Wardens report to the Annual meeting	Archive
Report for Annual Meeting 13th April 2008 Where should I start? Probably by acknowledging that the most significant event of 2007 was Alja and Randy’s departure from St Cross. As Randy’s health was deteriorating faster than expected, Alja had been thinking more and more that she and Randy needed to return to the Netherlands to be back amongst their family. So when a job offer came up and having given it much thought and prayer they made the decision to return to Utrecht. For all this was a blow to many of us I think it’s fair to say that we all understood their decision. On the 2nd November we had a very special farewell evening for them and Alja took her last services at St Cross on 4th November. At the 10am service she and Randy were presented with gifts from the parish, one being a painting by Don Whalley, a former Reader at St Cross, of a scene in Tatton Park (if you looked very carefully and used a little imagination – you could just make out St Cross Church). Her last service was the Requiem for All Souls at which the Lydian Singers sang beautifully, creating a very moving atmosphere. Alja’s official date of leaving was 30th November and the interregnum began! More of that in a moment. I’ve looked at the reports Alja produced over the past couple of years to get some clues as to what this report should contain. The Requiem and all the other major festival services have been well attended. Christmas was soon upon us and we were fortunate in being able to provide our usual full compliment of services. We have been extremely fortunate in being able to cover all the weekly services, funerals and baptisms and are very grateful to all the clergy who have helped us to do this. We also appreciate Julie’s support to date, liaising with and helping the visiting clergy to understand our particular style of worship and for preparing and covering almost all of the non-Eucharistic services. Comments have been heard like “You can’t really tell we are in an interregnum, things are running so smoothly” (I hope I’ve not spoken too soon!) this can only be due to the excellent team work that has been going on at St Cross. John and I would like to thank all those who are helping to keep the parish running so well. Many people are doing all sorts of extra things and are taking on heavier workloads. Some “jobs” are more up front and on show but there are many which are less noticeable – Many thanks to you all. The PCC had an Away Day which was used to put the Parish Profile together. This is the document which describes and tries to give a flavour of our parish and our traditions to anyone who may be interested in becoming the next vicar of St Cross. The PCC elected the Wardens to act as the Parish Representatives for the process of selecting a new incumbent. Our Rural Dean, Revd. Canon Professor Roger Yates gave us guidance and facilitated this meeting for us. We had an excellent day and it appeared that we all felt that the profile was accurate and really did what was intended. Everyone felt very hopeful and positive about the future. Once the Parish Profile was formally completed we had to prepare various other official papers and a day or two later all the necessary paperwork had been sent off to the diocesan office. The Wardens would like to thank the PCC for all they do and for their very active support. Much necessary and hard work is taken on by members of the PCC that is largely unseen. It is greatly appreciated. In last year‘s report Alja referred to fishing and to us being Fishers of Men. She said that we were all fish that had been caught in Jesus’ net but we were also to go out and fish for others. This message is still true for us all (it would be particularly good to catch a suitable vicar!). But seriously, we need to keep in mind our calling to share the good news of the gospel of Christ with other people through our worship and in our lives. One of the ways we fished, reached out, was via the pub, the Falcon Bearer. We went nearly every month and were always made to feel most welcome. There always seemed to be someone who needed a quiet chat, a heart to heart or to ask deep spiritual questions. For many this was the nearest they came to church and church people! At Christmas we went, as last year, for an informal “Sing-along o’ Carols” which was well attended and enjoyed by all. It was on that evening that Trevor and Angela announced that they would be leaving the pub in January. It is now 5 months since Alja left and we had hoped that by this time we would have been nearing the end of our interregnum. However, in spite of the Rural Dean’s hope for the shortest interregna in the Diocese, we are still looking and waiting for the right person. As these months have now passed, we have been advised by Bishop Peter and the Archdeacon that we should place an advertisement in the Church Times. Arrangements for this are underway. We will keep you posted as to progress. In the meantime Things have changed, Alja and Randy, Trevor and Angela have moved on, we know that nothing stays the same for ever. But we are still here, journeying together, being church at St Cross. We carry on, ministering in this place, remembering that God is with us always, Prayer is crucial, particularly when we find ourselves at tricky or difficult times. Our parish is supported by prayer, from the church members and from others around the Diocese. We use our interregnum prayer every week in church, praying for our parish, asking God to support and strengthen us as we work through this time of uncertainty. We pray for God’s guidance as we search for our new vicar. We also ask God to prepare the person that He alone knows will be the next vicar of St Cross. Please keep praying for and supporting our parish. We too are moving on, with God into a new era for St Cross. There is much to be thankful for and we are very hopeful for the future. Let us bless the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Wardens report to the Annual meeting

Archive

Report for Annual Meeting 13th April 2008

Where should I start?

