Rev K Salmon Report to Annaclone Easter Vestry
believe God wants us to give a1en2on to as a church family. The first is our faith, the second our rela1onships and the third our finances. Together we have worked hard on these:
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Our Sunday worship services, Alpha Course, Good Friday prayer -me and various Bible reading resources, have helped build faith in our church family this past year. Noleen, Tracey, the choir, music group, Rita our lay reader, Ronnie our licenced preacher and Stu our deacon intern have played significant roles in this, but there is more to do. A SOMA mission team will join us in June, a Connect group studying the Bible course is planned for the autumn. Helping people live well with Jesus at the centre of their lives is at the heart of building faith, so it has been a real joy to see you grow and develop as followers of the Lord Jesus.
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Our Newcastle day out, Summer dinner at Margaret’s, Alpha course, a!er church tea/coffee -mes and a number of joint social events with Magherally have helped nurture friendships within our church family and across our two churches. Plans are in place for an a3er church bring and share lunch to celebrate the King’s corona#on in May. Our events are aimed at encouraging, suppor2ng and providing a place of safety where strong rela/onships and friendships, within and across age groups, can be fostered and built. I am commi6ed to building a rela%onship with each of you through home visits. I have been to each of your homes, although not all of you were home when I called. Please do say if you would like me to call or you are welcome to meet me at the rectory. Stu and I have come alongside people facing significant life challenges, supported the bereaved with a ‘living with loss’ course and walked with those facing physical and mental health challenges, as well as those facing death.
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beau%ful church building is seriously impacted by damp at the East and West ends, which we need to tackle. Our harvest gi6s, Easter
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draw, Sponsored Walk, Christmas cakes, Hats and Cra1 stalls raise substan'al funds for the church and for charity. We have generously supported Water Drops, Friends of Cancer, Air Ambulance, Cancer Focus, Be Posi,ve children’s charity and the Bishop’s Appeal for Ukraine, Turkey and Syria. Despite giving away significant funds, our finances remain healthy. Building our church family by adding more people is another way to build a healthy financial base, so please do think about who you could invite to come along to church with you. Annaclone is a warm, welcoming church family; a happy place for new people to easily fit into. Our church wardens Sharon and Davey play an important role in this.
Members of the select vestry have worked hard this year. Ber$e and his team on furnishings, fabric, health and safety. Margaret on finances. Alan and Sharon on communica)on. Fiona and the safeguarding panel and others on vestry put in many hours behind the scenes. My sincere thanks to each of you. My final encouragement is the same as I shared last year; Colossians 2:6-7 “so then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, con7nue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness.”
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