VERWOOD PARISH : ST MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS  CHURCH, VERWOOD and

ALL SAINTS CHURCH, THREE LEGGED CROSS

Verwood Parochial Church Council is a Charity registered under no 1130729

To know Jesus Christ and make Him known

NOTES from the PCC Meeting held on

10 February 2011

Due to a number of illnesses and prior commitments, the meeting was not as well attended as usual.  It had a great deal of business before it, and this resulted in the last one or two items without resolution on the day as some members had found it necessary to leave, and the meeting was no longer quorate.

Revd Bill French reported that he had resigned as a Governor for Trinity First School as he felt strongly spirit led to work with the parents, and this is ongoing with the School’s full co-operation.  It does leave positions for this important role open and Revd Andrew Sinclair asked for nominations.  

The Deanery Synod elections are due this year, and we are obliged to return 4.  Both John and Marilyn Burns are retiring from formal duties after many years of service, and Robin Morgan is also resigning, but will seek election to the PCC.   3 candidates are therefore required and the meeting was reminded of this.

The main business of the evening was the approval of the annual report and accounts.  John Burns had arranged for circulation of all the documents well in advance of the hearing, and addressed the members fully on the report.  His full and clear notes are with the Minutes of the meeting, in the Minutes book.  Revd Sinclair commented that this was his final accounts report to PCC as Treasurer, from which position he retires at the Annual Meeting, and thanked him for all his hard work.  This was strongly echoed by all members present.    The Report and Accounts were formally approved.

John Burns tackled the subject of the deficit and the struggle that the PCC was facing to meet a challenging budget with falling income, when an item was raised as a result of the Housekeeping and Finance Committee’s report.  He reminded members of the articles he had written for the magazine, and expressed hope for a good response to the Thanksgiving Sunday appeal.  Several members made suggestions for fundraisers, and were pleased to hear that although the proposed Fete will not now take place due to the complexities in arrangements, the successful Cream Tea will again feature this summer.  David Mankin and Peter Short volunteered to organise a cheese and wine event. 

There was lively discussion about the children’s prayer zone, and the format and timing of some of the services, including baptisms and the Mothering Sunday service.  It was expressed that it would be good if more of the congregation could be attracted to baptism services.   Each of the other Committees also made reports to the members.

Revd Sinclair followed through the ideas expressed at Standing Committee of his Vision of the doorway, with newcomers being welcomed in through it and congregation going out into the community on missionary work.  He mentioned the recent “walking the parish” initiative, which had borne some fruit (and had generally not received the negative response many had expected) and the newsletter left with those visited which format could be followed for other missions.

The meeting closed at 10.15pm with the Grace

Julia Palmer, PCC Secretary