Les Mather
There has perhaps been a feeling of 'steady as she goes' for Christchurch during 2011. My sabbatical in July, October and November led the church council to decide to avoid taking on new projects during the year, but instead to consolidate the things to which we were already committed. That was a wise decision.
That does not mean to say it has been quiet! We have continued to see healthy congregations at Sunday morning worship, Messy Church is now a well established part of our service to the community and Open the Book has found a new lease of life through new volunteers who, alongside those who have been part of OtB from the beginning, now form a well balanced, talented team who take Bible stories into the schools.
We effectively completed the fundraising for Agape during the year and, after a last burst of effort to make up a shortfall caused by inflation in India and an unfavourable exchange rate, look forward to seeing the two schools in Gooty rebuilt. This is a wonderful achievement.
We had a review by Gloucestershire Churches Together in 2011, and it was particularly pleasing to see such a positive report, recognising that Christchurch Abbeydale is now a mature Christian community, able to operate with only the lightest of touches on the tiller from the intermediate body. The report came up with a number of helpful recommendations too, which the church council looked at during a recent away day, and which will be shared at a future church meeting.
The residential church weekend in Somerset last October was memorable for having John Bell of the lona Community leading us. Many found it to be a transformative experience.
There are challenges ahead, not least the stewardship work needed to stabilise the church finances. That will be redressed in 2012 as we do TRIO (The Responsibility is Ours'), once the new version is published. Also, we are required to adopt a new constitution, based on the new model constitution written by Churches Together in England, and now the only one accepted by the 'big five' churches (Baptist, Church of England, Methodist, Roman Catholic & the United Reformed Church). With the talent we have available in our fellowship, we can be confident that these challenges will be well within our scope.
As always, thanks go to all who contribute their time and money to God's work at Christchurch Abbeydale. There are many unsung workers in our church - space does not allow them all to be named here - but their quiet dedication helps to make our fellowship what it is. We can look to the future with confidence.