Reports

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

Heslington Church Council Meeting 8th June 2011

1. Membership
• Nathan Hambleton and Sophie have joined the church as members.
• Welcome to Hannah and Jonny, our new student representatives.
2. Update on the appointment of new vicar
   A big thank you to all involved in preparing the appointment process - Christine, Melanie, Bob, Rick and the Bishop.
   • We've had 7 enquiries, 5 applicants and 3 short-listed candidates. Two were interviewed, but it was decided not to appoint either of them. The post is to be readvertised.
   • It was decided to set aside £1000 to advertise more widely (2 ads in the Church Times) and to put towards interview expenses.

News from the AGM on 27th April 2011

1. Church reports:
   • Illustrated reports from various groups are on the notice board in the narthex.
   • At the end of the 2010-11 financial year the church had cleared all its debts and the current position is very positive. It is expected that income will exceed expenditure in the coming year.
   • Rory offered his thanks for the support and concern of the congregation for this period of increased workload during the interregnum.
   • Nancy and John Eckersley sent their greetings and are doing well on their walk.
   • Christine gave a brief report on the progress towards the appointment of a new vicar.
2. Elections:
   • Church Wardens: Bob Cummings and Christine Hallam were both elected.
   • Church Stewards: Melanie Drewicz has stepped down. Rick Taylor and Elisa Main were unanimously elected.
   • Treasurer: Stephen Connor was unanimously elected.
   • Church Council Members: Sara Thorpe and Melanie Drewicz were elected.
   • Student Representatives: Jonny Lyons and Hannah Sarsfeld-Hall.
   • Deanery Synod: Bob Cummings.
3. Taking Stock:
   • There was much praise for the church's supportive, welcoming and open attitude to all, irrespective of tradition or personal circumstances. This has been commented on by visiting preachers.
   • There has been a satisfactory theological and spiritual depth to the services.
   • The children's work on Sunday mornings is a cause for celebration.
   • All those who volunteer and work behind the scenes are a great asset to the church.
   • Greg's work for the Youth Club is greatly appreciated.
   • Good music is provided for the services.
   • There is concern that the pattern of two Sunday morning services has created a small amount of division within the congregation.
   • We currently do not have a very active social committee.
   • There is a desire to have more outreach activity.
   • The church's library is very good, but it is underused.

News from the Church Council meeting on 17th November 2010

1. Circuit news We now have Mrs Cynthia Bourdon as a new representative on our Council from York (South) Circuit. The circuit is considering whether to join York (North) Circuit. This would mean that preachers had further to travel, the superintendant would have a bigger job, so an administrator would have to be appointed. It could mean that some new opportunities to do things differently would arise.
2. Finance news The new Anglican assessment for 2011 from the Diocese is quite a bit lower because we are now in York Deanery instead of Derwent. We will be in a position to pay our debts and make some donations to missions and charities. Our giving for 2010 will go to Carecent, YoYo, USPG, Methodist Church Fund and a discretionary donation for a local struggling family.
3. Churchyard The university is in the process of considering donating to us a portion of land from Dean's Acre to extend our churchyard. The exact amount is still to be decided but there will be quite a long process to go through legally.
4. The Parish Profile is the document needed by the Diocese to give to a prospective new vicar and is in the process of being compiled. Archbishop Holgate's School have offered to help with the printing.

Information from the September Church Council

1. The main item was a discussion about the qualities needed in a new vicar. Archbishop Holgate's School representatives will be coming to the meeting on 28th September as they have an interest in this.
2. There is to be a discussion event on an interesting topic once a month on a Sunday evening. Refreshments provided. The first event will be on 17th October at 7.30pm.
3. The financial situation of the church is now settling down and we are to pay off the money we owe the Diocese. Many thanks to all who have fundraised and increased their giving ... Please keep it up!
4. An industrial dishwasher is to be purchased to release those previously tied to the kitchen sink.

Report from Worship Forum - 6th July 2010

1. The Future of Evening Services
The last evening service in the church's calendar for the summer will take place on the 25th July with the leaving service for Rev Keith Himsworth, Circuit Superintendent.
The following reasons are given:

1. Attendance numbers at evening services are low, often less than 5 people.
2. Nancy's coming retirement meaning Rory's time available for Heslington Church will have to cover additional responsibilities for the foreseeable future. This does not make continued responsibility for an evening service a wise use of limited time.
3. The monthly Taizé service that taken place in Heslington Church will be moving to More House from next month.
4. Rory is not willing to ask local preachers to fill the plan for such a poorly attended service, given the planning and effort put into a service by local preachers, who do so in their spare time.
5. The additional cost of heating the church through the winter months.

a) When our evening services end, we will advertise the evening services of other churches for those who want to worship in an evening.

b) If we finish traditional clergy led evening services, this might free Sunday evening for something else e.g. a Bible Study group

c) There could be a much better time than 6.30 pm for something on a Sunday evening

d) Those who are busy during morning services value the quiet space to worship in the evening.

Proposal
A clear interest in an alternative lay-led activity on a Sunday evening was expressed. The group agreed to pray and reflect on this issue and then meet in again August 3rd with ideas and proposals.

2. Morning Services
Nancy led a discussion of the points raised in the Review of Worship times and styles

a) The time between services was not all it had been hoped. Suggestions for experiments were made
- Breakfast perhaps in the autumn
- Have coffee in Church
- Arrange the tables in the meeting room differently

b) Rotas - there was sometimes a difficulty in getting enough people to volunteer and some people on the rotas were unreliable leading to difficulty on a Sunday morning.
This was to be referred to the Standing Committee to discuss the role of wardens and stewards

c) Children's group leaders had indicated that 11 am was late for them. There were some leaders finding 11 am hard and we had lost Claire because of this. There is a need for more children's leaders.
This requires more consultation with the children's leaders and needs referring to the Children and Youth Working group

d) Music - there was a request for a mix of old and new songs at both services. We are now trying to do this.

e) Combined Services - these will be at 10.30 am for Covenant, Easter, Confirmation, Harvest and Advent giving a good spread through the year. Sides people need to be aware that some people may have missed the publicity on these Sundays and so be ready to go into the narthex just before 11 am to encourage them to come in.

f) 11 am in University Vacations - as the 11 am service has more students than the 9am this service may be 'thin' The group recommended to monitor this.