Pastoral Letter
May 2012

From the Vicarage

Dear Friends

Worship, Well being and Wealth.

This letter is the Vicar's report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting held in April

WORSHIP

After 6 months of worshipping with you and leading you in worship I truly feel we are adjusting to each other and learning from each other. It takes time. What I have experienced so far is excellence in liturgy and music and deep sense of prayerfulness at every Mass.

I’m sure you too have sensed from me my love of quality in all things, especially music and liturgy, and have by now worked out my sense of humour. We have already examined and changed one or two areas that were not working or simply were not attended properly, as part of our growth action plan; The 8am mass has changed to 9am which seems far more civilised and it is better attended. The experimental Sanctus at Six has a short lived existence before my arrival and has now ceased. The All Age worship, we all agree, is a necessary part of parish renewal and there is need to integrate the Day School children, Sunday school and Baptism families. It is under review and will return when there is something more concrete to present.

What we have and what we offer here is so distinctive and different from anything else within the Chester area. This is our selling point and a window for opportunity. The Church of England is once again very unsettled, the consecration of Woman as Bishop’s within the next few years will be challenging for many and will deeply affect the Catholic wing of the Church of England. Our distinctiveness and churchmanship will be all the more needed and one suspects we will see many ‘refugees’ drawn here from across this part of the diocese. We must maintain our integrity and distinctiveness.

WELLBEING

The well being of parish life outside of worship is concentrated on social events and fund raising activities. We have an excellent team and committee who are working behind the scenes offering as many different events to suit all tastes but it our responsibility to attend and build up our social life. Entertainment, food, drink and laughter are lubricants to a successful parish life, breaking down personal barriers and opening our doors to the wider community. Such events are paramount for our growth action plan and future development.

WEALTH

On the whole we are comfortable, we can at present just pay the diocesan share, which is imperative, and cover our general bills. However I can see already cracks appearing. We will soon be running at a loss of £5000-£7000 a year. This must not be allowed to happen. We must have a better sense of business acumen. One must always acknowledge that we are running both a church and a business; it costs £1000 per week to run this church, that is £52,000 per year.

It is our Christian duty to try to be generous with our money our time and our talents. So many stewardship campaigns fail because people get all sentimental about finance. We need to see displayed quite clearly in church, on signs, posted around the building, exactly what our running costs are and whether we are meeting them or not. Then not only visitors but you and I can see the true state of affairs. This is simple house keeping.

Services such as Baptism, Weddings and Funerals should have fees that realistically cover the cost of heating and lighting. Those who use the church should pay for the use of heating and lighting and the running costs of the building not just the congregation. I feel very deeply about this and will be adjusting all fees, via the PCC, which is my duty as incumbent. There is no room for neglect in financial matters or matters concerning the quinquennial report and necessary repairs to the building.

The PCC have already increased hall charges. We must be of one mind on this subject from church officials and PCC members and the congregation. We can no longer afford to use an out dated and sentimental model when we need to find so much money. It is good stewardship to do this and it will make sure we have a secure future.

General

I look forward to getting to know you all better over the next six months, I believe it takes at least a year to work through all seasons before you can comfortably accept me as your new priest and for me to have had chance to offer the due pastoral care and attention that you deserve as the people in my cure.

I pray that God will continue to enable us to go from strength to strength in all our endeavours in his name and that we will find much happiness in our worship together and our social activities.

May I say a sincere thanks to my clergy colleagues, readers and church wardens and office holders, for their support thus far and to you all for making me welcome.

May God bless you, I keep you all in my prayers and please pray for me and the work I am called to do as your Vicar.

Fr Robert