Claire Naylor, Lara Confort (Churchwarden).

Agenda: (CCM Agenda 20041208)

• (no committee reports)
  

• news from the lower bathroom
  

• 85a- Catering Committee. (follow on from item 69a)
  • From the bureau de l’Eglise Oecumenique St Marc, about the electrical power.
  • The cost of a microwave for the church kitchen.
    

Minutes:

• Information about Howard DIEHL. Council members were encouraged to visit the Ginger Creek website. Basic information about Howard can be found on the elders page of the site. The Ginger Creeks Confession of Faith may also be of interest.
  

• The Treasurer called the Councils attention to the current drop in the church collections. Compared to last year, October’s collection was down a little and the November collection has dropped from €6000 in 2003 to €2100 this year.
• The Council agreed with the Treasurer that the Tear Fund collection could now be closed and sent of to the Fund.
• The Burkina Faso donation is still being processed. The logistics for money transfer to the School are being worked on.
• The Council put forward the idea of "an in-church reminder to give". It was agreed with the Treasurer that this would be done in the New Year.
• The Council suggested the Church Web Site might make more publicity of the Church's financial organisation. A "monthly minimum needed for the church to run" could be quoted as a goal but it was thought that no details of church expenditure should be "thrown on the web". Parishioners should be informed however that they can seek details of the church accounts from the Treasurer if needed.

• Prayer – as in prayer meetings and prayer clusters. Prayer meetings and bible studies already happen within the church but these are often under attended or else inconveniently timed or placed for some. More preaching about prayer and its importance may be needed.
• Evangelism – befriending, reaching out.
• Hospitality – towards newcomers, neighbours, each other. (A parallel decision to multiply the number of Welcomers for each service was made in order to usher people to spare seats in the church. It was thought that an extra line might be made for this person on the church rota.)
• Leadership (clear leadership, direct organisation, better communication, delegation.
• Help and Visiting – Maison Familiale, hospital…
• Sunday school - preparation in prayer, support from chaplain, teacher training and support. There was much to be said on this issue.
• Christian follow-up and discipleship.
  

The Chaplain then shared some of his thinking on this issue, emphasising the need to strengthen fellowship and learning through home meetings, and to investigate using localised meetings in homes or based on workplaces as avenues for outreach to those who do not attend Church. He underlined that Howard Diehl, the American missionary who is seriously investigating coming here to work with our Church, would have skills to offer in these areas.
He also expressed his desire that we find ways of breaking into the student university world, and shared the possibility of an International Student Worker coming under the auspices of IFES or International Friends to work in this area.
Stephen also spoke of the need to find more, innovative ways to help people pray more, individually and together especially for our Church's work, and of wanting to improve pastoral care of members. He said that worship would need to continue to develop as our membership changed with the turnover of members, which might still involve starting a second service in due course if (please God) our numbers continued to grow.
He expressed his support for the desire expressed by the Churchwardens that we strengthen our work with children.
He concluded that the discussion seemed to him to indicate that our main two priorities currently should be:

1. Strengthening our children's & youth work, including better supporting and resourcing the teachers.
2. Helping Church members to grow in their faith and to be equipped to share that faith with others.
   

• news from the lower bathroom - apparently the lower bathroom of the chaplains apartment needs some serious work done to it. The taps are in an awful state and the bath has lost all of its former glory. Council and Stephen agreed that perhaps a shower instead of a bath would be a interesting solution. The Stephen will seek to ask Damien CONFORT if he could have a look to price things up (new shower unit cabin, plumbing, tiling...).
  

• 83a Coffee House on the 20th November was a success. As many as 70 people were present. The atmosphere was laid back and people got to know the existence of St Marc's church if nothing else. The Events Committee are welcome to schedule another such event in 2005.
• 83b The Men's Supper on the 12th of November was also a success. There were 15 men present. The timing of the supper was better than the last. Ian's talk was appreciated. Another Men's Supper will be organised and the suggested date is the 04th March 2005. A change of venue was suggested and will be looked into.
• 83c The Treasurer suggested another Fund-Raising dinner to be organised. A approximate date for this would the beginning of April 2005.

• 85a- Catering Committee (follow on from item 69a)
  • Electrical Power- André from the bureau de l'Eglise Oecumenique, spent some time redistributing the cooker over two phases. This seems to have solved the immediate problems due to electrical power. Further work may involve splitting the cooker over the 3 fazes.
  • Microwave - Council looked into buying a new professional microwave unit (30liters and 1000W). The quoted price of €796 was well over the expected budget. The Council invites the Catering Committee to look out for a suitable microwave and report back to council with the quote.
    

Next Church Council Meeting: