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CTiB

CTiB Committee Meeting March 2009

Minutes of the meeting held in St Mary's Church Hall Higher Brixham on Tue 17th March 2009.

Present were: Revd. Jerry Cook (Chairman), Michael Atwill (Vice-chairman), Barbara Vond (Secretary), Eileen Hulme (Treasurer), Karl Rubensaat (URC), Bridget Cussack (All Saints), Helen Barrett (Fore Street, Methodist), Babs Rubensaat (URC), Ruth Allen (URC), Pearl Young (Milton Street Methodist) Penny Houghton (RC), Tony Sharp (Beacon of Light), Revd. Anne Burden (St Mary's), Val Dixon (St Mary's), Chris Carroll (St Mary's), Sue Shaw (St Mary's), Revd. Chris Searle (URC), Russell Wyatt (Salvation Army), Mary Foulstone (Beacon of Light), Revd. Phil Marsden (Baptist Church).

Apologies: Mary Fallon, Peter Busby and Gill Sharp.

Welcome: Revd. Jerry Cook welcomed everyone and mentioned the message of Jesus and the disciples asking about forgiveness and being able to forgive others 77 times 7 times.

Introductions: Ruth Allen representing Brixham Does Care. Mary Foulstone representing Beacon of Light.

Minutes of the last meeting were distributed and signed as a true record of the meeting with general ascent as an accurate record.

Matters Arising:

Nominating a CTiB Charity: What to do and how to raise the monies for that chosen charity, (which is not supported by CTiB funds), but generally raised by coffee mornings and CTiB United Services and other ways of help.

Two proposals were put forward for to be the chosen charity.

Revd. Chris Searle proposed Mercy Ships. “Mercy Ships are hospital ships that go to Africa performing operations, bringing hope and healing and 73% of monies raised goes directly to the people.” The URC are sponsoring an Easter Breakfast to raise funds after the Easter Sunrise Service.

Babs Rubensaat proposed Links Christian Youth Trust. “Aims of the charity, to go in to local schools to take assemblies and lessons and is a wonderful Christian presence in Torbay Schools. Links is entirely run on donations.” Babs also mentioned “Have a Links spot in all churches.”

Many supported Links being a Brixham Charity to support and will be a good witness to our local community of Christians working together in Brixham.

Revd. Phil Marsden proposed Links being the CTiB Charity to support and Revd. Chris Searle seconded it. A vote was taken and 1 against, 17 for, 1 abstained and Revd Jerry Cook (Chairman) didn't vote.

Eileen Hulme (Treasurer) stated that the CTiB had around £600 available to charities or other areas to help others.

Revd. Phil Marsden proposed we spend the money creatively now or in the future and that it would used to show people the Gospel in Brixham.

Russell Wyatt agreed that we should use the money locally he has seen a great increase in Brixham families struggling financially with a lot of referrals from Social Services and that the churches need a strategy to invest and bless the people of Brixham in need.

Everyone was in agree that we need to spend the money locally and Helen Barrett proposed we make a decision at the next meeting and that we should bring our ideas of how to use the money locally. This was seconded by Eileen Hulme (Treasurer). Barbara Vond encouraged us all to reflect and pray about it and that she would collate all the ideas she receives before the next meeting with the deadline a week before the next meeting.

Revd. Jerry Cook stated that the Mandate has been changed for check signing.

Correspondence: Sue Watkins received letters of thanks from the St Mary's Bell Ringers and the Torbay Brass Band. Ruth Allen brought a poster about praying for people in the forces and left posters for the church members.

Events Current and Planned:

Lent studies: Everyone agreed that the Lent studies are going really well thanks to Revd. Anne Burden. Anne mentioned that the £2 a head contribution needs to get back to her.

Good Friday: Helen Barrett asked about giving out the Hot Cross Buns and whether to approach the Co-op that has been giving CTiB the buns for free. Which Helen and CTiB members expressing a big thank you to the Co-op for their support. It was agreed that the CTiB Walk of Witness should continue giving out the Hot Cross Buns to the general public. A decision was made that Helen would that care of the details and that any info that was to go out with the buns should be given to her.

The Walk of Witness will be in Fore Street outside the Methodist Church at 10.30am and The Walk of Witness will go to the Fish Quay where there will be a short service. It was decide that Revd. Chris Searle and Revd. Jerry Cook will decide on who will be carry the cross.

Sue Shaw brought the Easter Posters and asked if anyone wanted to distribute them to let her know where so that they won't be duplicated in one place.

Christian Aid Week (not now part of the CTiB) was mentioned and Revd Jerry Cook welcomed everyone to the join in the Christian Aid Service at the Fore Street Methodist Church on Sun May 3 rd at 6.30pm with the commissioning of the collectors. Revd. Anne Burden added that it's the 1100 th Anniversary of the Diocese and that the Bishop Michael will be coming to Brixham on Sat 9 th May to the Christian Aid lunch.

It was agreed that the Pentecost Service will be handled by the Sub-committee.

Revd. Jerry Cook reminded us that the Jimmy Cricket Night is being held in the Palace Theatre, Paignton on Thu May 14 th from 7.30pm will have a follow up meeting and as of yet have sold only 15 tickets and the cost is £7 a good outreach opportunity for the churches.

It was agreed that the School Book Project should continue and there was a promised to bring in the book called “Your Move” to show the newer CTiB committee members what we have been giving out to the primary school children before they move on up to the secondary school.

Treasurers Report: Eileen Hulme reported that since the last meeting she gave The Brixham Town Band and the Bell Ringers each £50. Also gave Revd. Anne Burden £55 for the Lent Study Packs and Printing Materials. £49 received from donations from the Christmas Labels. £100 from the URC United Service. All subscriptions are out to the churches. The Salvation Army gave a donation of £35 on top of their £15 subscription. (Russell Wyatt said they were happy to help as much as possible).

Any other business:

The local retirement homes are still having Christian Services and/or communions.

CTiB Banner to be used in CTiB events and services Barbara Vond will find it out.

Street Pastor Report by Babs Rubensaat see attach sheet. Some comments about the street pastors where that CTiB should get on board and help Brixham with Street Pastors whether that is clubs, pubs, parks and schools. With the help of the local Police Officers and local volunteers. It was suggested by Karl Rubensaat that some of the £600 that CTiB have to donate could be used to help and it was unanimously agreed to add this to the next meeting agenda after deliberation and pray into the situation.

A letter to Gordon Brown was brought to the CTiB meeting by Michael Atwill on how to respond with the current political climate about Christian's concerned about the way Christians are being treated in Britain, there was a lot of discussion about the letter and it was decided that a letter to our local MP would be better received pointing out that a positive Christian Message would be the way to go forward and Michael Atwill agreed to put forward the ideas to those concerned with the letter.

Michael Atwill brought in a board of sheets of Christmas labels with different styles to choose for the next Christmas Season on behalf of Peter Busby which Michael gave all credit to. It was agreed to make a decision in the next meeting.

Planning Agenda for the next meeting: Street Pastors, The £600 to be given out, Events to be planned for June onwards, Events Planning, Treasurer Report and a Decision on Christmas Labels.

Date of next CTiB Meeting will be Tue 23 rd June at 7.30pm in St Mary's Church Hall.

Revd. Jerry Cook ended the meeting with a ‘Blessing'.

........................................................................................................................................Chairman