Dear Friends,
May is Annual General Meeting month, and that’s a mixed blessing.
On the one hand, the APCM (Annual Parochial Church Meeting) requires lots of paperwork from lots of people; reports from churchwardens, electoral roll officers, on the fabric and finances and the safeguarding of our churches. Often there are reports from many other groups integral to church or using our buildings: the Mothers’ Union, Toddler Groups, Gardening Groups and many more. Writing these reports is often an extra burden for the busy people who lead these groups.
But on the other hand, while the meetings create a lot of work for these people, they provide a helpful window into church life for both parishioners and the general public alike. And this is a really good thing. I have worked in places where transparency was not so welcome, I expect you have too. So, working towards greater transparency (however imperfect and incomplete) is by far the better option, and the Church of England seeks to move in that direction by writing it into its rules and its prayers.
We regularly pray:
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden.
…based on the collect for purity found in the Prayer Book. It’s a reminder that this work is important, even though there’s much more to be done here.
Please do take a moment to have a look through these reports that have been carefully put together. And when you do, may I encourage you to give thanks for all the effort that’s involved and all the people who put their heart and soul into making these areas of church life work for us all.
And from me, a big thank you to all who write or read these reports, and who lead and support and pray for any or all of these areas of church life.
Best wishes and blessings,
Rev’d Ian Hepburn, Team Rector
Turton Moorland Team
