EASTER ANNUAL GENERAL VESTRY MEETING
SUNDAY 21[ST] APRIL 2024
Present: Rev Isy, Christine Jones, Erin Hill, Harry Donnelly, Lorna Brown, Roger Martin June Johnston, Donna Moore, Gareth Moore, Maggie Watson, Dawn Hart, Catherine Evans, Austin Smyth, Harry Knott, Michelle Anthony, Ian Toale, Drew Hughes, Eileen Hughes, Emily Robinson, Joan Robinson, Winnie Hart, Sam Steele, Hazel Donnelly, Colin Montgomery, Rev Chris Bennett
Apologies: Doreen Faulkner, Danna Cochrane, Jim Newberry, Sandra Gourley, Leslie Gourley.
Rev Isy welcomed everyone and the meeting opened with a Bible Reading read by Rev Isy Ephesians Ch 5 verses 10-18 and a prayer.
Minutes of last Easter General Vestry (26[th] March 2023) were agreed and signed.
Proposed: Dawn Hart Seconded: June Johnston
Rev IsyÕs Report
Rev Isy outlined the Parish Activities which have happened over the past 12 months and also the events planned for this year.
Rev Chris Bennett joined us almost a year ago as our Community Chaplain, and is now involved in the Church Ministry and Worship and also the 70[th] Anniversary preparations for our church.
Parish Activities
Bible Study – Romans, there is Prayer Time on Thursday nights with the Prayer Team. Parents and Tots meet on a Tuesday and this is going well. The Knitting Group meet and most of their knitting goes to the Baby Basics crib in the church for onward distribution. To ‘Baby BasicsÕ. Sew Good Friends meet every other Wednesday evening.. The Bowling Club on a Monday night is going well and now has approximately 21 members. The Cadets meet every Tuesday in Parish Hall and this also is going well. LIFT meets every 1[st] & 3[rd] Thursday of the month on which is going well.
Events
There have been Lunches and Dinners and the KingÕs Coronation Celebration in the Parish Centre with David Brannagh-Curry was well attended. There was the Stellar voices and the Big Event (with allo allo in November) which was supported by other churches in Greenisland who took part. The KALOS project was started and is ongoing. The Old School Surgery have continued using our Parish Centre for the Flu/Covid Vaccinations this year. Carol Singing again took place at Knockagh Rise before Christmas and School Assemblies for the 2 local Primary Schools continued. There was also an Alpha course in Greenisland Golf Club
supported by members of Greenisland churches. There was a Vigil service for Turkey & Syria earthquakes.
During Lent & Easter week 2023 there were ‘Flippin pancakesÕ for the young people of the community in Parish Centre, The Bible Study group took service during Holy Week. There was an Agape meal on Maundy Thursday and on Good Friday there was a Community Walk with the Cross during the day and a Tenebrae Service in the evening. Easter Sunrise at Knockagh Monument (with breakfast hosted by Greenisland Baptist Church) and a Joint Pentecost Service on 28[th] May.
There was a dedication of windows in memory of Adele Martin on 22[nd] October 2023.
Adult Baptism of Emma Campbell and Children Dedications of: Albert Jones, Myrtle Iris Vint and Christian Samuel Jones.
Funerals – Mrs McComb (13[th] June) Martha Kernoghan (19[th] October) Kenneth Fenner (20[th] November) Denise Thompson (8[th] December) and Bob Huffan (15[th] December).
Christmas 2023 – There was a Community Carol Service, Christingle Service in Church, Carols by Candlelight, the Nativity Service (Nativity in a suitcase) with midnight Holy Communion on Christmas Eve, a Celebration Service on Christmas Day and a New YearÕs Eve Service in church.
Rev Isy then moved onto the 70[th] Anniversary Year of Greenisland Parish
There has been a Journey through the Bible Series for the ChildrenÕs Talk in church, United Services have been planned and also Flippin Pancakes happened again on Pancake Tuesday this year. The Bible Study group during Lent were studying West Side Story and are now studying the Book of Job.
