HOLY TRINITY PASTORAL REPORT
We continue to give thanks to God for each other at Holy Trinity Watermoor, where his love is evident in the friendly and welcoming congregation, and where worship is in good heart and continues to bear fruit for God’s kingdom.

We welcomed Gordon Webb as our Director of music in February, having had to take leave of the much loved and appreciated James Scott our Director of music for the past five years, who has taken up a post at Bath Abbey. Howard and Rosemary Gray continue to lead our much enjoyed music group at our All Age services and our Choir continues to enhance our worship Sunday by Sunday.

The Trinity Kids Club, our “Sunday School” continues to operate smoothly under the direction of a superb band of volunteers who, whilst having fun, teach and encourage the younger members of the Trinity family in their Christian journey. 

One of the many good things about life at Holy Trinity is the number of people who are involved in one way or another in keeping Holy Trinity running on oiled wheels, arranging the flowers in Church, serving at the altar, reading lessons, leading intercessions, as sidesmen, bell ringers, members of the coffee rota, brass cleaning, church cleaning,  and in many other ways the congregation lovingly give of their time and energy.

A special word of thanks goes to our team of wardens Peter, Graham, John and Roger who are a great support to me, and who work tirelessly, with warmth and enthusiasm, on behalf of the congregation. Our gratitude, as always, goes to those who keep our church/churchyard looking good. We especially welcome Bob Cameron, to whom Bill Baillie has handed over his precious ride-on lawn mower! Bill the surviving member of “Trinity Construction Co.” [consisting of Eric Griffin, and himself!] retired at the end of the summer. Thank you, Bob, for taking on a big job, amongst all the other things you and Carol do for us.

To Howard Gray, the Parish Administrator, who with Katie Bannister and volunteers do so much for the life of our church, thank you.

I would like to thank on behalf of us all, the wardens, and the musicians, the clergy, the servers and all who with the congregation, have in a difficult few months, been so resolute and faithful in their worship at the parish church of St. John Baptist, evidenced in the report by Elizabeth Gledhill and Martin Hockey.

Thank you for all you do, each one of you, mentioned or otherwise, it is hugely appreciated.
                                                           

Warwick Heathcote, Associate Vicar.

HOLY TRINITY WATERMOOR AND
PARISH HALL WATERMOOR - FABRIC REPORT 2007-8
We were pleased to find the Architects quinquennial inspection revealed no nasty surprises or substantial problems with the church building other than items subject to our programme of regular maintenance, and some medium term desirable items such as replacing ageing window guards. We are aware that there is always something requiring attention on buildings of the age of Holy Trinity.
Following the retirement of Bill Baillie, the last remaining member of the ‘Trinity Construction Company’, care of the church grounds is now in the hands of Bob Cameron who has enrolled a team of able-bodied volunteers to ensure that the grass, tress and shrubs are kept tidy, and the ever present list of odd jobs doesn’t get too long. The Garden of Remembrance is well used but it is increasingly difficult to enforce the churchyard regulations that prohibit named memorials and artificial flowers. The Congregational committee continues to give this delicate problem some thought.

  The present paschal candle stand is unsafe when used to hold the new oil filled candle and a more substantial one to the memory of Eric Griffin has been designed and will be commissioned as soon as a faculty is approved by the diocese. Some of the priests vestments are approaching the stage in their lives of being beyond economic repair and it is intended to procure replacements for those that are the most worn.

  'Perhaps as a result of the much improved parking facilities and with a little spin off from the temporary closure of the Town's Leisure Centre, income from hall lettings improved by a third in 2007 and we hope this can be maintained. There are still some vacant sessions particularly on Fridays. The hall has just been re-roofed at a cost of £11000 as the 35 year old original asbestos felt tiles had reached the end of their life span, and particular thanks are due to Terry Hopegood for the many voluntary hours spent overseeing this project. The stacking chairs, we continually use, are of a similar age and will need replacing before long.'
                                       

Graham Baber and Peter Cottey, Churchwardens

REPORT FROM HOLY TRINITY CONGREGATIONAL COMMITTEE
  Since the last AGM of the Congregational Committee held on 02 May 2007, four meetings have taken place in Holy Trinity Church on a Wednesday evening.

  A variety of subjects have been widely discussed ranging from the Fabric of the Church, Garden of Remembrance, Music, Church Flowers, Worship and Pastoral Care, Sunday School, Christian Aid and Churches Together.

  The All Age service is still being well attended but it has been agreed that the Eucharist will again be incorporated into this service but using a shortened version.