Probably by acknowledging that the most significant event of 2007 was Alja and Randy’s departure from St Cross. As Randy’s health was deteriorating faster than expected, Alja had been thinking more and more that she and Randy needed to return to the Netherlands to be back amongst their family. So when a job offer came up and having given it much thought and prayer they made the decision to return to Utrecht.

For all this was a blow to many of us I think it’s fair to say that we all understood their decision.

On the 2nd November we had a very special farewell evening for them and Alja took her last services at St Cross on 4th November. At the 10am service she and Randy were presented with gifts from the parish, one being a painting by Don Whalley, a former Reader at St Cross, of a scene in Tatton Park (if you looked very carefully and used a little imagination – you could just make out St Cross Church). Her last service was the Requiem for All Souls at which the Lydian Singers sang beautifully, creating a very moving atmosphere.

Alja’s official date of leaving was 30th November and the interregnum began! More of that in a moment.

I’ve looked at the reports Alja produced over the past couple of years to get some clues as to what this report should contain.

The Requiem and all the other major festival services have been well attended. Christmas was soon upon us and we were fortunate in being able to provide our usual full compliment of services.

We have been extremely fortunate in being able to cover all the weekly services, funerals and baptisms and are very grateful to all the clergy who have helped us to do this. We also appreciate Julie’s support to date, liaising with and helping the visiting clergy to understand our particular style of worship and for preparing and covering almost all of the non-Eucharistic services.

Comments have been heard like “You can’t really tell we are in an interregnum, things are running so smoothly” (I hope I’ve not spoken too soon!) this can only be due to the excellent team work that has been going on at St Cross.

John and I would like to thank all those who are helping to keep the parish running so well. Many people are doing all sorts of extra things and are taking on heavier workloads. Some “jobs” are more up front and on show but there are many which are less noticeable – Many thanks to you all.

The PCC had an Away Day which was used to put the Parish Profile together.
This is the document which describes and tries to give a flavour of our parish and our traditions to anyone who may be interested in becoming the next vicar of St Cross. The PCC elected the Wardens to act as the Parish Representatives for the process of selecting a new incumbent. Our Rural Dean, Revd. Canon Professor Roger Yates gave us guidance and facilitated this meeting for us. We had an excellent day and it appeared that we all felt that the profile was accurate and really did what was intended. Everyone felt very hopeful and positive about the future.

Once the Parish Profile was formally completed we had to prepare various other official papers and a day or two later all the necessary paperwork had been sent off to the diocesan office.

The Wardens would like to thank the PCC for all they do and for their very active support. Much necessary and hard work is taken on by members of the PCC that is largely unseen. It is greatly appreciated.

In last year‘s report Alja referred to fishing and to us being Fishers of Men. She said that we were all fish that had been caught in Jesus’ net but we were also to go out and fish for others. This message is still true for us all (it would be particularly good to catch a suitable vicar!). But seriously, we need to keep in mind our calling to share the good news of the gospel of Christ with other people through our worship and in our lives.

One of the ways we fished, reached out, was via the pub, the Falcon Bearer. We went nearly every month and were always made to feel most welcome. There always seemed to be someone who needed a quiet chat, a heart to heart or to ask deep spiritual questions. For many this was the nearest they came to church and church people!

At Christmas we went, as last year, for an informal “Sing-along o’ Carols” which was well attended and enjoyed by all. It was on that evening that Trevor and Angela announced that they would be leaving the pub in January.

It is now 5 months since Alja left and we had hoped that by this time we would have been nearing the end of our interregnum. However, in spite of the Rural Dean’s hope for the shortest interregna in the Diocese, we are still looking and waiting for the right person. As these months have now passed, we have been advised by Bishop Peter and the Archdeacon that we should place an advertisement in the Church Times. Arrangements for this are underway. We will keep you posted as to progress.

In the meantime

Things have changed, Alja and Randy, Trevor and Angela have moved on, we know that nothing stays the same for ever. But we are still here, journeying together, being church at St Cross. We carry on, ministering in this place, remembering that God is with us always, Prayer is crucial, particularly when we find ourselves at tricky or difficult times. Our parish is supported by prayer, from the church members and from others around the Diocese.

We use our interregnum prayer every week in church, praying for our parish, asking God to support and strengthen us as we work through this time of uncertainty. We pray for God’s guidance as we search for our new vicar. We also ask God to prepare the person that He alone knows will be the next vicar of St Cross.

Please keep praying for and supporting our parish. We too are moving on, with God into a new era for St Cross. There is much to be thankful for and we are very hopeful for the future. Let us bless the Lord! Thanks be to God!