Sadly, our March Church Meeting was something of a non-event, with only a couple of members being present on the day due to a wide range of other commitments. Consequently, we could not take any decisions, or even to discuss Church business in a way that would involve many who presumably would prefer to have an input.
There were some matters of routine housekeeping on the agenda, but the issue which predominates right now is the impending sale of Antony’s property, which is presently being cleared and remaining items removed. As well as the books which were left to us, and which have gone (all 3000+ of them!) to good homes, there were some other items that we were given permission by the beneficiary to take and which we hope to put to good use for the benefit of the Church. But much of the stuff, including some not unsubstantial items of furniture, will be sold on by the collector, so will at least do somebody a hood turn – as Antony would have liked.
The sale itself will be a complex process, but there are options already presenting themselves which may render it less difficult. More of this will doubtless come to future Church Meetings.
We are excited too to be making plans for the induction of not one but two new Church Members, now that the go-ahead has been given by Church Meeting, with hopefully more coming down the line fairly soon.
Congregations are sometimes a concern. With the arrival around Christmas time of some new visitors, we had had hopes that we had turned a corner. But we are all getting older and for some even getting to Church in the morning can be challenging.
And whilst it will be a boost to able to inject new funds into the fabric of the Church, effecting repairs which are long overdue and introducing new technologies to help us to communicate our message, both to each other and to the outside world, the rationale for our existence is worshippers, and we need to continue to attract them and to do in greater numbers.
By the time we go to press our Easter programme will be well under way, with a service on Maundy Thursday, a fraternal visit to another local Church on Good Friday, and back to our own building for Easter Sunday. There is no shortage of activity.
We just need your continued prayers and support to grow our congregation and to forever remain a vehicle for the spreading of God’s word in our local community.