Reports

What's happened in the recent past in the life of the church

REVIEW OF WORSHIP TIMES AND STYLES

BACKGROUND
In November, 2008, the Church Council decided that 2009 was to be a year of experiment in worship times and styles. The Review Period would be Jan-March 2010. After the Review the Council would decide a future pattern.

THE REASONS for this experiment were considered to be:

1. Our average congregation size was diminishing.
2. Our local area was experiencing large changes brought about by the extension of the University site.
3. All national church growth advice concurs that a monthly pattern of different services (which we had) is a deterrent to new people coming to church. Monthly patterns deter regular churchgoers from coming to church weekly as they wish to worship in a preferred way.
4. Every Sunday morning the experimental pattern would give everyone a choice between quieter traditional worship or more contemporary worship friendly to children.

THE EXPERIMENT
1. The times of Sunday morning services were moved one hour later and each had a regular weekly distinctive style.
2. The Thursday morning communion service was moved from 8.45 am to 9.15 am. This was shortly after the school start and within the permitted time for bus pass users to arrive.

THE PLUSES AND MINUSES OF THE EXPERIMENT

SOME UNAVOIDABLE PRACTICALITIES

1) For 2010, Nancy will need extra time to work out hand-over strategies and processes for many of her duties and responsibilities. Rory's hours will need to incorporate involvement in more of the church's day-to-day management and he will be away on Sabbatical leave at Easter and in August/September for a total of three months.

2) From 16th January 2011, our clergy team will consist of Rory (+/-10 hrs a week), Rowan Williams (2 Sundays a month) and, hopefully, clergy cover for worship services by arrangement with other local parishes. Our only Reader, John, will not be here to fill any gaps in the services.

SUGGESTED WAYS FORWARD
Suggestion One
We continue with a 9.00 am traditional Communion with hymns and organ, and an 11.00 am Morning Service with monthly Communion, mostly contemporary music and less formal liturgy. The Thursday Communion remains as it is now.
This pattern has halted the decline in numbers. It offers a clear choice of service styles. 2010 will be a year of transition. We do not know what the future holds in terms of Anglican clergy support and oversight. We might be wise not to introduce further change, but wait together to see what is possible after Jan 2011.

Suggestion Two
One united Sunday morning service at 10.30 am. This service would be a contemporary service with some hymns and occasional use of the organ. It would have a monthly Communion and coffee after the service. In addition, a traditional Communion Service with hymns will take place on a weekday morning at 9.30 am, with coffee time.
a) Some of the congregation miss feeling that the majority of the church is together in one service, and miss the opportunity to talk and mingle afterwards. Coffee time has not been what we had hoped it might be this year.
b) A 9 am start for our first service is a real difficulty for some. The band needs an hour to set up, prepare and practise.
c) 11 am is a good time for students, but not the best time for some of those with children and young families. A service slightly earlier might be more helpful to families.
d) A traditional, liturgical, quieter Communion service is appreciated. Hymns are valued as part of this.

Suggestion Three
We have the original times of 8.00 am and 10.00 am for Sunday morning Worship
This was the established pattern for many years which has nurtured many long standing members of the congregation. 2009 was agreed to be an experiment rather than the established pattern.
a) 10.00 am is an easier time than 9.00 am for some older members
b) The majority of the church members can worship together at 10.00 am on a Sunday

Questions we have ?
a) What will be lost if we simply abandon everything that has developed through 2009?
b) Can a single service on a Sunday morning cater for different needs for worship without becoming unduly long?
c) How can a desire for quiet worship be reconciled with the presence of children?
d) How can the needs of children and families be met?
e) Is it right to insist on a “one size fits all” service on a Sunday morning.
f) How can those who struggle to arrive by 9 am be helped if the traditional Sunday service continues?
g). What has been good about the current 9.00 am and 11.00 am Sunday service pattern and what has caused problems for you?
h). What are your thoughts about a single contemporary Sunday morning service (with communion once a month) at 10.30 am and a mid-week communion service with hymns at 9.30 am?
i). What about having an earlier traditional said 8.00 am Communion and a 10.00 am more contemporary service ?
j). In view of Nancy's retirement, what is the best of the three options for the future of Heslington church?

Some of these questions will be considered at 9.00 am and 11 am services on 7th February. Also there is a box for written replies under the display in the entrance to church. If you wish to email comments please do so to heslington.church@hotmail.co.uk by 17th February 2010

Church Council Meeting, January 2010

1. The review of worship times and styles was the main item on the agenda. It was with some dismay that the Council heard that some had already made up their minds and were considering the outcome a done deal. This is by no means the case. There will be ample opportunity for all views to be heard and considered. The final decision will not be made until the 17th March Church Council so everyone is urged to consider all the options and join in the review in the best spirit.
2. The finances of the church have improved remarkably during the last three months of 2009. Many thanks are due to Karl Jarvis our churchwarden, who took over as temporary treasurer at very short notice. Many thanks also to all the congregation who increased regular giving or made very welcome and generous one-off donations. Our deficit from 2008 is paid off. A considerable amount has been been paid off the Diocesan Quota for 2009. There is a stiff challenge still to meet for 2010, but the new treasurer, Stephen Connor, has taken over now and there are fund-raising events planned.
3. The organ will soon be repaired and in use again. There will be a Praise and Pancakes evening on Shrove Tuesday to celebrate this and hopefully raise some of the remaining money needed to pay the bill. The top ten favourite hymns, chosen by the congregation, will be sung and there will be a plate for donations to the Organ Fund. The total amount raised so far for the organ is £10,831 and we need to raise about £1,100 more, so let us try to persevere for this last amount, Come and sing - came and enjoy the pancakes - come and help the Organ Fund.

