The past year has seen the departure of a significant number of active members, for whose contributions to our Church life we are very grateful. We also give thanks to God that new members have joined us, to whom we look to take our Church life forward. Compared to many Churches this inevitably means constant readjustments in the ways we do things and in people taking up positions of responsibility and activity, so I'd like to express my appreciation of everyone who has committed themselves to our Church, and thus made its life possible.

We affirmed a desire to give greater emphasis to our Church's ministry to children and youth this year, and I wish to echo Claire's appreciation, expressed in her report on this ministry, to all who have put so much time, energy and prayer into this vital part of our Church's life. We are especially grateful to all that Claire herself has given to this, and for the support of Graham & her family. Many hours of preparation go into this weekly work by a large number of people, whom Claire has named.

We underlined the need to make prayer a more important part of Church life also. We are grateful to Alan for the monthly prayer diary, which enables us to unite in prayer for one another and for matters of concern to our Church. A small number meet for our monthly Church prayer meeting, but the main matters for prayer at these are circulated to everyone who has an e-mail address with the encouragement to pray for these wherever they may be. A few people gather to pray before each Sunday service from 10h to 10h15, and I would be delighted if more felt able to join in this. Claire has organised an arrangement whereby each family with children in our children's & youth ministry has a prayer partner, who prays for them, generally and over any matters confided to them. I hope we can look at extending this kind of arrangement so that every Church member who wishes can have such a partner. The Church prayer chain is on the point of being re-launched, thanks to Marie, and Norma is in process of creating a team of people who will be available to pray with people personally after Sunday services.

This year we have welcomed Sally Mc Namee to oversee our student work. She has been encouraging us to offer hospitality to International students, and has supported & challenged Christians students who have come to us through a weekly bible study. We are grateful to her for coming and to Friends International & Intercontinental Church Society who have supported her & us in this. She has filed a separate report on this aspect of our ministry.

Our Church supported Mark & Carine Lewis & Anaelle in a visit to Burkina Faso this past summer, and we are glad that this has helped confirm their desire to go there to work as missionaries with SIM. We will need to support them further as they prepare for this step, probably in summer 2007, and when they are there. Meanwhile Tilly Leuring, a past member of our Church, is serving in the Democratic Republic of Congo as Tearfund's regional representative. She needs our prayers in a very challenging situation there.

We continue to try to strike a balance in the kinds of worship services we offer and the music used at them. Inevitably not everyone likes what we do, certainly we cannot please all the people all the time, but I am encouraged by those who express appreciation of some things at least, and willingness to flow with what is helpful to others.

Our Council has given further thought to how we offer pastoral care & support to members, and we agreed to a trial scheme where Council members would try to be responsible for keeping in touch with nominated members. This has been a partial success, and I hope the new Council will take this further, and that we can link everyone in the Church with a Church Councillor or someone else who will try to be a channel of communication between that members and the Council & myself. With people's attendance at Sunday worship erratic (through travel, work commitments, etc.) There is always the risk of our failing to be aware when someone is absent for reasons which we should follow up, or when people have a need which we are failing to address. Please do always feel you can approach myself, Alan or a Church Council member with any concern you have - we will try to act on this. Especially we want anyone who is facing difficulties to ask for prayer & support. Please forgive us if we fail to be aware of such needs, and do communicate with us.

We are grateful to God that members give to him through our Church such that we have been able to be financially self-sufficient, as we need to be, there being no outside sources of finance, and we have set a budget which will expand certain areas of Church life in 2006. Our Treasurer, Richard, puts many hours into running our complicated accounts, and we are very thankful to him for his conscientiousness and good stewardship on our behalf. Our Churchwardens, David & Mark, have led with our Church Council in setting policy for Church life and in overseeing many areas of our life, and we are grateful to them. Others work away at weekly & monthly tasks, such as catering, crèche, flowers, rotas, magazine, welcoming, Sunday service roles, music, and much more. Thank you for your work which makes our common life possible. Thank you to those who offer hospitality in their homes, an important part of our welcome to newcomers, and in the deepening of fellowship. Thank you also to Cathy Roth who has redecorated the entrance lobby, with help from her family, and improved further the look of the room used by our 3-5 year olds.

I'm personally particularly grateful to Alan & Val for their fellowship & support and for all that they contribute to the life of our Church - it is a privilege to have such a caring & committed colleague, and one who supports my weaknesses. I'm even more thankful to Marian for her support, which is given quietly and patiently in ways not seen by most people - I would be a poorer servant of the Church without her. It is a privilege to be the pastor of this Church, with its diversity, and I am grateful to you all for sharing with me in this ministry God has entrusted to us. There are challenges ahead, not least with a large number of members due to move away this year, but we should be encouraged that this is God's Church, and if we walk hand in hand with him he will guide us.

As a footnote:
I've kept a note this year of the way I'm spending my time, to help our Council in considering where my priorities should change or where I need assistance. Perhaps you'd be interested to know how my average 50 hours of work per week was spent during the first ten weeks of 2006?

• 20% was spent on Sunday services & preparation for them
• 17% was spent with individual people - visiting, counselling, consulting, etc.
• 13% was spent in prayer (for our Church & its members & concerns) and bible study & reading
• 14% was spent on Church committees & preparation for them (including the annual synod)
• 9% was spent on other administrative Church work
• 7% was spent on dealing with e-mails
• 2% was spent on telephone calls
• 5% was spent on ecumenical meetings & services
• 4% was spent in connection with children's & youth ministry
• 4% was spent on the 40 days of purpose material (preparation & one group, so far)
• 4% was spent on work at Morzine, where I oversee a seasonal ministry run by ICS