The monthly information sheet from the church to you – brought to you from your Priest in Charge! February 2010

Our web site address is: www.st-lawrence-gnosall.com

Particular PCC Items: (Following its meeting in January)

Donation:

£1,000 from the estate of Mr. Duff Cooper had been received and was for general purposes.

Reverting to Communion in Both Kinds:

The following motion was proposed and seconded - ‘With the health restriction lifted, in line with advice given from our Archbishops, communion received in both kinds be offered, though allowing people to intincture if they feel it to be appropriate. This proposal to be enacted following this PCC meeting and communicated via newsletter and web site’.

Benefice Enlargement:

There had been a meeting with the Archdeacon on the 14^th January from which three points had emerged: With the Rev. Pam Freeman’s last Sunday being on the 20^th June unofficially the enlarged benefice would be beginning from July; officially from the beginning of October. A provisional figure of not less than £11,000 had been allocated for the Benefice Administrator in which was included salary and office costs. This would be a part time appointment and there should be no reason why it should not commence from the 1^st July. Work would begin February to undertake the necessary paperwork, etc for the post. We were hoping that the person appointed would work from St Lawrence Church Vestry. It was proposed that the House for Duty post would ideally have to commence in October; this was seen as fundamental to the running of the benefice and so efforts would be made to secure that appointment then. The next meetings of the Benefice Steering Group composed of all churchwardens of the five parishes are on: 24^th of March and the 23^rd of June.

A.P.C.M:

Will be taking place once again during the 10:30am service on the 25^th of April which like last year would be a service time of one hour and fifteen minutes max. People have been contacted to send in their annual reports and the annual revision of the electoral roll commences over a six week period from the 7^th of February.

Bell Tower Maintenance Contract:

The PCC was asked to approve the setting up of a maintenance contract for the Bell Tower. The monies for this would come out of the Bell Fund. This was agreed.

Date of Meetings in 2010:

In line with the enlarged benefice being created and the need for all PCC’s to adopt a similar pattern of meetings and periods when those meetings took place, the following dates were fixed for St Lawrence Church PCC for the remainder of this year: 15^th March; 19^th April; 17^th May; 19^th July and the 18^th October.

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Please turn the page over for the most IMPORTANT bit!!!

St Lawrence Church - Life in 2010 and Objectives in Mission and Ministry

Ideally of course it would be appropriate to start looking at our life together and to have both a general faith statement about where we are going in 2010 and particular objectives of the development of our mission and ministry being thought about just before the New Year commences. However, December is not a good time to do this (it is rather busy!). The PiC had hoped that this would naturally occur in January, but the month has been busy as well and so there has been a delay. The intention is to have by the end of February our new Mission Action Plan for 2010 based upon but not exclusive to our Ministry Teams created from 2008/9. Ministry Teams are being given an opportunity to comment upon their life, the life of the church and key objectives for them to focus upon – but, as well, any individual from this church is also being approached to undertake this exercise. If you would like to comment then the form is below to enable you to contribute. As this now will become a yearly faith exercise for this church (and all churches in the enlarged benefice to undertake) the intention is to make this as straightforward as possible. The comment paper needs to be returned to the Vicarage by the 21^st of February. (The form below can also be copied from our web site and e-mailed). Please return the form to Mark. There is no need to add your name, unless you wish and use another sheet of paper if you need to.

2010 Mission Action Plan for St Lawrence Church, Gnosall

Please note it is taken as read that before a response is written under each of the questions a time of prayer is offered that the Lord will direct and use your comments for the good of the Church (both St Lawrence and the churches of the enlarged benefice).

Question One: In consideration of the challenges and opportunities that will come as a result of the enlarged benefice taking place in 2010, is there for you an appropriate Bible passage or verse that you feel would give encouragement to everyone in all the six churches during this year of significant change?

Question Two: In consideration of the life of this church that you have experienced during the years you have been part of its fellowship, where would you like to see this church placing an emphasis on in 2010?

Question Three: In looking at the life of this church in its many forms of mission and ministry, are there objectives for 2010 that either individuals or ministry teams could achieve this year that would ‘help’ the church to become more the Body of Christ? (Please note objectives must be practical and realistic!)

Question Four: Is there anything else you would like to mention that you feel is important for this church to hear during 2010?