Thanks to all those who attended our open meeting of the Church Council on 6^th Nov. Here are just some of the issues discussed and agreed during a full and busy meeting:

CHURCH AIMS AND OBJECTIVES    Good progress had been made towards many of our objectives, but a few areas were particularly identified for extra work, including:

• Wider Community Involvement - we hope to produce a new and expanded list of Mint members involved in charitable and campaigning groups in the wider community.   This will provide contact names for those interested in exploring particular areas, and also help us identify areas where our involvement is weak.
• A related conversation related to the need for more volunteer time within the Mint itself - once again the need for extra hours on the Reception Desk was highlighted.
• Exploring the Faith - We will look again at the possibility of setting up groups or events aimed principally at those new to the faith or making initial exploration.

PRAYER MINISTRY   Elizabeth Webb introduced the new weekly prayer meeting on a Wednesday morning, the provision of prayer boxes for those seeking prayer for particular concerns, and the plan to set up of a prayer chain.     There was a desire to create a “prayer space” on the premises for use during the week, with more discussion needed on its exact shape and location.

NOTICEBOARDS   The new boards were much appreciated.  It was agreed to provide integral lighting for the right hand board (which is shaded by the tree and difficult to read in the evening).   The left hand board would be more expensive to light, and is immediately under s street lamp, so there would be no extra lighting on this side.

SINGING THE FAITH   It was agreed that 40 copies of the words edition and also 6 copies of the large print words edition of the new hymnbook would be purchased to supplement the 40 music copies already purchased.    These would provide adequate books for Sunday evening and midweek events.   On Sunday mornings, words for all hymns would appear on the screens, but music, words and large print copies of book would be available at the back of the Church for any members of the congregation who found singing from the book easier or more helpful.    Once the new red books have arrived, the blue Hymns and Psalms books will be withdrawn from general use.

We have subsequently been delighted to receive an offer to purchase these additional copies of Singing the Faith as a memorial gift in memory of Ruth Carter.

COMMUNION STEWARDS   The meeting was delighted to approved the appointment of three new Communion Stewards - Jane Cabaya, Richard Cabaya and Vina Flores.    Since the meeting, we have gained a fourth recruit to the team, and we will be very pleased to bring the name of Anne Pyne to the next Church Council.

FUTURE MEETING DATES   The next Council was rearranged for Mon 6 Feb, followed by Wed 21 March and then another open General Meeting on Sun 20 May.