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A
year in the life of Great Ayton Methodist Church
New Additions!
We have enjoyed welcoming 3 new babies to Church families
this year. Revd Catherine, Gavin & Joel Hutton announced
Aidan’s arrival in early March. Hilary, Brian, Sally and Laura
Hull added Megan to their number later in the month and then, as
a New Year Blessing, Catherine, Alistair, Isaac and Barnaby
Juckes were delighted by the safe arrival of Felicity. Many
congratulations to all, as the babies are each thriving and
making good progress.
Naturally, this meant Revd Catherine
Hutton taking Maternity Leave from work as she and Aidan got to
know each other. She began again in September and is now back
in the swing of things. Although somewhat sleep-deprived!)
Just 10
During our epic studies into the 10 Commandments, we took
full advantage of the Just 10 series of talks by national
evangelist, J John in a huge marquee on Preston Park. In a
variety of weather, up to 40 of our people took advantage of
this opportunity to hear God’s message of Hope spoken to over
4000 people each week. It was much appreciated, and many people
took friends along who came to Jesus for  the
first time.
The DVDs of the event and CDs by our own
preachers are available for loan in the Church foyer.
Visitors and visiting
The Circuit came to Ayton to celebrate Aidan’s baptism in
May. With international guests and a full complement of
musicians in the band and Margaret Petch accompanying on the
organ for the hymns, it was a day of joy and celebration.
Chance & Shelley Riehl joined us from Texas, Revd Phil Snelson
from Shefford officiated, and visitors came from Manchester and
Birmingham making for a full house. A wonderful spread given by
the family and friends from the many churches represented was
enjoyed by all.
This year’s Away Day was to Zetland
Park. Led by Revd Lisa Quarmby we enjoyed fine weather until we
went out at lunchtime when it rained hard! It was a good day.
We were pleased to welcome back Champion
Forest Baptist Church to assist us in mission to the local
schools. Working with our YFC staff, Neil Harris and Amy
Mallaby in Stokesley School and visiting Roseberry CP to lead
assembly. We enjoyed some good fellowship, boarding out the
students with local church families and meeting as often as
possible for mutual encouragement. A very good Youth Outreach
Service was held at the end of the mission with 12 new young
people joining the regulars.
During August, the young people attended
the YFC Youth Camp, ‘Harvest’. On the new site in Sexhow, it
was a wonderful, if wet and muddy few days.
Housegroups
Housegroups are continuing to do well. There are always
spaces available for new people to join and they are an
excellent way to meet and get to know people. There is never
any pressure exerted for people to say more than they wish and
the material is easy to use and understand. The preacher the
following Sunday picks up the theme of the material we have just
studied and adds to our insights! Leaders are offered regular
training and feedback to the author is requested weekly and
considered!! The Housegroups follow the Wesleyan tradition of
class-meetings and fulfil the fellowship & teaching part of the
Our Calling for the Methodist Church.
Harvest
We enjoyed welcoming Revd Peter Bedford and Jean to help
us celebrate Harvest Festival this year. It was lovely to see
so many people attend at 9am for the Traditional Harvest
Celebration, including many members who don’t normally manage to
get to church.
A Quiz on the Saturday evening by Jean
and David Taylor added a competitive edge to the weekend!
New for children
Geli-Tots, a simple story-telling, singing and craft hour
for babies
& toddlers with their parent or carer is a new
initiative begun this
Autumn. It offers support, friendship and
fellowship for those who
wish to bring their little ones to
something with a Christian ethos
during the week. Also for
little ones, Toddlers on Thursdays is a
well used facility with
sessions in the morning and afternoon. To
complement this,
Sure Start have begun a successful Bumps to Babes
group in
the lounge at the back of church for those with smaller babies
and offering speakers on baby-related issues as well as support
and advice. The Health Visitor often attends the morning
session of Toddlers.
Property improvements
We were delighted that the new windows were fitted in the
Autumn of last generosity, we were able to fit new windows on
the High Street elevation of the Church building. The
difference in draught exclusion is marvellous! Also on an
ecological note, our loft-space above the Church has now been
insulated
Christmas
Our Christmas programme was simply stunning! Church
Christmas Dinner on the 14th December played host to
120 diners who were all fully satisfied by their good lunch ...
all now happily anticipate the arrival of the industrial
dishwasher! We brought gifts for Stockton Salvation Army and
welcomed Major Nigel Gotobed to our pulpit.
Restoration through the sad ‘Tail of
Shaggy the Sheepdog’. Making the strong message of Hope & Peace
to a country rocked by economic crisis, we hosted the Roseberry
School Infants who delighted us with their Nativity Play, shared
with the students of Yatton House for their own carol service,
held two baby & toddler carol services (with our own home-grown
carols based on nursery rhymes). The J Team were magnificent as
they led their own Christmas service: Deal or no Deal? We had a
full church for our Church Family Carol Service, followed by a
wonderfully vibrant Christmas Morning celebration.
The whole Circuit joined together here to
share a post-Christmas celebration at the end of December and to
hear the story of the Sad Christmas Tree.
