an First Presbyterian Church SAINTFIELD a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Trustees Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 Registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC105242
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland STRucfuRE AND MANAGEMENT The Kirk Session The charity trustees of the congregation are the members of its Kirk Session. Under the congregation's governing document, The Code, the book of the constitution and government of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Kirk Session seeks to watch over and promote the spiritual interest of the congregation and of persons not connected with any congregation who are within its bounds. It ensures pastoral care is in place in the congregation and seeks to further the contribution of the Church to Christian witness and service in the local community. The Kirk Session has delegated to its Congregational Committee the temporal affairs of the congregation including administering all funds and property belonging to the congregation. Members of the Kirk Session are ex-officio members of the Congregational Committee. The Kirk Session consists of the ordained minister and the ruling elders of the congregation. All members are entitled to propose, speak and exercise equal votes at meetings, except that the Moderator, the minister in active duty in the congregation, has no deliberative but only a casting vote. Stated meetings of the Kirk Se55ion are held monthly, September to June (in normal circumstances). To be chosen for the office of the eldership in the congregation a person must be a voting member and a regular attendant on its ordinances. The selection of those proposed to be called to the office can be either by the congregation or by the Kirk Session. Members are elected if they obtain two-thirds of those who vote. Presbytery Under the Presbyterian Church in Ireland form of governance the corporate oversight of a congregation is the responsibility of a Presbytery which superintends generally the spiritual and temporal affairs of the congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. First Presbyterian Church Saintfield has been assigned to the Down Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. The membership of the Presbytery consists mainly of the active ministers of congregations assigned to it by the General Assembly, minsters who have retired from active duty and an elder appointed by the Kirk Session of each congregation.
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland * Corporate Worship As the centre of congregational life, First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will proclaim God's Word through expository preaching and glorify the crucified and risen Christ through God- centred worship. Spiritual Care. The minister and elders will oversee a coordinated structure of church oversight that offers effective spiritual care to each member of the church. Small Groups First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will prioritise maximum participation in Bible study small groups as the church's primary communities for spiritual care, Christian discipleship, neighbourhood outreach, and kingdom-centred prayer ministry. Christian Community First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will assist people in pursuing Christ-centred relationships by providing church based opportunities for fellowship and discipleship, by encouraging every memberto use his or her gifts in the ministry of the church, and by encouraging affinity groups that meet on the basis of a common life interest. New Members First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will use its membership process to communicate its strategic vision, to receive each new member into spiritual care, and to connect each new member to a small group and a place of service in the ministry of the church. Leadership Development First Presbyterian Church Saintfield, through the teaching elder, will identify and train spiritual leaders who are active and effective in sharing the gospel, teaching the Bible, showing mercy, praying for the work of God's kingdom, and discipling growing Christians.
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland New Ministries First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will pray for, plan, fund, and oversee new ministry initiatives that have the strategic potential to reach people who live, work, and visit in our area. Information Technology First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will train and equip technicians and use every available and appropriate means of broadcast and information technology to communicate the gospel worldwide. Building First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will devote sufficient funds for the regular maintenance and ongoing upkeep of the facilities God has provided for us to use in ministry. First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will maximise the utility of its facilities for ministry by maintaining good stewardship of its present buildings and develop the property to facilitate the growth of new and existing ministries. (See the report on Property, pg 11.} In order to take advantage of strategic opportunities to advance the kingdom of God, First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will periodically encourage members to participate in extraordinary Seasons of sacrificial giving for ministry and facilities. Personnel First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will organise its staff and Session to execute effectively the strategic vision of the church. Budget First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will present a budget that is structured according to its mission and apportioned according to its strategic priorities. * Stewardship As an expression of gratitude to God for the grace we have received in Jesus Christ and in order to support the ongoing work of the church, First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will
Presbyter an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland In partnership with other Christians, and in support of indigenous Christian leaders in other countries, First Presbyterian Church Saintfield will provide support for its own members called into missionary service overseas and will give priority to mission supported by PCI, evangelising unreached people groups, caring for orphans, extending theological education, publishing Christian literature, and providing emergency relief and medical care. (See the report from the Mission Action Group.)
an FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Pastoral care Members of the congregation who were unable to attend church due to sickness or age were visited on a regular basis by the convenor, elders or by one of the congregation's pastoral visitors. Mission and outreach At a local level the congregation reaches out to many young people in the local community through our various youth organisations. The Mission Shop provides a point of contact for the community and funds raised go to help missionaries in Northern Ireland, London, the Czech Republic, Romania, Italy, Portugal, Kenya, Guatemala and East Africa. Our Mums and Toddler group and Knit 'n' Natter attract many from the Saintfield area and beyond. The church engages in the town open night at Christmas, providing tea, coffee and traybakes with a place to sit down away from the bustle of the busy street. Literature on the true meaning of Christmas is distributed along with a warm invitation to all our Christmas celebrations. We also welcomed a Ukrainian family into our church family and have provided accommodation in our adjoining 'COttage'. The congregation supports the United Appeal for Mission which is a central fund of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. This fund enables congregations to support the wider mission of the denomination and to do mission and outreach on denominational basis beyond what the congregation could do on its own. The United Appeal Fund provides financial support for mission personnel at home and overseas, assists congregations with the deployment of locally based staff, enables church planting, provides grant support for the upkeep of church premises, assist with the running costs of Union Theological College, the Church's training college for ministry students, and financially supports congregations in the areas of worship, discipleship, global mission, outreach, leadership and pastoral care. Presbytery The congregation was represented at the regular meetings of Presbytery by our convenor and/or one of the elders. This provides an important link between the congregation and the wider structures of the church. General Assembly The convenor and one of our elder5 were nominated to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland held in Assembly Buildings, Belfast, in June. 101 Page
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Organisations Badminton Club The Badminton Club meets on a Tuesday night from 8.00- 10.30 pm. We currently have twenty-five members, six being new to the club. We have thirteen male and twelve female members playing gents doubles, ladies doubles and mixed doubles. We have beginners and experienced players with an age range of fourteen to sixty, with members coming from Saintfield and many of the surrounding towns. This year we played in the Presbyterian league, against Stormont, Knock and St Andrews, winning one match, drawing one and losing one. Club nights also give us a time to socialise and chat thus building friendships which show why the club has survived over forty years. We hope to resume in September and new members of all abilities are always welcome. Boys, Brigade Approximately 65 boys attended the Boys, Brigade each week across the three age groups. The regular meetings took place on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the weekly winter session and normal BB programme was delivered. Company section training for summer Duke of Edinburgh expedition teams has commenced with training in camp craft, navigation and first aid having been completed. This year saw an increase the number of Duke of Edinburgh participants with bronze, silver and gold expeditions planned over the course of the summer. Caterlng Ministry The Catering Ministry is a ministry provided by church members which offers refreshments for families, relative5 and friends after a funereal held in the church. This ministry ensures that families do not have to consider catering at such a difficult time and allows families and friends to chat and catch up in a warm and caring environment. Children's Ministry Kidzone meets every Sunday morning from September to May from 11.15am-noon in our church halls. During June to August, we run a Children's Church instead, as child attendance numbers fluctuate due to summer holidays and better weather. Both ministries currently consist of children aged 3 through to 15. Overall, we have approximately 20 children who attend regularly. We meet and enjoy Bible teaching, craft, quizzes and games. 121 Page
an FIRST PRESBrfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland helps the leader set up and tidy up the room after the meeting is over. Unfortunately, due to funding issues, MENCAP have had to pull their support for the person. But the person has made such a connection and made friendships within the group they have agreed to attend every week without the MENCAP support Ladies, Fellowship The Ladies, Fellowship has not recommenced regular meetings since the pandemic. As 3 group we supported Presbytery PW events and hope to go on a trip in the summer. Mission Action Group (MAG) The focus of the MAG Group in First Saintfield, is to encourage the congregation's interest in support for Mission both at home and abroad and to uphold the partners in fellowship and prayer. MAG members meet quarterly in March, June, September, December and currently have membership of 9 people from the congregation. The membership reflects different elements of knowledge/skills from across the church family and their input to meetings is very valuable as they are comprised of a combination of Kirk Session members, Mission Shop Staff and differing age groups from across congregational families. Additional meetings are occasionally convened at other times of the year for discussion around other Mission developments or important issues that need the groups attention. Members are responsible for the