QP YEARLY REPORTS 2007 And so to our Annual Reports for 2007 ... Following on from Lawrence’s Annual/ten year Report in his bi-monthly Message, the Annual Reports are detailed below followed by our 'Child Protection Policy' which we accept each year affirming people into key child protection roles. BUILDING PROJECT REPORT The year has seen us move ever closer to realising our dream for the development of a new hall and rooms at Quinton Park. We have seen many members working in many different ways giving their God given gifts so that the vision we have for Quinton Park and the surrounding area becomes a reality. We have been busy: Liaising with solicitor, doctors and Baptist Union Progressing the contract for the sale of some of our land to allow for the building of a much needed, modern, access friendly doctors surgery Completing the Bill of Materials and Tender documents for the proposed church buildings, which includes modern, user friendly facilities which will be available for community use Meeting with builders to discuss the plans and costs Preparing applications for funding to help with the finance of the vision Reworking our Business plan Discussing many ways of financing the proposed build Preparing bids and applying for funding Deciding on internal requirements and liaising with the developer of the Daventry Road site to help overturn the original planning refusal The detail of the build requirements: The Land will be sold for £120,000 The doctors will arrange and pay for the diversion and connection of the main sewer and QP will arrange access to the allotments to allow the work of redirecting the drains The Doctors will pay for the demolition and clearance of the old church building QP will remove the large hall as necessary to allow the construction to take place The Doctors will pay for the planning application (up to £2,000) The cost of the construction of the car park will be split equally between QP and the Doctors and the maintenance of it will be split 70/30 (Doctors / QP) The Doctors will be responsible for fencing adjacent to their land The Doctors and QP will have 5 designated parking spaces The position at the end of the year is: Application to build on the Cheylesmore pub site has been approved With the above approval, we receive £250,000 from the developer Therefore we have £135,000 to "spend" We can develop the back of our site as previously agreed for £440,000 If we allow for a further £10,000 for fees, we will need £450,000 We have £435,000 If we agree to let the premises on a commercial basis for no more than 9 hours per week, we believe we will not have to pay VAT The project team consists of Alan Schofield, Barry Cocks, Lawrence Fellick, Bryan Green and Geoff Birch, but the project has included work and support from virtually all of the fellowship, so once again a big thank you for all your hard work. Very soon our 'subject to contract' development will become a reality! MANAGMENT AND USERS GROUP (MUGS) Our group has been busy gathering information and ideas from a wide variety of sources – visiting other church projects in the area, attending conferences and day courses and talking to our own QP people. We have studied the plans with the fabric and fittings group and liaised with the project team. We’ve met with Dr Jaspal to find out how we can help the GPs. We have encouraged everyone to pray. All of us wanting to make sure we get things right – we only get this one chance, but above all trying to discern what God wants us to do with our new buildings. From all this one thing became clear and that is for us to provide a place where people can come and be listened to, a place where they can have a cup of tea/coffee etc and have someone there who has time for them and their concerns. This has begun, in a small way, with Judy Hill organising “Listening” training and having the church open Thursday mornings. We have other ideas and options, possible joint projects with the community, but until the building is complete or nearly so we can do no more towards them. Given this situation, in the autumn our group joined with Ralf Meininger to help organise the logistics of moving, storage and continuing the life of QP while we build. The whole project has been and is still a rollercoaster ride and we all feel the highs, lows and frustration this brings, but God is with us and will provide us with the patience we need for His timing which will be perfect. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer.29. 11) Jenny Flint, Mike Hoyland, John Kirby, Kath Hall Andrew Weir and Lawrence Fellick (honorary member) PASTORAL CARE REPORT This year we have welcomed two new members onto the pastoral care team – Jayne Jones and Maria Ball – bringing our numbers to five, plus Pearl looking after people in hospital, and of course all those who quietly keep an eye on their friends and neighbours. Many thanks to you all. Each month I ask each of the group to visit a few of those whom I know are in need, and Lawrence and I respond to emergencies and meet regularly to discuss the care we offer. As we enter a pastoral vacancy later this year, it will be even more vital for everyone to make sure that I know about those in need so I can arrange a suitable response, so please keep me informed. Geoff Hill WORSHIP 2007 has been a stable year for worship. The pattern of evening worship has met various needs, with a communion service on the first Sunday of the month and services in the care homes on the second and fourth. Many thanks to those who have helped Lawrence keep this going – Alan Schofield, Mike and Jenny Cosser, Maurice