Circuit Missions Committee

Notes of the meeting held on Thursday 6 November 2008

at 378 Church Street at 7.30pm

Apologies were received from Claire Tozer, Norah Lord and Linda Utting and Ordnance Road church which currently has no Missions Secretary

The meeting opened with prayer.

David asked us to introduce ourselves and then invited us to say what we think Mission means, to say something about our Church and to outline what each of our Churches is doing by way of outreach.

Goffs Oak

Isabel said that Goffs Oak is a church with an ethnic mix, with a strong link through George Mawire to Zimbabweans in the UK. There are young people also varied in type and number. They have run a Holiday Club and practise ecumenical outreach. They support Christian Aid and World Church events and hold secular events to which non-Christians can be invited. They recently held a very successful Flower Festival.

St John’s

Has a Boys’ Brigade Company and Mother and Toddler Group. Although the Church has a small congregation they are very active. They supported MAFF at their Harvest Festival and a choir meets on the premises.

Bush Hill Park

Holds regular tea and fellowship meetings with as many as 28/30 present. They have a strong Scout Group as well as Guides, Mother and Toddler Group and Lunch Club. They support NCH Action for Children and are planning Christian Aid coffee mornings. Bush Hill is involved ecumenically and distributes leaflets and tracts giving details of their services. The Women’s Fellowship meets fortnightly.

Trinity

Richard said they are pleased to welcome youngsters for baptism and they have a young man in his twenties who is very helpful with the young people as he can relate to them. On the fifth Sunday of the month Trinity holds a special prayer meeting where people can share their personal concerns in a more intimate setting. The Church is open to all on Fridays from 12noon to 2pm. There is strong pastoral care and uniformed organisations.

Edmonton

MAFF was supported at Harvest and any tinned goods went to a local home for the elderly. A major fund raising concern is for MIND. There are regular coffee mornings with a spiritual dimension. A Brownie pack meets on the premises and is being encouraged. There is very high attendance on Sundays (perhaps 300) with 50 young people and support is given to a homeless project.

David has attended an Interfaith Committee meeting with the local police and he is trying to encourage house and fellowship groups. There is strong pastoral care and a monthly Bible Study Group. On Remembrance Sunday a Caribbean Liaison Officer for a Caribbean Adoption Agency will be involved in worship.

Oakwood

Although primarily an elderly congregation there are many activities at Oakwood – table tennis, Mother and Toddler Group, a tea dance on Thursdays and Girls’ Brigade. We are involved in the Lunch Club which feeds 50 or so every Friday, an ecumenical project with the Anglican and Baptist Churches. The Wednesday Club and the Compass Club aimed at retired men and women meet weekly or bi-weekly. We have regular prayer and Bible Study fellowship and are very strong pastorally. Our premises are well used with our own and outside bookings and we are fortunate to employ a Caretaker who lives on the premises.

We shared our thoughts on what Mission means to us and some shared an insight into their own personal faith. David led us in thinking about what it means to be a Methodist and live among people of other faiths or none. He distributed leaflets and encouraged us to share them with others at our churches.

He said that Edmonton will be holding a Bazaar and encouraging people with charitable concerns to take a table.

Richard gave us a copy of his financial report.

The meeting ended with prayer.

It was agreed we shall meet next time at the Manse in Church Street but no date was set.