The churchwardens elected at the AGM last year were Elizabeth Cherhal (continuing from 2008-2009) and David Bailey (returning to the position after a year “off” acting as deputy warden). Marie Colbert and Alison Coulavin were appointed by the Church council to act as deputy wardens.

We have had 5 meetings with Stephen this year, in addition to the regular monthly council meetings, and usually just before them. They were held in the chaplaincy apartment, with Marian being our gracious hostess. The topics we have discussed inevitably overlap with those on the agenda for the council meetings, but we also talk more informally about the general running of the church, the issues we feel are of importance to the congregation or individuals, and the feedback we sometimes get from people both inside and outside St Marc’s.

These are the main items we have discussed this year:

• The Alpha course held in the autumn in conjunction with the French-speaking churches. Feedback from our previous experience, organisation and target population.
• Arrangements for the return of Carine and Mark Lewis from Burkina Faso: accommodation, transportation, future employment, help with settling back in life in France. More recently, we have been involved with Mark as he considered the possibility of going ahead with training for Anglican ministry.
• Arrangements for Comeasyouare Sunday on September 27th 2009.
• Works with the students and young people after the departure of Connie and Dante Thomas.
• Micro credit and the possibility of presenting this to the congregation as a form of Christian stewardship.
• Finances (often!). The fall in our regular income and options for the future if things do not improve significantly.
• Fanny Bélanger’s call to the ministry: training through the Episcopalian Church, costs, our own support and involvement.
• Midweek meetings/home groups and how they should be reorganised as leaders move away.
• Communion procedures in light of the Anglican Church’s guidelines to combat the swine flu epidemic. As a result we have introduced a regular procedure of helpers’ cleaning their hands before the distribution.
• The Diocesan questionnaire aimed at getting a clearer picture of who we are in the Diocese of Europe.
• Sunday School work, especially the question of language as we now have a majority of French-speaking children and new teachers who are uncomfortable teaching in French.
• The general question of language as we find more French speakers and non-native English speakers regularly attending services and other activities.
• Youth work. Activities and possible leaders.
• In addition, Elizabeth and Marie organise the rota (who does what in church services). A joint email account “grenoblechurch@gmail.com” has been set up to help manage this, and centralise our list of contacts.

The inventory

The main additions to the church's property this past year are 100 complete sets of cutlery and 10 carafes with stoppers. What does this say about the importance of meals at St Marc’s?

We are thrilled to see the congregation growing in numbers and diversity, amazed at the range of gifts and depth of commitment we see in the church, and thankful that we have once again met our financial commitments this past year. We look forward confidently and expectantly to what the Lord is going to do at St Marc’s in the coming year. Lastly, we once again wish to thank Stephen and Marian, Alan and Val, Howard and Dona for their leadership, Richard our treasurer, the members of the church council, and all of you who contribute in so many ways to the life of our church.

May the Lord richly bless St Marc's and all its members in the year ahead.

David Bailey - Elizabeth Cherhal - Churchwardens