe made pap8r plate advent calendarswK(h a snowman's nose moving around the plate to the diff erent days in December. We also dipped chocolate biscuits in white chocolate to make Christm as puddings. On the la st eveningwe de¢oraled chocolate swiss rollsto makeyule logs-with a dustingoficingsugarfor snow! After Christmas we had our Newyear's Partyto C81ebrate 2025 wich games, pizza and glow sticks to ma ke us all glow in the dark, On Saturday 18 January we went to the panto at steve nage to see Peter Pan. It was brilliant 8nd 8gai n we have to thank Jenny Woodham for organising this for us. Next year it is Dick Whittington and his cat - so roll on next yearl We are now working on the Communicate Skills Bu ilder badge and lea rni ng d ifferent ways to commu nicate- through picturos and music, listening better and speaking clearly. Luton No rth Division again orga nised a disco atwoodcroft on 31 stianusry and most of the girls went tothis. Glowsticks are obviouslythe rageatthe moment andthe girlSu￿d1heM to make chainsand la rge hoops to dance with. It was ve ry noisy bLrt brilliantl Thi nking D8y is on 22nd February, whe n we ce lebrate the birthdays of Lord and La dy Bade n Powell and thi n k about all other guiding members throLJghout the world. This year our Division celebration is on nd Sunday 2 Ma rch at Parklea Prima¥y School bLrt our unit celebration will be on 25￿ February. We have 13 Brownies at presentwf(h Kirsty and myself8S the Brownie Leaders. However, we now have another Leader, Debbie, whose unit in Slip End closed. As she lives near the Churc h she decided to come and loln us-which has been lovely. We also have Zoha who has recentlyjoined us as a Young Leader. She is really enthusiastic and hopef ullywill stay for a little while. Without the m we would not be able to do all the actThiities we do and go on trlps, so a bigtha nk you Eoes out to the m for the i r conlin ued support. Also I must not fo rget Jenny as she helps us by belng our Home Contsctwhen wego on trips and will come to meetings if we need her. Anne Gibbons 13.2.25 Guid8s Our numbers8re currently10 Guides. Within the 6 themes we have worked on va rious Skills Builders, Interest Badges and Unit Meeting Activities IUMAS) including: Know Myself .' Skills Builder Network Interest Badge Guiding History UMAs- Lava. The 2 match challenge. I'm good thanks, HOU￿ ofguKJing Express myse If :_ Skills builder Innovate Interest Ba dge Confectioner UMAs- Build 8 beast, Make your marK Prepare to be amazed, Bewell:_ Interest Badge Mixology UMAs- Message ma￿eM, What a rushl Games maker. No Doubt, Surfs up, Know my strengths, Have Adventures:. Interest Badge Backwoods cooking UMAs- Blackhole breakout, Keep warm in the wild, Sneaky s'mores, Survive the wild, Take Action:. Interest B8 dge Craftivism UMAs- One small step, A game of nonoise, Toads onthe ro8d,Awlul Adverts, Skills for my Future '. Skills bui Ider Lead Interest Badge Investigator UMAs- Run the Risk, Pets rock, By completing a Skills builder, and an Interest badg8, and 240 minutes of UMAS in the same theme a GLJide can achieve a Themeaward. Ameena, Emma, Fatimah, Inaya, and Sajjal all completed theirBe WellTheme Award. Emma, and Sajjal both completed their Have Advenlures Theme Award. On achievingtwo theme awards both Erllma and Sajjal have been awarded thelr Guide Bronze Award. In Octoberwe tookthe Guides and the Brownies on an Indoor holiday weel delete or circle as appropriate Church-recelDt8-8nd-Davments-2025 Nomial 5of5