  If there are any members of the Congregation who have any ideas, thoughts or grumbles regarding Church matters at Holy Trinity and they would like to bring these to the attention of the Congregational Committee we will be pleased to discuss them at our meetings.

Contacts

Rev Warwick Heathcote  Chairman         
Jenny Hopegood  Secretary         


HOLY TRINITY, WATERMOOR - CHURCH CLEANERS
I ‘inherited’ a dedicated band of church cleaners from Dorothy Austen in October 2006.
Since that time some of the long serving ladies have been unable to continue due to ill health or moving home.  I have been fortunate to be able to find volunteers willing to step up to take their places.  We have around 30 people working on a 6 weekly rota.  Individuals undertake their rota duty at a time to suit their own life pattern.

It is very gratifying to know that these ladies and gentlemen continue to do their part in keeping Holy Trinity spick and span throughout the year in a quiet and unobtrusive way.  There is no razzmatazz, they just get on and do it.

Holy Trinity has its share of visitors – I have met people from around the country and world who have some link with the church and pop in to have some quiet time or renew memories.  There have been many compliments on how the appearance of the church does credit to our volunteers and how well cared for the building looks.

My thanks to everyone involved – you make my role much easier.
P.S.  Please consider having your name on the rota waiting list.  I would be delighted to hear from you.  The rates of pay are non existent but rewards both personal and spiritual are exceptional!
 
Caz Cameron 

HOLY TRINITY SACRISTANS
At Holy Trinity the teams of Sacristans are Helena and Warwick, Pat and Jim, Hilary and John and Jenny and Terry with Jenny preparing the rota and acting as coordinator.  Each team is on duty every fourth Saturday, firstly locking the Church then preparing the altar, credence table and lectern for Sunday worship, changing the altar frontals with the seasons and putting out the linen, candlesticks, filled wine and water vessels, service books and lectionary.  Back in the Vestry the wafers are counted out, chalices prepared and the Priests vestments laid out.

These are enjoyable tasks undertaken in the peaceful secured Church.  If any other couples would like to join the Sacristans teams please let Jenny and Terry know, Tel: 653007, training will be given.

ST LAWRENCE CHURCHWARDENS’ REPORT
The congregation at St. Lawrence at this present time is in very good heart and blessed by God for his provision to us. The worship continues with love and joy and during the year the congregation has grown. We are truly thankful to those who support us in any way. We would like to thank Rosemary and Howard Gray, Sheila Stevens, Margaret Thomas and Jill Wilkinson for their contribution to the music. Caroline Heathcote has also played for us over the last two years but now has to continue her studies and so we send her our good wishes for the future.

Although we are small in numbers in comparison with St John Baptist and Holy Trinity, each one of our members is committed to offer what they can towards the smooth running of the Church, e.g. reading the lessons, intercessions, sacristan or on the rota for flowers and coffee.

The highlight of our Church year was the Baptism and Confirmation service, conducted by Michael, Bishop of Gloucester, and the joy we all felt when two of our own members were confirmed.

Chesterton School contributed wonderfully to our Carol and Nativity Service and we welcomed, as we do to our special and other services, residents from Elm Grove, Chestnut Lodge. There was a packed congregation for the Christingle, which again this year, involved Guides and Rainbows.

A further Communion service has been introduced on the first Wednesday of the month and the Communion services continue in the sheltered accommodation at Countess Lilias Road on the third Tuesday of the Month. The residents of Elm Grove, Chestnut Lodge, Mrs Killy’s and Abbeyfield also have a Communion service on a monthly basic.
Congregational meetings have been held four times this year.

ST LAWRENCE FABRIC REPORT
Fund raising is still continuing, funds are raised from the Wednesday morning Drop-In, Coffee mornings, Bring and Buy sales at the Parish Centre, Table Top sales, and generous anonymous donations. These monies are now in the St Lawrence Refurbishment Fund in the PCC parish accounts. From this fund we have painted the Sanctuary.

We would like to thank the Servers of St John Baptist who generously gave us two burse and veils to use for our worship.

The Churn project has allocated a grant to decorate the Hall kitchen and vestry, and blinds will replace the curtains.

We are specially blessed to know that the hall is appreciated and now used by many more people.
Our special thanks go to Paul Daniels who cuts the grass and looks after many other things voluntarily. The Second Quinquennial Report Inspection was carried out and completed on 25th January 2008 by Gavin Weaver (BA(Hons), Dip Arch(EED), RIBA and no major structural faults were found.

Margaret Bettis (Minister) and June Godsell (Churchwarden) would like to thank everyone who has supported us through their concern, presence and prayers through the year.