Support from Stokesley School pupils
Since Christmas, we have been encouraging students from
Stokesley School and who are not in traditional lesson-based
curriculum to come and assist with the First Tuesday services.
This is a new initiative and is still gaining momentum, but
shows great promise and hope as we work on promoting an attitude
of acceptance and service toward the older generation.
Prayer
The Church Leadership Team believe that God is calling us to get
up early and pray at significant points throughout the year. We
began the year in September in early prayer, a couple of New
Year mornings and are currently praying at 6-30am each Wednesday
during Lent. Please try to join us for this 20 minute slot of
God-focussed time … you will find your day transformed!
Wednesday is Pray-Day continues to run. Don’t forget to pray
for your allotted 20 mins. There are prayer booklets to help
you do this.
Services
The Church Services are reasonably well attended … but there is
always room for new people. Consider bringing a friend,
especially on the ‘teenth’ of the month when we have Church
Lunch! The 9am service attracts a good number to its
traditional format. The contemporary service at 10-30 is still
doing well, engaging with the Gospel in different ways and
learning and growing together. The All-Age section of the
service usually feels full and offers opportunity to share faith
through the controversial ‘Spotlight Challenge’ whilst light
relief is provided by songs from Aussie Praise for Families
favourite, Colin Buchanan. The evening service is our smallest
service, and we are currently seeking a way forward for this
service.
We pay tribute to all our musicians,
worship leaders and preachers who faithfully serve us week by
week.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we are making good progress, but could do
so much more to promote God’s Love through Jesus here in this
community. Please pray about how God wants us to move forward
as His Church, building His Kingdom, equipping His people for
loving service and making more disciples.
As the philosopher once said; We’re
all in this together, hand in hand we will stand, come on make
the dream come true!!!
Church Project
Each year the church nominates areas of
need it is going to support through fund raising and education.
For the year 2007/8 our project has been
Roseberry School, Darjeeling, India
www.schoolaidindia.org
Money was raised through a number of
events co-ordinated by David and Jean Taylor.
£1016.47
has been raised. Many thanks to all who ran events and supported
the project in any way.
A little about the project
In March 2007, School Aid India started a small
school for disadvantaged children in Darjeeling, among the
foothills of the Himalayas. It was named Roseberry School,
after our popular landmark.
The charity’s aim is to give poor children a
brighter future by educating them properly up to the age of 11.
Roseberry School opened with 28 pre-school children in two
classes. A further 15 children will be admitted each year,
reaching a full complement of seven classes with some 105
students by 2012/13 when the original intake will leave. School
Aid India provides pupils’ uniforms, shoes, and books.
This scheme began with sufficient funds to run
the school for one year only, and with no guarantee of future
income. By mid-summer the story had been taken up by local
newspapers which brought an amazing response from the public in
the North East. Support continues to grow.
The intention is to acquire land and build five
additional classrooms in the next four years to accommodate over
100 children. This will require raising £50,000.
This scheme is the ‘brain-child’ of Helen Jones,
Langbaurgh Grange, Great Ayton. Helen taught science for many
years at Stokesley School. Perhaps you or some of your children
remember her.
This project
-
Has local
connections
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Is
administrated by volunteers
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Uses
donations directly to fund the work in India
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Has good
‘track record’ to date
With effort, we can help Roseberry School,
Darjeeling to grow and flourish.
Property Portfolio Report
In the last year, to maintain the fabric
of the building and reduce heating costs and become less
wasteful in energy the windows to the south side of the Church
Sanctuary have been replaced with sealed double glazed units.
These enhance the appearance of the building from the road
significantly. Loft insulation has been fitted above the Church.
Future plans include replacing the windows to the north side of
the Church but these are unlikely to be replace in the next
financial year.
A continuing watch is being kept upon the
security of the premises to protect it from damage or vandalism.
This has settled down somewhat over winter but may increase
again with the coming of warmer weather. Also outside work is
taking place to repair lighting problems at the front of the
Church and along the ramped access. Work is also to be carried
to re-point the stone boundary wall and parts of the brick
Church wall when better weather comes.
Internally, a dishwasher is to be
purchased to make events such as Church lunches and other
outreach events easier to manage and new crockery is to be
purchased. An illuminated, decorative panel is to be fitted in
the Church window that currently looks onto the rear of the main
lift. A lot of work has been done to organise and rationalise
the storage areas within the building. Cooperation is requested
from all groups to keep their storage area tidy and safe.
Pastoral notes
Membership
151 5 New Members
since last GCM
1 Deceased since last GCM
6 CTM since last GCM
¾ of our Membership worship regularly with us,
which is an excellent achievement. Sunday morning services are
well attended by all age groups- following the Housegroup
studies, the 9am is traditional, the 10:30 with fun things for
the younger members. New ideas for the 6pm service are being
discussed.
Housegroups are continuing, with new people
joining.
Pastoral visiting to the sick and housebound
continues. Communion is offered to those who can’t attend
Church. We have 3 people in homes, 3 housebound, 1 long-term in
hospital.
