Our Annual Church meeting had to be postponed back in April, and the diocese granted us permission to re-schedule it in the Autumn. This meeting will now be held at Christ Church (barring changes to covid regulations) on Sunday 18^th October at 11.40am (after the morning service). This timing should ensure the maximum number of people are able to attend, and we are currently looking at ways of people accessing the meeting remotely via zoom. At the APCM we will formally receive our Annual Reports and our Annual Accounts.

This is also the time when the elections of Church Wardens, PCC members and Deanery Synod Members takes place. Whilst we hope that many of the current PCC members will continue in post, we would also like to encourage others to seek election. There is a helpful leaflet and PCC nomination forms which need to be completed and returned to the Parish Office by 9am on Friday 16^th October.

This year as we celebrate the varied life of the Christ Church Community, we are combining the APCM with a GIFT DAY to resource the ongoing ministry of our church. 2020 has been a year like no other and our income has been significantly affected by the COVID pandemic. In spite of taking really difficult decisions to cut our expenditure through staff reductions and other cost savings, we are currently projecting a significant deficit for our general fund.

We are therefore calling the whole church, every single member of Christ Church, to pray and seek the Spirit’s guidance as to how we might respond in faith and thankfulness at this crucial time. Each gift will enable us to continue God’s mission in the parish and beyond. It will give us the capacity to meet our Parish Share Commitments (which pays for the ministry of the clergy) and helps us reduce the outstanding loans on the Building 4 Life project.  A gift day also gives us all a timely reminder to review our giving to God’s church through the PGS and envelope giving schemes. New Parish Giving Scheme donations can be set up simply by phoning 0333 002 1271 and quoting our parish code 050605085.

Let’s see this as a further opportunity to express our gratitude to God for his faithfulness and love. We’re setting an ambitious target of £30,000. Who knows what God can do through his people’s amazing generosity?!

Electoral Roll

The church’s Electoral Roll is updated annually in advance of the APCM. If you are over 16 and new to Christ Church or haven’t previously signed up, please complete and return the Electoral Roll form by Sunday 4^th October. A copy of the current roll can be found on the internal notice boards at both Church Centre and Christ Church.