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INTRODUCTION
The Rural
Dean greeted all the Synod members and specially welcomed the clergy who
had recently arrived in the Deanery. He then led the worship on behalf of
the incumbent Preb. Alastair Wallace who was absent for compassionate
reasons.
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apologies had been received including all the representatives of Merriott,
Lopen, Hinton St George & Dinnington as their PCCs were meeting the
candidates short-listed to be their new parish priest.
PRESENT:
The Rural Dean - The Revd Nigel Whinney
The Lay Chairman – Catherine Cavender
House of Clergy - 8 with 2
apologies
House of Laity - 36 with
13 apologies
Visitors -
2
Minutes of the last meeting
(9th June 2004) having been circulated to the Synod membership with the
Agenda for this meeting, were, after consultation, approved and signed as
a correct record.
MATTERS ARISING:
There were no matters arising
RURAL
DEAN'S NOTES
7.
He reminded
Synod of the programme for the Bishop’s day in the Deanery on the 19th
May as follows:
10.00am
– Crewkerne
11.15am
– Haselbury Plucknett
12.00am
– Ilminster – Eucharist, Buffet lunch and rest.
2.00pm
– Chard, Coombe St Nicholas
7.30pm
– Deanery Synod at Curry Rivel ending at
9.00pm
– Night prayer
Deanery
Evensong – 3rd July 2005 at Curry Rivel - the preacher will be
the Archdeacon of Wells the Venerable Peter Maurice.
Con Man
– Nigel reminded the Synod that as advised by Wiltshire police there is a
con man who is seeking help and is approaching church wardens as well as
vicars – be vigilant.
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SECRETARY’S REPORT:
1.
New
members were asked to fill out a pink form to indicate name and parish for
future mail outs.
a) Phyllis reminded members
that at the Annual Parish Meetings next year a new Deanery Synod is
elected for a 3 year period 2005-2008. Parishes are encouraged to take
this seriously especially as some APMs take place before the next Synod
meeting in February.
b) Synods for next year: 3rd
February – Shepton Beauchamp Parish – to be finalised.
19th May – Curry Rivel – part of the Bishop’s Deanery day.
28th September – Chard St Mary
TREASURER’S REPORT:
1.
Graham
Tout congratulated the Deanery that all but one parish had contributed
their £10 to Deanery expenses and also on the fact that the annual parish
contribution was ahead of schedule.
Rural
Communities Regeneration Group
zdf
Catherine Cavender reported
on the successful launch of the Church Walks and congratulated Ross Coad
on his fine initiative and work, and of the various agencies and
individual benefactors who had made the project possible. The Group had
been really encouraged by the art work of the children in the Deanery to
be used for the stamps in the passports – some of their work was on
display at this meeting, as well as the display boards promoting the
venture. It was hoped that parishes would invest in these boards for
their own local use.
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First to the
Lord
Stephen Lynas used a power point presentation to give an update on how
fttl had been progressing in the deanery and a copy of his summary will be
attached to these minutes.
He
congratulated our deanery in providing 6 lay people and 1 clergy person as
visitors. Of the 492 parishes in the diocese 289 had a fttl visit, some
others requested video/packs.
He
then spoke about “changing churches for changing communities” and this
inevitably led to the deanery plan anticipating such changes and their
effect on the deployment of clergy and the introduction of local ministry
groups (lmgs).
There
was then a plenary session when Stephen answered questions from the floor,
several of which covered the question of non-stipendary
ministry.
Stephen concluded by asking parishes to let him know how pccs respond to
the leaflet entitled ‘thinking different’ about ministry in our
communities. Stephen was thanked for his informative and encouraging
presentation
Marcus Boxes
Presented by Ross Coad, who with a colleague had developed these as a
nation-wide follow on from the ‘StoryKeepers’. These boxes include an NIV
copy of Mark’s Gospel, a board game, sheets of stickers and 2 tapes,
recognising that visual communication is generally more effective than
verbal.
The boxes costing £4 each are given to children in Year 1 schools (6 year
olds) through sponsorship of Sainsbury’s and other benefactors, reaching a
total of £30,000 so far. A short time after these have been distributed
to accepting schools a party is arranged inviting children and parents to
come along. This might lead to other events like Christingle and carol
services etc. There is a similar project called the Columba scheme.
Ross also introduced Prayer Pots which is a BRF initiative. 7
pieces of paper with a topic for prayer on each suggested by a member of
the family is placed in the pot and then each day one is removed and
prayed for by the whole family.
The enthusiasm with which these projects were received prompted the
question ‘I wonder what next?’ Catherine Cavender thanked Ross for his
presentation.
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