Warden’s report
Annual Parochial Church Meeting 29th of April 2024
Introduction
God through His kindness and mercy has blessed the people of this church and of this parish. We will see the detail of this as we review the last year.
The life of the church in Packwood
To the outsider the church is the building, people attend it and there are services. It has a human organisation with some people in charge or taking leading roles and others sitting in the pews.
That is not how God sees His church.
The head of the church is Christ and the church itself is the congregation of believers. As St Paul writes we have different roles, but we are one body, and each person is required because they have a particular role to play. Therefore, whilst the building and graveyard should not be neglected the church is the people.
Let us discuss our church viewed in that way for a moment.
Another year has passed. It was not without its blessings most chiefly that there is a genuine sharing of Christian love. However, we have to acknowledge that Marc finally left us, following his stroke in 2022, and several members of the church have been called home by our Lord. For them their struggles here in this sick world are over and as the Lord Jesus promised they are safely with Him.
So let us now turn to those left behind and the ministry of the church in Packwood.
Services
During the first eight months of the year we – the Wardens – arranged the services. In doing this we are very grateful of the assistance we received from the Reverand Patrick Gerrard and also to the lay preachers Wendy Terry and Claire Kimpton. We are also grateful to the many other clergy who helped us.
In December 2023 Patrick took over the task of arranging cover for our services, and I have to say that it was a significant relief for both Christine and I that we were able to take a step back from that particular responsibility.
On the subject of the services themselves I can report that during the last year every one of our scheduled services took place and in addition to that all the extra services we were asked to organise such as funerals and internments were also conducted.
I would draw attention to five special sets of services that were held during the last twelve months.
The first of these was Marc Catley’s retirement service. It was emotional, and it was well attended. Christine and I would like to thank everybody who helped on that occasion, with the food, the drinks, the cards, donations, and the gift that we were able to give to Marc.
We held our harvest service which I always think is important because it focusses our minds on all the good things that God has provided to us and gives us a special opportunity for us to thank him for his temporal mercies. An important part of that is the gifts that we collect for the poor, as a token of God’s love and we must not forget the decoration of the church, which was as fine last harvest service as it usually is.
In the last year we held our All Souls service – something that we had not done since before COVID. It was a very well attended service with over 80 present. Let us ask God to bring healing to all those people. It was apparent that there was significant distress in the hearts of many of those who were present. God knows what they need more than anybody.
There were several Christmas services, however I think the highlight is – I’m going to call it 9 lessons and carols – although our version is somewhat shorter. Thanks must go to Marten Coates and Chris Langham and the choir including additional members who joined us for that occasion for the significant contribution that they made.
Recently we held our Easter services. As is our tradition we held a service on Good Friday afternoon during which we contemplate the passion, and what Jesus had to go through to take away our sin. And then there was the celebration of Easter Day, and once again those who decorated the church had worked their magic, so thanks to them.
Mission
The mission of the church is threefold.
- It is to glorify and worship God
- It is the body of believers it is a place for teaching and a place where God’s love for those who love God is shown and
- It is a light to the world, because it is through the church that God’s word is expounded and an example is set
Apart from the services that we have already heard about there are a limited number of other outreach or organised supportive initiatives.
The men’s suppers continue – thanks to Patrick Hooper for organising them, and the women’s coffee mornings have been re-established.
The home group continues to meet.
Home visits and home communions have been continuing.
There is to be a discussion of how we might further develop the mission of the church in Packwood later in this meeting so I will not elaborate further here.
Music
We must thank Marten Coates, the organists and members of the choir for their assistance in leading the services. Hymns, music, create an emotional connection in a way that the spoken word may not and have the power to lift the heart and remain with people.
Sides people
A group of people who do not attract so much attention but who perform an important role are the sides people.
For those who have never done it – it would seem that their duties are simple – just hand out and collect a few hymn and prayer books.
This could not be further from the truth. The fifteen minutes before and after a service are ones of significant work for a sides person as they try to light candles, set up communion, turn on lights, hand out books, greet people – all at once.
And with that advertisement – I will ask that anybody who wants to join the ranks please make yourself known because tonight we will be finalising the list of people for this year so I can put the rota together.
Bible readers
It is good that there are different voices, different people participating in the services.
Thank you to all those who read passages.
May I remind everyone that there is a sheet to append your name to, on the notice board near the door, so please do that if you feel able because we would like to have you read.
Flowers
This place would be so much poorer without the flowers. They bring nature’s beauty inside and serve to remind each one of us of the good things in God’s world. They more than anything else tell the visitor that this place is cared for and that is very important. The love and care that is on display reminds the visitor that this church is a place where there is kindness and care and a desire for good and wholesome things.
Church cleaning
Whilst flowers will attract people and lift their spirits dirt and grime have the potential to do the opposite.
We should not forget the effort put in by those who clean and tidy the church without whose efforts this place would be much the poorer.
Churchyard
In keeping with our policy the south lawn and paths are cut, and the older grave areas managed for wildlife. This means that they are strimmed once the seeds have set enabling the grasses and wild flowers to be maintained without a transition to scrub occurring.
The issue of non-biodegradable objects being left on graves persists, and later this year it is proposed to hold a graveyard tidying during which such objects will be removed.
The tarmac in the car park is showing its age, and I will discuss it further in the report on the fabric of the church.
Governance and reporting
It is beholden on me to mention church governance and reporting.
We have completed all the various returns required of us for the diocese.
That includes the annual return, statistics for mission, and environmental reporting.
In addition we have once again passed the Archdeacon’s inspection, a visit during which Christine and I have to show the Archdeacon’s representative our records so that they can assure that we are acting appropriately.
The following have their own agenda items so I will only briefly discuss them here.
The PCC is the governance body of the church and it met approximately bi-monthly during the last year. Laura has kindly taken over the role of secretary and we must thank Chris Jacob for chairing the PCC.
Safeguarding is an important matter that has required attention. It exists to combat an evil and we have to take our roles seriously and give it the attention it deserves. Laura will be discussing it shortly.
David Corney has continued to support us as our treasurer and John Hare as our examiner. David will be presenting the accounts to this meeting and has sent them to the diocese.
Our representatives continue to attend Synod and will be making their report.