PETERSFIELD AREA CHURCHES TOGETHER
Annual General Meeting held at
St Peter’s Church, Petersfield,
on Wednesday, 17th January 2018, 7.30pm
Present: Helen Mason, Simon Mason, Tim Concannon (Joint Chairs) Christine Tully (Treasurer) Anna Olliffe (Secretary) John Studd, Liz Studd, Joan Thraves, Patsy Robinson, Amanda Greenlee, Will Hughes, John Arnold, Gerry Arnold, Pippa Collingwood, Regi Miesle, John Callaghan, Linda Read, Brian Edwards, Stephen Field, Terry Doubleday, Marion Voller, Janet Owen, Carolyn Barton, David Barton, Judith Bee, Richard Saunders, Lynette Carter, John Piper.
1. Introduction: (Tim Concannon) Tim read from Genesis 49 and reminded us that divisions and tribalism go back a long way, but that from our different traditions we can all feel the blessings and love of our Lord.
2. Apologies for absence: Fr. Peter Hollins (St. Laurence) Stephen Wright (Petersfield Methodist Church) Jenny Parkes (St. Mary Magdalene) Vanessa Dowse (St. Mary’s Buriton) Petersfield Counselling Service.
3. Minutes for last AGM (11 January 2017) No comments were made - see these minutes on this web site
4. Matters Arising: None
5. Convenor’s Report (Helen Mason)
- We are blessed by the unity of Christians in this town.
- Helen thanked Paula (PACT Secretary) and Christine (PACT Treasurer) for their hard work.
- Women’s Brunch and Cuppa and Company, Prayer Days and Christian Arts Group are new and successful initiatives that have started in the last 5 years.
- There is so much going on in our individual churches that supports people in Petersfield; Alpha, Café Church, Food Bank, Tuesday Lunch Club and many more
- PACT is working well to support the churches in our shared mission.
6. Accounts (Christine Tully) Christine presented accounts for PACT and Holiday Club for the year ending 30 September 2017, circulated signed copies, explained items in the report and invited questions.
- ‘Special subs’ indicates churches willingness to make a donation in lieu of paying a PACT subscription (no PACT subscription was required as PACT had adequate reserves.)
- Petersfield Foodbank have their own bank account and therefore do not show up in PACT accounts.
- Brian Edwards asked what will be done with the money remaining in the PACT accounts for the ‘Soup Run.’ It was agreed that it would remain in the accounts in case the soup run restarts.
- Christine was thanked for all of her hard work.
7. PACT Welcome leaflet (John Studd): PACT welcome leaflets are designed to inform newcomers to the area about the churches in the locality. John has 100 leaflets to give out to each church. It might be necessary at some time to coordinate the distribution of leaflets to new estates. John will distribute the leaflets in the estate agents, library and the Petersfield Museum.
Action: Please distribute leaflets in a targeted manner to newcomers to the area. John was thanked for all his hard work.
8. PACT Partnered and Linked Groups Reports. (For more detailed information please see the Linked and Partnered Groups Report for 2017)
PACT Holiday Club update (Regi Mielsle)
- Regi mentioned that PACT had to buy some toys for Holiday Club 2017, because the Toy Library closed.
- This year there were fewer junior children, but the number of ‘part time’children coming from Messy Church for a day or 2 days was higher.
- There were more volunteers in 2017 than in 2016 – 39 volunteers, 16 of which were under the age of 18. The young volunteers were excellent.
- Regi can’t continue to run Holiday Club. Could we explore other possibilities?
- Regi has reserved the rooms at TPS and is willing to support a Holiday Club Leader or a team.
- It could work with each church taking responsibility for a single morning event over the 6 weeks of summer.
- Regi was thanked for her hard work.
- Regi thanked the Kings Arms for their contributions to Holiday Club and Rev Will Hughes, Rev Samantha Cullen, John Callaghan and Fr. Peter Hollins for speaking this year.
King’s Arms Update (Jon Piper)
- Threefold increase in numbers of young people attending open access clubs
- Kings Arms providing training to other youth service providers on supporting young people with mental health needs
- Continued work with young carers and people with disabilities is going well.
- King’s Arms are in urgent need of finances – the team are working really hard to fundraise.
- Action: please report to churches that King’s Arms does need financial support
- Action: Kings’ Arms have a need for volunteers who are Christians - and would like some more volunteers from the PACT Churches, please mention this in your church.
Christmas Day Lunch Update (Brian Edwards)
- Brian thanked all volunteers who took part in the Christmas Day lunch.
Chaplaincy Update (John Callaghan)
- The chaplaincy work is growing – 5 circuits, supporting local businesses some of which are sole traders. If you would like the chaplaincy team to visit your church and share stories at your church, please ask.
Town Council Update (Steve Field)
- The Town Council are hoping to continue to involve PACT in their commemorations of the end of the First World War. Steve has set up an ‘Agencies Working Together’ group as part of his work of the Town Council – PACT and Petersfield Food Bank are part of that and he thanked both organisations for their involvement.
Home-Start Butser Update (Terry Doubleday)
- Homestart Butser are currently supporting 83 families and 171 children. They are going to run a new volunteer training course at the end of this month. If anyone is interested, please visit the office at the back of Winton House. Action: Please display the leaflet attached to these minutes in your church.
Prayer Days Update (John Studd)
- John shared that the prayer days this year have been successful and very engaging and innovative and reminded people to check the PACT website and to come along.
Women’s World Day of Prayer Update (Patsy Robinson)
- At present we do not have someone co-ordinating Women’s World Day of Prayer. Action: Please ask whoever has been involved in Women’s World Day of Prayer in your church in the past to contact Helen Mason at Chair@pact.org.uk so we can coordinate an event in March.
9. Elections:
- PACT Convenors: Helen & Simon Mason from Life Church and Tim Concannon from St Laurence were re-elected for another year
- Chris Tully was re-elected as Treasurer
- Richard Saunders of St Mary Magdalen Sheet was elected as Vice-Chair.
- Anna Olliffe was elected as Secretary
- A vote of thanks was extended to Paula Hudson for 5 years of excellent service as Secretary.
10. Future dates and events
PACT Committee Meetings 2018 - all are at 7:30 pm on Wednesdays, venues to be confirmed
- 21st February
- 25th April
- 27th June
- 19th September
- 14th November
Other Events
- Service of Unity: Sunday 21st January, 4pm at St Laurence Catholic Church, Station Road, Petersfield. If anyone would like to do a reading please contact chair@pact.org.uk
- World War 1 Commemorations meeting, Tuesday 23rd January, 9am at the Town Hall
- Women’s Brunch, Saturday 27th January, 10am – midday at Herne Farm Leisure Centre
- Women’s World Day of Prayer, Friday 2nd March – time and location TBC
- Good Friday Walk of Witness, Friday 30th March. Meet at 9.30 outside the Methodist Church. The Service in the Square will begin at 10.00.
- PACT Carol Service, Thursday 20th December 2018
11. Closing prayer (Simon Mason): Simon thanked God for the many different expressions of His church in Petersfield and asked His blessing on the coming year.