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This review, gives a brief overview of our church life as we seek to know Jesus and make him known in Binley Woods. Many of the following reports reflect our reliance on God's grace, love and faithfulness through the power of the Holy Spirit and our hopes for the future.
The Church Meeting met 6 times, four evening and two Sunday morning meetings, averaging 74% attendance of Voting Members, 2 meetings were inquorate. An effort was made to spend less time giving information and more opportunity for discussion and prayer.
Business included:- regular reviews of worship, ministry, events and finance; a complete update of our Child Protection policy, the addition of two new appendices to Standing Orders 'Guidelines on Confidentiality' and 'Safeguarding Adults', new initiatives in Bible Fellowship and the February '08 launch of 'Women in Touch'. Worship and prayer remain a significant part of all our deliberations. Our slightly more healthy finances reflects generous giving and some 'one-off' sources of income (see Accounts) The church gave a 10% tithe of its income to wider world mission and continued extra weekly giving in support of Coventry City Mission.
Personally delivered invitations called all Binley Woods Christians, of any denomination or none, to a 'Call to Prayer' gathering in September, to give praise and to seek where the Spirit is blowing. Seven churches were represented. We are open as to how the Lord will use that initiative, maybe through Hope '08.
The Leadership Team had a training day in May and continued to alternate 'business' and 'prayer & pondering' meetings. An enquirers 'Y' course, planned for April, was re-launched in the autumn. It received some initial interest but insufficient to continue after the first meeting. Though disappointing this raised helpful reflection on the need to 'sow into well ploughed ground' - a theme which has been taken into 2008.
Sunday worship has been served through our leaders, preachers, Topz team and 9 visiting preachers, 6 of whom 'grounded' our Wider World giving. Opportunities to receive prayer for healing and the Holy Spirit's anointing remain a priority. Special services included Education and Village Hall Sundays, an outdoor Green Praise, Harvest Back-to-church Sunday, and an Advent Focus on Prayer - many people prepared different opportunities for quiet reflection.
Outreach continued through special Services, Stepping Stones, website, school assemblies, Open Door with new members, Topz with the beginnings of a new young teens group, and Lionheart with a new mini youth Alpha. Many exciting developments [see separate reports] Our wider world agenda included Fair Trade, justice, the homeless, persecuted overseas Christians and political debates on abortion, embryo research and civil liberties that threaten Christian integrity. Social events included a Posh picnic, Bar B Qs, coffee morning, several walks and an anniversary lunch.
Two pastoral situations brought the whole church big challenges. From New Year to Easter we were immeasurably saddened by the illness and subsequent death of Cindy Hodkinson. One of the church's founder members, her commitment and quiet Spirit-led contributions in many areas of church and community life are sorely missed. We carry forward the Lord's challenge which Cindy brought to us on Easter Day.
We did not fudge the questions - Where is Jesus' shalom in death, anger, doubt and illness?
In Autumn the Minister unexpectedly had a pacemaker fitted. Several complications resulted in the Leadership Team taking responsibility for church business for three months and their extra commitment should be noted. This situation has presented a wonderful opportunity, directing TCinBW into a deeper and richer Spirit led interdependence which is our witness within Binley Woods. This is completely 'in tune' with our Purpose Driven Principles of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism.
Finally, we thank God for the wealth of gifts and abilities he has given us to share in 2008.
break up your unploughed ground Hosea 11:12
It is the Sovereign Lord's work to make righteousness and praise spring up Isaiah 61
AGM Report 2008
The Church in Binley Woods is an ecumenical partnership between Anglicans and Baptists, which was inaugurated in 1987. Our commitment is to be the Church for the village of Binley Woods, welcoming members from all denominations or none, and seeking to present the Gospel to the whole community.
The Church in Binley Woods meets every Sunday in Binley Woods Village Hall at 10.30am to worship, to learn and to have fellowship with each other and at 6.30pm on first and third evenings
Reverend Jill Cheverton is our part time minister, who is funded entirely by the Church. We have a Leadership Team consisting of four elected church members and Jill. The Leadership Team have an overview of the church, however all major decisions are made at one of the six Church Members Meetings. Our current membership is 42, of which 25 are voting members.,
During the year we accepted St Bart's PCC decision that our representation was no longer appropriate, however we retain our ongoing support of, and prayerful interest in, the mission of St Bart's. Who knows what the Lord might require of our churches in the future. Our special 2006 study courses included Discipleship, Lent focus, Holy Spirit, Advent focus and Evangelism, deferred from autumn '06 to early '07. The weekly afternoon Bible Fellowship met regularly and since summer most weeks an opportunity to 'work with the Spirit' seeking his guidance in all things.
Our community opportunities continue through; Open door weekly lunch group, Topz - a term-time children's club has new leadership. OM again led the Lionheart summer holiday The Minister and other members of the church are involved with the Primary School, Stepping Stones quarterly newsheet, special Services and sharing in other community events such as the first Binley Woods Open Gardens Day.
Facing 2007 we are encouraged by deepening fellowship and commitment, some new members and a growing sense of the Spirit's direction and power.
Updated from AGM Report 2007 [Webmaster)
During 2003 we continued Morning and Evening worship each week, celebrating Holy Communion three times each month. Topz Club for children in years 3 - 6 is held each week in term time with about 12 - 15 children coming. Each Tuesday about ten people who live on their own come to the Village Hall, twice a month for a lunch, or some cake and a cuppa. Various groups met in homes during the week for fellowship and study.
The Church in Binley Woods had no Minister for the first six months of 2003. As a fellowship, we are blessed with many gifted people who can lead and preach: however we were grateful for the support and assistance of the clergy from St Bartholomew's. We offer you our support during your own interregnum.
In July we were pleased to welcome Rev Jill Cheverton to be our Minister. Jill is an Anglican minister whose previous ministry was a vicar in inner city Leeds. About 30 of her previous parishioners came to Binley Woods to her Licensing where Bishop Anthony, Rev Brian Nicholls, Heart of England Baptist Association, and Kath Paxton, Churches Together, all welcomed her into fellowship and ministry. Jill works part time and is financed by The Church in Binley Woods.
During the latter part of the year. We held two 'new' services. At the end of August, the Church held a Songs of Praise, which was well attended by Church members, people from the village and from other churches. Our Remembrance Day Service in November was very moving. A soldier who had served in the army during the Second World War found it very supportive as he still dreams of that time several times a week.
Jill has a great gift of visiting and has made it a priority to get out and see as many people as possible. Her tea survey in the first months of her ministry here was interesting! Only one person has loose tea!
Jill and the growing membership value the sense of family within the Fellowship, and are seeking opportunities to bring the love of God into the lives of more people within Binley Woods.
Taken from Report to AGM ~ April 2004
A definition of "The Church In Binley Woods"
The Parish includes an Anglican/Baptist Local Ecumenical Partnership covering the village of Binley Woods - "The Church in Binley Woods"[CiBW], which meets in the Village Hall. The LEP partner churches are St Bartholomew's and Meredith Road Baptist Church. The LEP's decision-making structure is not formally responsible to either partner church. The vision of CiBW is to be church for this separate community of about 3000 people. Their current part-time minister is an Anglican priest, licensed by the Diocese but wholly funded by CiBW. There is a friendly relationship between the two fellowships, with the Minister working in co-operation with the St Bartholomew's clergy team. The Vicar of St Bartholomew's occasionally takes services in Binley Woods. The CiBW exercises ministry in Binley Woods on behalf of the Parish.
Taken from the Parish Profile ~ 2004
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