There was a Baptism of Blaco Thea Wynter.
Funerals so far this year: Marie Field (2[nd] Feb), Andrew Robinson (22[nd] March) and Jim Guy (19[th] April).
Also an ALPHA Course has begun in Parish Centre on 10[th] April for 10 weeks.
LOOKING FORWARD
On 25[th] April the church will be hosting a Fashion Show (proceeds to NI Hospice) and models wearing MONSOON clothes.
Pentecost Service this year will be on Sunday 19[th] May in Greenisland Methodist Church.
There will be another Community week this year in the Summer for the Young People of Greenisland.
70[th] Anniversary Celebration Service and Dinner – Sunday 1[st] September at 3pm when the Primate of Ireland Very Rev John McDowell will be preaching and also past clergy of Greenisland Parish along with others who have been involved over the years in the Ministry of our Parish have been invited.
Rev Isy ended her report by thanking everyone in the Parish for their support and encouragement during the year and that there is a growth in membership of the church. She also mentioned special thanks to both the Church Wardens (Roger and Lorna) and the Glebe Wardens (Harry and Gareth). For those involved with the Young People of the Church (Ann and Dawn). For Maggie and her catering team. For Erin as Treasurer and for Christine as Vestry Secretary. To Hilary Dunlop for the flowers in church and finally to Harry Knott for his faithful years as Auditor of our Church and others for 50 years who is now stepping down from this role from today. Roger Martin presented Harry with a Gift from the Select Vestry of the Parish and a card in recognition of all his hard work in auditing the accounts of our church over the years.
Roger then gave a personal word of thanks to Rev Isy on behalf of the congregation.
FINANCIAL REPORT
Erin then went through the Annual Accounts (a copy of which was given to each person attending EGV). Overall receipts are up and 2 Grants had been received during the year – one for the KALOS project and the other for Community Dinners from Mid & East Antrim Council. She also said that we only have another 4 more years to pay off the Connor Diocese Creditor repayment.
Lorna then thanked Erin for all her hard work as Treasurer on behalf of the church and Harry Knott thanked her for all her hard work on Accounts.
Easter Vestry reports were unanimously accepted by all attending (all said Aye and there were no Nays)
Proposed: Donna Moore Seconded June Johnston
Nominations were taken for 2024/25 Select Vestry as follows:
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NAME PROPOSED SECONDED
RectorÕs Church Warden
Roger Martin
RectorÕs Glebe Warden
Harry Donnelly
PeopleÕs Church Warden Maggie Watson Catherine Evans
Lorna Brown
PeopleÕs Glebe Warden Maggie Watson Donna Moore
Gareth Moore
Erin Hill Christine Jones Dawn Hart
Christine Jones Dawn Hart Maggie Watson
Doreen Faulkner Harry Donnelly Erin Hill
Maggie Watson Dawn Hart June Johnston
Dawn Hart Emily Robinson Maggie Watson
Catherine Evans Erin Hill Lorna Brown
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Danna Cochrane Erin Hill Donna Moore
Jim Newberry Roger Martin Harry Donnelly
Austin Smyth Erin Hill June Johnston
June Johnston Maggie Watson Eileen Hughes
Donna Moore Gareth Moore Maggie Watson
Ian Toale Lorna Brown Winnie Hart
Emily Robinson Catherine Evans Dawn Hart
Ann Hunter Catherine Evans Dawn Hart
Colin Montgomery Roger Martin Harry Donnelly
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At the follow-up Select Vestry meeting Rev Isy welcomed all those who have been elected onto Vestry.
Erin Hill was elected as Honorary Treasurer
Proposed Catherine Evans Seconded: Roger Martin
Christine Jones was elected as Honorary Secretary
Proposed: Harry Donnelly Seconded: Catherine Evans
First Vestry Meeting of 2024 Select Vestry will be held on
Thursday 16[th] May at 7pm in McCappin Room.