Minutes of the Co-ordinating Committee Meeting held at The United Reformed Church, Petersfield on Thursday 22 September 2016 at 7:30 pm
Purpose of Meeting: A forum for ‘communion’ and communication between PACT churches, PACT organisations and local Christians, to facilitate events aimed at increasing opportunities for joint worship, witness and work between PACT churches.
Present: Christine Tully, Hilary Bonney, Peter Hollins, Brian Edwards, John Studd, Anna Olliffe, Carolyn Barton, Linda Read, Judith Bee, Vanessa Dowse, Richard Saunders, Tim Concannon, Helen Mason
1 Tim Concannon opened the meeting with a reading from Ecclesiastes.
2 Christmas Day Lunch – Hilary Bonney – CDL team wish to move from the Methodist Church to Love Lane Community Centre as the kitchen is better equipped, the room larger and easy parking/access. Costs will be £100 for set up on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The committee whole heartedly supported and endorsed this move.
3 Apologies for absence: Will Hughes, Emma Dean, Rosemary Davies, Stephen Wright, Paula Hudson, John Callaghan, Simon Mason.
4 Minutes of the last meeting to be signed once the phrase “ministers fraternal” is altered to “ministers together”
5 Report on events since last meeting:
- Holiday Club - all seemed to go well, with positive feedback from parents and volunteers. Regi will be invited to November committee meeting.
- Summer Festival – also Spring Festival. There is an opportunity for the churches in Petersfield to provide something if planned in advance. 1 hour slot twice a year to do mission in the Square, at the request of the organizers! Tim C and Anna O will look at organizing a group to move this forward.
- 20’s-30’s – meeting monthly at the Red Lion 8am Saturday for breakfast bible study 5 regular attendees from Life Church Petersfield, St Mary Magdelene & Salvation Army, 2 extra when home from university
6 Reports/updates/actions
- Christmas prep
- PACT Christmas Card – Langrish Primary has been approached and will submit entries by Friday 21st October.
- The Square to be booked (Helen to do) for 22nd December.
- St Peter’s has been booked just in case! And for mince pies and drinks
- Salvation Army band booked
- Will Hughes to lead carols around the town from 6pm
- Simon Mason happy to lead service in the Square
7 Any other business
- Housing for the homeless – Judith brought some info provided by one of her congregation. Further information can be found on www.greenpastures.net
- PACT prayer – John Studd shared about the event held at Life Church Petersfield on 14th September when 25 people from 4 churches spent 12 hours in prayer (8am – 8pm). Prayer cards and resources used on the day can be found on the PACT website.
- The Salvation Army will hold the next PACT Prayer Day on 26th October (focussing on Youth & Children please forward any information about youth/children’s work to Linda),
- The Methodist Church will hold their PACT Prayer Day on 8 November
- The King's Arms will hold their PACT Prayer Day on Friday 9 December
- St Mary Magdeln initiatives – Richard Saunders shared two new ventures:
- Reveal – led by Max Cross, starting on 28th September at Winton House. For people who can’t do Sunday church, who have questions, who want to explore their faith.
- Seniors Chaplin - hoping to appoint a seniors chaplin
- Holiday at home – URC held this event during the summer. 12 people invited, 11 attended. Felt it went well, good response from all involved.
- Soup Run – Brian Edwards handed over £168.90 to be banked in the PACT account until a decision is made as to the longer term outcome of this group. It was noted that these funds would have to be allocated to a similar object (i.e. a soup run) and would be ring-fenced within the PACT account. Linda Read shared that Peter who has been the mainstay of this initiative has been ill and is no longer able to run with it. She had stepped in but has realized that she cannot maintain the level of commitment needed to run it. Information will be given to every church about the need for help and based on the outcome of this a decision will be made about whether the initiative will carry on running or not.
- Brian Edwards – stepping down as the Salvation Army rep, Anna Olliffe will be the Salvation Army representative
- Fitzroy – Peter Hollins has requested that maybe we could invite a rep from Fitzroy to come and share what they are up to in Petersfield.
- Next meeting 16th November, venue to be confirmed.