Church Council meeting, November 2009

1. New members
   Susan Pearce, Marie Glenton and Greg Melia (returning member) were welcomed onto the Church Membership List.
   The Council expressed thanks to Dorothy Scott and David Heppell who were having to leave the Church Council for family reasons. Stephen Connor and Rick Taylor were welcomed onto the Church Council as co-opted members.
2. Review of worship times and styles
   This is set to start at the beginning of January. The Worship Forum (which is open to everyone) will meet in December to formulate the process so it can have a prompt start. All interested parties will be encouraged to contribute their responses and the Church Council will decide the future way forward at its meeting in March.
3. Finance
   Since the resignation of Stuart Turner, Karl Jarvis our Church Warden has most ably stepped into the breach for the interim time until the end of 2009. On 1st January 2010 Stephen Connor was unanimously elected to serve as Heslington Church Tresurer. There has been some improvement to our financial situation (though we are not out of the woods yet!) and many thanks are due to everyone who has increased their giving to the church.
   The Church Council voted to use some of the generous legacy money (from Shaun Meynell and Alan Mott) to upgrade the sound system.

Church Council Meeting, September 2009

1. The university is open to talks regarding a small extension of our churchyard into Dean's Acre.
2. Firms are coming to look at the sound system with the hope that we can improve the quality of the sound and also provide some visual facility.
3. The new shade of pew runners was approved.
4. The Worship Forum has done some work on the ways we shall assess the experimental year in times and styles. This review will begin in January as planned and all comments will be sought.
5. Stuart Turner, our treasurer, has resigned. There will be interim arrangements until such time that a new treasurer can be appointed. In the meantime all financial information should go to the Church Warden, Karl Jarvis.
6. We are starting a new venture - a youth club - as a result of a request from the junior leaders at the summer club. The Youth Club will meet on Thursdays 6.30pm - 8.00pm and the leaders will be Rachel Stephenson, Greg Melia and John Eckersley.
7. There will be various fun fund-raising activities happening. Please read the newsletter or look at the website for details.

Church Council meeting 22nd July 2009

1. After nine months of debate, the Church Council has decided to request that the parish moves from Derwent Deanery into York Deanery.
2. The financial situation of our church is getting ever more serious. A fund-raising committee has been formed and church members are to be asked to support events. Stewardship Sunday will be on 27th September this year.
3. The floor of the narthex and the main church is to be cleaned and polished. This will necessitate a complete four-day closure of the church in early September (not affecting Sunday worship).
4. The Church Council watched the diocesan DVD "Listening to the experiences of Gay and Lesbian Christians". There will be an evening for the congregation and community to watch this DVD and participate in discussion on Monday 28th September at 7.30pm in church.

May Church Council Meeting

1. David, Linda and Jenni Clements were welcomed onto the membership list.
2. Pew runners received the thumbs up from the Diocesan Authorities but we cannot have them in red (to match the organ red!) A new colour is being discussed.
3. The Acting Rural Dean of York, Rev. Terence McDonough, came to help us in our deanery deliberations. Changing deanery to York would enable the chaplaincy to link better with York (St. John) University; tie in the Archbishop Holgate School work better and enable the church to have more links with a dynamic York scene. The Council will be voting on the proposal to change deaneries at its July meeting. If you have views on this matter please speak to a Church Council member.
4. Our financial situation is still in the red. There has been some increased giving but every month our situation is worsening as our required outgoings are more than our income. The Finance Committee will announce further fund-raising measures.
5. Heslington is once more to take part in the City's Wagon Plays. The dates will be 11th and 18th July 2010. Some financing will be needed for costumes and the wagon.

The Annual General Meeting, April 2009

1. The 2009 budget and accounts for 2008 were approved. We do not expect to meet our commitments for the coming year.
2. The Wardens elected are Bob Cummings and Karl Jarvis. The Stewards elected are Bob Catley and Melanie Drewicz.
   Grace Allen, Chris Sparks, Sue Whittaker, John Whittaker and Dorothy Holden were all accepted onto the Church Council. Retiring Warden, Harry Telfer, spoke of the condition of the building and was given much appreciation.
3. Nancy and Rory spoke personally of the last year which has had difficulties as well as a great sense of fulfilment. They work well as a team.
4. A list of chuch activities over the last year was compiled. It was very encouraging to see new ventures.
5. The future is uncertain for clergy staffing. It is hoped that a new Anglican Chaplain will be appointed in the next year, but while that person will have a base in Heslington Church they will be free to attend other churches in York to which students go. What happens when Nancy leaves has not yet been decided, but she is not leaving for some time yet.
6. For the first year the numbers on our membership list have grown. A display of our ecumenical make-up will be put on the notice board.

March Church Council Meeting

1. The church financial situation is still giving cause for concern. Financial advisers from Diocese, Deanery and Circuit gave advice. The 2008 accounts were passed.
2. The Council voted to begin exploration of transferring to York Deanery from Derwent Deanery.
3. There is to be a Summer Fete to raise funds. Date will probably 13th June.
4. Bob Catley and Harry Telfer were warmly thanked as Steward and Warden. There will be elections of new Warden and Steward at the annual meeting on 30th April.