APCM minutes

4. The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 March 2000 were taken as read, and it was proposed by Joyce Wade and seconded by Peter Firth that these be accepted and signed.

5. Annual Report

The Chairman went through the Annual Report giving a general overview of the contents.

Electoral Roll

Hilary Roberts, the Electoral Roll Officer, reported that 415 people were enrolled on the Parish Register, and increase of 13 on last year's figures. The figure included 220 inside the parish and 195 outside the parish. This represents 18 additions and 5 deletions since 2000.

Rev Trollope expressed his thanks to Hilary for all her hard work in connection with keeping the Electoral roll up to date.

Review of the Year

The Chairman gave a brief summary of the topics discussed during the year at PCC meetings and pointed out that copies of the minutes are placed at the back of church for the congregation read.

Fabric of the Church and Hall

Rev Trollope commented on the fact that we are fortunate as a Church to have a wonderful maintenance team, chaired by Hal Whitaker, who is helped by Paul Roocroft, Peter Naylor, George Bradley and Gordon Porter. He expressed the Church's thanks to them for all their hard work over the last year.

Financial Report

The Treasurer, Jonathan Rawlinson, introduced the Financial Report for the year ending December 2000 and went on to compare the income and expenditure for 2000 with that for 1999.

Total Income 2000 £188,703 : Total Expenditure 2000 £181,235

Jonathan commented that when our Income reaches £200,000 a year, professional accountants will need to be employed to manage our accounts.

Salaries for Paul Roocroft, Paul Heritage, Joyce Wade and the Playgroup leader are no longer included in our accounts.

Our Charitable giving for 2000 was in the sum of £23,698.30, which was £4000 more than last year. Investments had dropped to £39,800 from £41,785 the previous year.

Financially St Luke's have had a reasonably good year.

Rev Trollope pointed out that we have received £12,000 extra last year due to a change in the tax regime.

Covenant Income had ceased to exist last year but Gift Aid has increased.

Questions

Peter Firth asked if our extra income was due to the tax refund. Eric Linford replied that it mostly was. We had been able to spend extra because we knew extra tax money was due to be refunded.

Rev Trollope encouraged people to keep reviewing their giving as there is a constant reduction in our regular income due to death, house moves etc. Eric Linford recommended the Gift Aid Scheme and advised that money to charities can be given via this scheme too.

Jared Whetnall commented that the accounts were a lot clearer this year than last and easier to understand. He asked why the Graveyard funds were restricted last year so why not this year? Had the Independent Examiner passed the accounts? Regarding graveyard shares, St Michael's had more than we did. Jonathan replied that the Graveyard income from shares is restricted and it is an oversight that this is in the wrong column, it will be moved. Regarding St Michael's, they have a larger congregation. If people want to donate money we would happily receive it. People can donate £1,000 for lifelong maintenance of their graveyard plot.

Some shares were sold a few years ago from the General Fund and £3,000 had been gained. Regarding the Independent Examiner, details had only recently been received from Church House and more is required of the examiner than had previously been realised. Malcolm Roberts, the present Independent Examiner, will be standing down, but had completed the examination of the accounts, and everything was in order. His report was presented at the meeting.

Thanks were express to all the those people who helped with our accounts and in particular to Jonathan for all his hard work all of which has ensured that we now have tight control of our finances.

Acceptance of the financial report was proposed by Lester Davey, seconded by Ray Terry and unanimously agreed.

6. Appointment of an Independent Examiner

As mentioned, Malcolm Roberts is standing down and a new Examiner is being sought. We are near the stage where a professional accountant will have to be appointed.

7. Elections

The following people were nominated to be members of the PCC:

Julie Heritage
Hugh Hollinghurst
Alan Reeves
Hal Whitaker
Hilary Roberts

It was proposed by John Morris, seconded by Carol Firth and unanimously agreed that the above named should be elected.

Rev Trollope thanked those member of the PCC, who were stepping down this year, for their past service.

Sidespeople

It was proposed by Paul Roocroft, seconded by Christa Trollope and unanimously a greed that Ann Somers, Glenys and Richard Brown, Diane Kerr and Muriel Murton be added to the list of sidespeople.

8. Report of Activity Groups

The reports had been circulated prior to the meeting. Rev Trollope went through these briefly.

The change to Common Worship had gone smoothly and numbers attending the services had remained similar.