CIRENCESTER PARISH HANDBELL RINGERS
The Cirencester Parish Handbell Ringers continue to meet most Tuesday evenings and their numbers have remained constantly at nine throughout the year.

All of our performances this year have been within the Cirencester area as, for one reason or another we, as a team, have not been able to take part in the Handbell Ringers of Great Britain Regional events.

Our first performance of 2007 was at Hunters Care Centre in March where our programme included a variety of pieces including Irving Berlin's "Puttin' on the Ritz", Tony Hatch's "Messing about on the River", a medley of Beatle tunes and a locally produced variation of "Strawberry Fair".

We returned to Hunters Care Centre in October where we performed some arrangements that we acquired at one of the South West Regional rallies in 2006.  We also played a particularly challenging piece called "Singalongaring" containing some well-known "old" songs that allowed audience participation.  It was well received, resulting in some non-planned singing during the rest of the programme, such as "Singing in the Rain" and "If I were a Rich Man"!

We were invited, in November, to play in the Parish Church once the Advent Market festivities had begun.  Although the audience had dwindled by the time we played, it gave us an opportunity to remind ourselves of Christmas music!
In December the team played at the beginning of the Carol Services for both Holy Trinity and St John the Baptist Churches.  We were able to play not only Christmas Carols but also other Christmas music including "Walking in the Air" and a variation of "Jingle Bells".

Hunters Care Centre invited us back in December, we must be doing something right, where we were able to provide a full programme of Christmas music that lasted for about an hour.
Our year concluded on New Year's Eve when we performed at the Cirencester Bowling Club's party.  We managed to get them singing to "Singalongaring" and then asked them if they would like to try ringing "Jingle Bells".  After a recognisable tune from them we continued our programme and finished the evening with an arrangement of "Auld Lang Syne".  On this occasion we were very grateful for a player substitution as one of our regular members was unable to attend.

We already have a couple of bookings for 2008 and two of our team have been asked to become involved in the 2009 National Rally which will take place at the Royal Agricultural College over a weekend in April.  There is normally a concert at these events so if you have never heard hundreds of handbells playing tunes together this may be a unique opportunity.  More details when they become available.
  
Peter Cottey (654038)

THE WORK OF THE CIRENCESTER DEANERY SYNOD
The Cirencester Deanery Synod meets three times a year at different churches in the Deanery. The meetings consist of business and a talk given by an invited guest. The two sessions are separated by an interval, during which there are very generous refreshments provided by the host church! This gives the opportunity to “mingle” and meet members of other churches. Getting to know other members is considered important in forwarding Deanery commitment. This is difficult in a more formal meeting.

During the business sessions, various important recurring issues ranging from money matters to mission, as well as new initiatives are considered. These have included:

• The Parish Quota and the new method of determining a church’s contribution. (A proposed new initiative for our Deanery, which is relatively wealthy, is to link with a specific inner city area in the Gloucester Deanery which relies on the Mutual Support Fund.)

• The Mission Action Plan/ MAP – Deanery level

• The Diocesan Vision statement (The Revd Warwick Heathcote has details; see also Diocesan Website: www.gloucester.anglican.org)

• Environmental policy which encourages individual Parish responsibility

• Deanery expansion and reorganisation (Cirencester Deanery has already expanded to include Tetbury and South Cerney. The Bishop plans a Strategic Review of Deaneries.)

• Appointment of a Diocesan Missioner in the New Year

• Children’s Officer – Rev’d Sandra Miller took up post in July

• Links with Sweden – any Parish wishing to be involved to advise Bishop Michael

Recent talks by invited Guests have included:

• The Experience Easter Initiative (Revd Paul Harris)

• Vocation (Revd Catherine Walker, Diocesan Vocations Officer)

• The work of the Dean of Women Clergy (Revd Jane Kenchington)

• The future of Deaneries in the Gloucester Diocese – a consultation paper from the Bishop, introduced by Archdeacon Hedley Ringrose - a proposal outlining significant changes in the nature and scope of new larger Deaneries (8 or 9 instead of 15)

The Area Dean is Revd Peter Quinnell and the Lay Chairman Mr Tony Ferris.

Current elected Parish representatives are Mrs Eryl Harrison, Miss Aileen Anderson, Mrs Pat Sutcliffe, Mr Daniel Bristow, and Mr John Lawrence. All clergy are members. The Bishop has requested that there should be no changes in elected representatives during the coming year in order to assist in continuity at this time of change.

Pat Sutcliffe