Minutes of the PCC for St. Andrew's

1. Welcome and Prayers, Dave Mayor, chairing meeting
     Apologies: Peter Maltby, John Whitfield 

2.    Minutes for the previous meeting (22 May, 2010) unanimously approved

3.    Matters Arising:  None

4.    Reports:
•    Fabric – Building ( Repairs / restoration)- After discussion, Elaine proposed that we go ahead with the roof repair quote recommended by John, subject to satisfactory clarification of John’s questions. Penny seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

•    Fabric – Textiles / glassware / silverware etc: Penny: 6 new purificators (with a blue cross) have been purchased. The trunk has been sorted and tissues for emergency use have been added to the vestry. A rusty tray that is uncleanable will be replaced with a glass tray from BrainWave.

•    Finance: David Major: Overall St. Andrew’s books are in balance, but if you set apart the money that is dedicated to the restoration, the general fund is being drawn down due to increases in the Team Share and the Common Share. Outgoing from the general fund exceeded incoming by £1585 (for the year to date; expected for total year = £3090). By switching electricity providers, we will save £185 per year. Rupert proposed authorizing David Major to search for a bank account (such as the Yorkshire Building Society Online) that will pay higher interest. Pat seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved. David Mayor suggested that David Major speak with John Ford and consult with the Bath & Wells website for information on improving the bottom line for the general fund. Funds from Sea Sunday will sent to the mariners’ charity as usual. The PCC thanked David Major for his excellent work sorting out and presenting the church’s financial data.

•    Fundraising & Events -- Elaine: The Extravaganza has been cancelled, but the church will do some fund-raising at the Aller Fun Day in September, including a stall, and possibly face-painting and bouncy ball racing, and Tabletop sale, including cakes, jams, plants, toys, Tombola (Linda will organize this), etc. Possibly a display on the church’s finances so people will understand the magnitude of our fundraising challenge and where our money is coming from and going to. Elaine will contact Mike Layard to coordinate the tables. Pat and Rupert will revisit the possibility of having a car boot sale, £5 per pitch. Celia: In addition to the PCC members who have volunteered to be on the grape-picking “call list,” two of the Fosters, formerly of the village, have joined the list. This needs to be advertised in the church and village. Guy and Laura may have a fun training day at the vineyard to prepare people for the harvest day. This should be a fun and completely novel fund-raiser.


•    Worship / Music/ Future Services  incl Harvest and 10 Oct.-- Dave Mayor: Oct 10 will be the 30th anniversary of Father Michael’s consecration. He will preside at St. Bart’s that day. The PCC agreed that rather than make people choose between morning services at St. Barts vs. St. Andrews, we would have a short evening Songs of Praise service for Father Michael at 6 p.m.. He and Father Peter would like to provide catered refreshments after the service. This would be advertised around the village. Pat proposed that the PCC approve this plan; Rupert seconded it, and it was unanimously approved. The Harvest Service will be an evening service on 26 September. There was extensive discussion about various dates and times for the Harvest Supper, with Linda stressing the importance of the traditional evening Harvest Supper, typically on a Saturday, as a village social event. October 2nd and 9th were discussed and we concluded we should check for Village Hall availability and further discuss the date on 26 August (gathering for church clear-out and clean-up)

•    Communications – Celia would like to prepare a church directory for the use of people of St. Andrews and with the consent of the PCC will begin asking people for their contact information, which details may be included in the directory, and whom she may share these details with. The slogan at the top of St Andrew’s web page will be changing, as a Langport prayer group and The Angel have decided to use the slogan (or similar) on their ads and web pages. The new slogan will be “Seeking . . . To Share Christ’s Love.” The hope is that this reflects that we are a congregation of seekers aspiring to imitate the love of Christ

•    Bells – Rupert: No news.

5.    Team Council Items:  Dave Mayor and Ralph attended the last TC meeting. The new curate was welcomed to St. Andrews at evening prayer on 16 July with a cordial reception afterwards and a half-dozen attending. For Back-to-Church Sunday, St. Andrew’s will do its own thing rather than join in the centrally organized and advertised Bath and Wells event. Dave discussed the Millennium goals including getting half of Bath & Wells churches to serve Fairtrade coffees, and to aspire to purchase Fairtrade biscuits by 2015. Celia has already confirmed that Aller would like to be put forward as a church interested in participating in the Solar Energy assessment, but there was no further information from the Team Council Meeting on what’s become of that. By January, we will poll the congregation to assess feeling about the issue of women bishops and will elect a Deanery Synod representative to carry the congregation’s sentiment to the meeting of the Synod in late January.
 
6. "The position of Lay Chair" – The Lay Chair will prepare the agenda in conjunction with Celia, will chair the meetings, and will relay contentious issues requiring attention/intervention to Revd Hugh Ellis. Celia nominated Rupert Little; Elaine seconded the nomination, and he was unanimously elected to the position.

7. Sacristan / Sidesperson Rota (Celia, relaying information from Alf): Alf has prepared a rota of sacristans and sidespersons and a list of people willing to serve in these roles. Celia will add this to the online rotas. Celia proposed acceptance of Alf’s work and an official thanks from the PCC for his efforts. Pat seconded the motion and it was unanimously approved.

8. Churchyard vegetation / tree maintenance – These issues were tabled for later discussion, but Dave Mayor will contact Gerard to request that the village Lengthsman be assigned to assess, maintain, and if necessary, trim the trees overhanging the Council cemetery plots and also to find a solution to the problem of (largely green) waste being piled on reserved cemetery plots. Recycling will not remove bins of green waste from the church gate. Hyde grave issue will be referred to Reg when he is well.

9. Church cleanup/clearout – The first of two “group cleanings” of the church will be combined with the South porch clear-out and this is scheduled for Thursday, 26th August at 5:45 p.m. During discussion David Mayor asked for a motion that £50 be authorized to purchase any needed shelving. Celia so moved; Pat Harvey seconded this, and it was unanimously approved.

10. All other business – The church needs a vacuum that works well. People cleaning the church tend to use the carpet sweeper because of the inadequacies of the vacuum. Elaine mentioned the possibility of getting a vacuum from a relative who is moving. Dave said a history of people passing on old vacuums when they got a new one has left the church with inadequate machines. After discussion of estimates of the cost of a replacement, David Mayor asked for a proposal that up to £50 be approved for the purchase of a new vacuum. Elaine so proposed; Penny seconded and the motion was unanimously approved.

11.  Date of next meeting – September 2, 2010 at 7 p.m.  @ the Old Pound Snug.