We are very blessed at St Luke's by our clergy, Lay Readers, musicians and organists. Paul Heritage takes a major lead in the 11 am service, ably assisted in the planning by Eric Linford.

We have a shortage of Bellringers at the moment, another 3 being needed. This means that the Church bells cannot always be rung. Anyone interested should see Ray Harley.

Marie Norton is still organising our prayer diary and Les Lewney our Reflective Prayer group.

Many people appreciate the quiet ministry of healing.

Mothers' Union continues to meet monthly.

Pram Club and Stepping Stones have a rolling membership as people move on.

June Barnard runs the Church bookstall and has required that this be moved to the other side of the Church.

New Leaders are needed for our Cub pack. The whole team, who are very long serving, are standing down. More leaders are also always needed for the Way Youth Club.

The Senior Fellowship will be closing at the end of June, having met for 23 years. At one time they had 120 members on their books but this was now dropped to approximately 20. Members still want to meet once a month for tea and a chat. Doreen Cottier has given wonderful service to the group over the years and grateful thanks were expressed to her.

June Barnard is standing down after 48 years service with CMS which is a fantastic achievement. A flower arrangement was presented to June in gratitude for all her hard work over the years. CMS has a new focus on Romania with which we have a link through the Williams' family.

Regarding Uganda, the Diocesan Training Centre is now up and running. Our SAMS worker, Fiona, has left the School for the deaf and we are again supporting the workers in Arequipa.

The Molyneux family were home recently and we continue to support their work in Malawi.

Alpha courses continue to run.

Halsall School are seeking a new deputy Headmaster.

Alison Woodhouse has replaced Frances Briscoe as Area Dean.

Crossroads have a new brochure showing the planned redevelopment and giving a snapshot of the whole range of activities.

9. Questions

Maureen Cawdron reported that after 14 years as SAMS secretary and member of the World Mission Group, Carol Roocroft is now standing down. Maureen expressed her thanks to Carol for all her work over the years.

Ray Terry reported that only 3 members of the Choral Group had been present at the 9:00 am service on Easter Sunday and their presence had been missed. Rev Trollope advised that the main focus had been on the 11 am service.

Steve Matthews commended that more helpers are needed with all Youth organisations. Could people please pray about who ever should volunteer.

10. Vicar's Report

Christ has his plan and his purpose which he is working out in St Luke's. If we get back to basics, get our fundamentals right then growth will take place.

2000 was the Millennium year and certain things stand out - celebrations, fun and fellowship, togetherness, Hopes and Dreams in the Civic Hall, the Jesus Video Project - breaking out into the community and sharing. 1 person now regularly attending St Luke's as a result of this. We worked with all the local churches on this project which was breaking new ground. Unity is a witness. At Christmas we had 'Follow That Star', and good numbers attended the 11 am Easter Sunday Service. God is at work in our midst and we have much to thank him for. All this ----- amongst the week in week out activities at St Luke's - so much is hidden within the whole life of the church - in particular the work of Joyce and her team, Ann, Carol, Audrey Davies, Audrey Hull, Betty and Eleanor.

The task of the LMT is to prayerfully reflect and listen to God for the long term plans for the Church, and we are fortunate to have a good team. Thanks are due to Paul Heritage for his enthusiasm and vision. Paul sacrificed a good career to give his working life to St Luke's. He caught the vision and implemented it.

We are also fortunately to have Paul Roocroft looking after the grounds and the church.

As a church our priorities for 2001 are: to develop our Homegroups etc. See attached list

God is always doing new things as he leads us forward. It is exciting that we will see wonderful new things as we walk forward with him.

11. Vote of Thanks

A vote of thanks was given by Kim Sonne who thanked David and Christa for all that they have done in the past year.

As we move into the new Millennium it is important that we have a vicar who is blessed with the necessary gifts to lead the church and to meet the challenges that face us in a fast moving world.

Over the past 12 months, we have witnessed David's patience, prayerfulness and sincerity in a number of ways which have helped the leaders of the various groups in St Luke's as well as so many people who attend the services.

Kim acknowledge the support that Christa gave to David and thanked her for her commitment to St Luke's.

David had reached his own special milestone this year and we are glad to have had the opportunity to be with him at this particular time.

Kim finished with words from Colossians 3:12-17.

12. Date of Next Meeting

Monday 29 April at 8 pm in the Church Hall.

After prayer, the meeting closed at 10.00 pm.

Secretary Chairman