PCC AGM 2007 Vicar's Report
The Vicar's Report Sitting down to write this year's report, the first two words that occur are "Frustration" and "Sadness", but these very quickly give way to another word - "Gratitude", gratitude for particular blessings, but gratitude also for the greater blessing of the quality and commitment of the people who make up this church.
The frustrations are easily listed. There is the monumental frustration of the loo project. There is the frustration involved in trying to find ways to reach out effectively to those to whom we must look to form the next generation of Streatley Church. There were the frustrations of trying to fund-raise in a World Cup year. The source of the sadness is also easily recognised. There have been quite a few funerals this year for members of our own congregation.
But then one begins to count the blessings the last year has brought. More people came to church at Christmas than ever before. The Seasonal Holy Communion has become an established and welcome part of our worship. The Family Services with Communion are among the most moving services that we hold. A huge amount has been done for the poor and needy both at home and abroad. And then there is the work of regeneration - the new website, the renewal of all our literature and service sheets, the baptism DVD - recognised nationally by us being selected as finalists in the Ecclesiastical competition. And ahead of us, there lies a new glory, with the floodlighting of the church.
These are the particular blessings that the year has brought, but there is also a constant blessing. That is to be found in the quality and commitment of the people who make up the church community, who staff its services, provide its music, raise its funds, man its committees, manage its finances, run its parish centre, maintain its communications, and look after its church and churchyard. We are a very fortunate church to have people of such quality committed to the well-being and building up of our church.
The year has brought both frustrations and sadness, but it has also brought out much that is good. No-one pretends that the next few years will be easy as we try to build up the next generation of Streatley Church, but what this year has also shown is that, given the quality and commitment of the folk here, there is no cause for despair.
Roger Wood