management of funds which include profits made through the church Mission Shop and non-directed financial gifts donated directly for mission work through the church. Minutes are taken of meetings and records of these are kept on file for reference. Each member has responsibility for linking with a mission partner who is supported by funds from MAG. The link members provide feedback and updates to the congregation from our mission partners. The levels of funding to Mission Partners are kept under review to allow for any fluctuations in their income whether from the shop profits or from individual giving from the congregation. This year has seen many change5 to the requirements of Mission Partners, in respect of Cost-of-Living requirements as the UK inflation rate has increased steadily over the last 12 months. The group have endeavoured to help partners further through decisions in respect of increased funding. 141 Page
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland by providing clothes, toys and household items to families in need, or at a time of crisis. We have supported other churches and charities who were travelling abroad to help clothe children in Africa, school children in Venezuela, refugees in Athens and families in Romania. Last April, accommodation was provided, in a cottage owned by our church, for a young Ukraine family. It was wonderful to see how the Mission Shop was able to help provide clothes, toys, kitchen ware and household items in good condition. Later on in the year, when the family were blessed with the birth of another baby boy, once again the shop was able to help in the provision of baby clothes and nursery equipment. Back in 2002, when the shop first opened the aim was to raise some funds to help a youn8 missionary in the Phillipines. However, over the past 20 years it has become much more. We see the ministry of the Mission Shop as being threefold. It provides much needed funds for missionaries and charities world wide. It provides a great opportunity to reach out into our local community to touch the lives of those who are lonely, bereaved, facing hardship or struggling with mental health issues. Often, a smile, a kind word, a cup of tea and the offer of prayer from one of our lovely volunteers, can make all the difference to someone's otherwise bleak day. It provides friendship, support and fellowship for the volunteers, who often are struggling with trials of their own. With this in mind a get together evening was arranged at the start of the year, when all our volunteers were invited to a pudding supper. Short talks were given to explain howthe shop started, how funds are raised and how funds are allocated. A short video was shown of one of the missions supported by shop funds. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other better but more importantly, for all the volunteers to understand the impact being made by the shop, to share the gospel around the world. We see the Mission Shop as a beacon of light shining in the heart of our community for the Lord. It is covered in prayer daily and it is our prayer that all those who enter it may find a warm welcome, peace and see God's love first hand, in the people they meet there. 161 Page
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Time has moved on since the start of the Pandemic, and many of the older members of the team feel no longer able to commit to this ministry, and we haven't been able to recruit any new members. Members previously involved in manning the Prayerline, delivering baby Bibles and sending cards, have continued with their roles. Some members have continued with visitation of those who are ill or housebound, all of which has been much appreciated by the recipients. At present, the future of the Team is uncertain, but it is our fervent hope that when a new minister is eventually installed the Team may be able to get going again and be able to offer the many services and activities it provided in the past. Youth Ministry Youth Ministry activities started again in April 2022 by running an Alpha Youth Course which lasted for ten weeks, and then continued into a bi-weekly programme of Sunday morning breakfast and bible study before church. The resulting group of thirteen young people have also got together on social evenings to various locations and events at least every two months Volunteers The Trustees wish to acknowledge their deep appreciation of those who give freely of their time by seniing on committees and helping with organisations and other church activities. 181 Page
Presbyter an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland FINANCIAL REVIEW The congregation's main source of income is members, contributions through the Weekly Freewill Offering. There were 208 contributors during the year {233 in the previous year, 2021) donatin8 a total of £93,652 (£99,579 in 2021). Total Income of the congregation during the year was £342,078, compared to £269,018 the previous year. Total expenditure was £649,444 (£223,927 last year). RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give true and fair view of the state of affairs of the congregation and the financial activities for that year. In preparing the financial statements the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Funds will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the funds transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the congregation and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities {1 January 2015)" They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the congregation and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 201 Page
an FIRST PRESBYfERIAN CHURCH SAINTFIELD a Congregation of The Presbyterian Church In Ireland Approved by the Kirk Session at a meeting on Iglilkn23 and Signed on its behalf by Signed on its behalf by Rev Brian Small (Vacancy Convenorl Mr Paul Jackson {Clerk of Session) 221 Page