Easter letters are being prepared for
distribution, Harvest and Christmas letters are also given out
each year.
The shared lunches are still very popular, for
the Christmas lunch the number exceeded 100. Thanks to the
‘younger’ stalwarts who spearhead these special times together.
This year Doris Wilson passed away- Dolly as she
was affectionately know by her friends. She moved away from the
village some years ago but was still remembered and visited by
her Church friends, who miss her very much.
Ladies Network
Every 2nd, 3rd and 4th
Tuesday, from September to the end of May, between 15 and 20
ladies meet at 2 00pm for a short time of worship, an
interesting talk, ending with a chat over a cup of tea and a
biscuit.
The speakers bring
such a wide variety of subjects, including sometimes music or
slides. Other speakers talk about their life and work.
We also hold
Christmas, Easter and harvest celebrations, when we invite
ladies from the other churches in the village to join us.
The annual afternoon
tea in Ruth Tregoning's garden had to be held indoors this year
due to the bad weather, but it was a good time of fellowship and
food.
Due to the members'
generosity, over £600 has been able to be donated to various
causes this year, including £250 to this church.
Do contact the
secretary, Jean Meikle, if you might be interested in joining
this group. You would be very welcome.
gaym
Great Ayton Youth Ministries
We continue to meet on Monday evenings.
The group of 12-15 year olds is studying the Nooma series of
DVDs by Rob Bell. Looking at credible Christianity, following
Jesus, Love among other with strong Bible based and application
they are a very effective tool. We are currently exploring
“what kind of Church we could invite our non-Christian friends
to”. They enjoyed performing at the carol service and attending
church regularly, with 2 members in the church worship group.
The older group gets to grips with the
Housegroup material and is a challenging and exciting atmosphere
of learning, debate and prayer. Often, 17 of us meet from 8:30
til 10:15 on Monday evenings. Some practical sessions on
praying for each other supplement the Housegroup material as
well as taking learning from Rob Bell’s DVD on relationships and
Song of Songs.
The youth Prayer Training was hugely
successful and saw a big development in the active prayers of
those who attended. We are looking forward to the next block of
3 sessions in March.
YFC continues to provide support. Neil
Harris and Amy Mallaby ran Mondays GAYM sessions whilst
Catherine was on Maternity Leave. Kelsey Raymer on a YFC year
out from Dallas offers her support each Monday and is looking to
develop some work with Yr 6+ girls ere long.
The Youth service in January took ‘walking
on water as its theme. Around a dozen young people attended and
asked God “What do I need the courage to get out of the boat
for?” Neil Harris and Catherine Hutton organise these services
between them, with input from the Youth.
It has been good to see that the young
people are prepared to ‘have a go’. Notably, Catherine Taylor,
as she explores a call to preach (accompanying Peter Jackson) as
well as Graeme Harvie, James Hollins, Matthew Williams and Becci
Smith who are regular members of the Church Worship Group. The
young people can always be relied upon to attend the church
early prayers, support each other in troubled times as well as
diligently seeking God’s will for their lives. We are very
proud of them all!
This year, we will be attending spring
harvest and the YFC Harvest Camp at Sexhow in August. Further
information about what’s going on at school with YFC and about
GAYM and other Youth Church Activities from Rev Catherine
Hutton, Gavin Hutton, Kelsey Raymer.
Treasurer’s
Report
We are now
half way through the current financial year so it seems a good
time to report on the year that has just finished, let you know
how things are going this year and tell you about some of the
things which will be happening in the next year. As is
traditional for the treasurers report there is a plea to
“prayerfully consider your giving” to finish off!
Financial year Sept
07 to August 08
The
accounts for the last complete financial year are attached. I’m
happy to answer any questions you have. The two major headlines
are that our general reserves increased slightly (if this were a
business I’d say we made a profit!) and that we paid for a major
investment in the new windows and insulation. I hope you are all
enjoying the warmer church. Coming so soon after the major fund
raising for AIM that was a major achievement and I am very
grateful for your generosity.
Current
Financial Year (Sept 08 to August 09)
We are
currently pretty much on track to ‘break-even’ again this year.
The current budget is attached. The big rise is in the price of
gas. We did very well from having a fixed price contract in
07/08 but the price for 08-09 was fixed at the peak of the
market.
Next
year (September 09 to August 10)
Our circuit
assessment is set to rise by 3% next year. As a circuit we have
some major issues to address in the next few years as a result
of the decline of the size and wealth of some of or member
churches who are increasingly struggling to pay their
assessment. The treasurers of the individual churches will be
reviewing the way the costs of the circuit are allocated with a
view to developing a robust system which will continue to
support 3 ministers.
Can I ask
that you consider increasing your contribution to the church as
you feel able? While some will give more and some less, I’d love
to see an increase of about 5% in our income in order to fulfil
the call of God in witness and mission to our community.
Great Ayton
is a lively church and God is clearly working here. Currently
our income and expenditure are pretty much balanced. Can I
challenge the whole church to consider what we could do to
further God’s work and our mission here?
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