Lander, Gloria Arnett, Jean Bywater and John Fortnam. Morning worship has continued in an established pattern. As Lawrence has needed more time for the redevelopment work, we have invited a variety of visiting preachers, which is stimulating and gives us a wider perspective. Our own preachers and worship leaders have also worked hard for us – thanks to them – Mike Flynn, Mike Hoyland, Barry Cocks, Bryan and Carol Green, Tim Fortnam, Music Group and Seekers groups. In the autumn, four of us attended a course on Worship leading, from which we brought back some nuggets and were affirmed and encouraged in what we are doing. All those involved in making worship happen each week, met twice this year for prayer and discussion, so that we were agreed on the way forward that we believe God is showing us for our church. After sixteen years’ responsibility for the sound system, Geoff Hill handed over to Tony May – many thanks to Geoff and all those who take a turn ‘on the desk’. Andrew’s work on projection continues to become more refined, thanks to him and John for being our techies. Music Group play mostly without a keyboard and manage so well we don’t notice the difference; but we have CDs and occasional pianists when needed. Many thanks also to Bible readers, welcomers, flower arrangers, quietly getting on with their jobs week by week. And as we say goodbye to Lawrence later this year, inevitably we shall see some changes. But we worship an unchanging God who will show us the way. All he asks of us is that we be faithful. Judy Hill MUSIC GROUP I am delighted to announce another successful year for the Music Group. We continue to Worship the Lord through music each week, playing new songs at the beginning of the service & a mixture of old & new during. We practice every other Friday evening & will again continue to move forward as we look at new ways to enhance Sunday mornings worship & use the talents which we believe God has given us. And talking of talent, we would like to say thank you to the younger members of the group for their continued commitment at a time in their lives when there are so many other options. We all thank God for their talent & contribution & their willingness to lead. As for the other members, we continue to bash away in the confidence that if Led Zeppelin can still do it at 60 plus we have some future!! During 2008 we are going to slightly change the way we look at new songs. Rather than cover too many we are looking to bring in some colour to the way we play them. Some light & shade, musical interlude, concentrating on the production rather than the volume so please look out for that. On behalf of the group a huge thank you to all those who manage the sound desk without whom, we would not be heard! (you may or may not want to thank them!) And thanks to our guest musicians who step in when either the tunes are just not built for guitars only or when our numbers are depleted. Finally thank you to you all for your encouragement & prayers; please continue. Tim PRAYER LIFE OF THE CHURCH Another year of praying and wonderful answers to prayers. Prayer Lines - continues and we are always surprised by how many requests we get – we have had many answers to prayer for which we thank the Lord. Thank you to Connie, Freda, Angie, Ann B, Jenny F, Violet, Kay F, Esther, Louise, Jayne and Judy for listening and praying – God has promised to always listen as we hold other people and ourselves up before Him. Prayers After Morning Worship – we continue to pray with people after morning worship and this has been well received, and thank you to those who sit at the back of the church some Sunday mornings with no takers, but we are available if folk need us – so a thank you to Mike C, Kay H, Ann B, Judy and Maurice for being willing to be available. Prayer Meeting - For a while now we have been praying together as a group on Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8 mostly at church but now as it is rather cold we are meeting in our home – you are most welcome to join us any Wednesday evening – details are normally on the handout – you don’t need to come every week but whenever you’re available, to be part of the group. With individual prayer and Cell groups praying and with many prayer initiatives for the redevelopment we continue to be a praying church. Our Lord has commanded us to pray and there are many references to prayer in the Bible – may we continue to be a praying church in 2008. With love and prayers, Jenny Cosser, Prayer Co-ordinator LISTENING The Listening Service is a new venture this year, still in its infancy. It began when I heard about the Acorn Foundation’s training courses in Christian Listening and felt called to pursue it. I thought it might be useful in our efforts to liaise with the new doctors’ surgery. Others caught the vision, resulting in two groups working through the basic DVD and group work, 'Just Listen', published by Acorn. Sixteen of us are now enrolled on the next stage, 'Learning to Listen', taking place in January/February 2008, in which we shall be taught by Acorn tutors. It is our hope that, when we have our new buildings, we shall be able to offer a quiet space with a cup of tea to those who find the doctors don’t have enough time to listen to them. Meanwhile, some of us are available for a couple of hours on a Thursday morning in 'The Resting Place' i.e. the entrance area to the Church, giving access to the Sanctuary to any who may wish to come and be quiet or pray. And if they wish to talk, we listen. Possibly this vision will be caught by other churches, either to work with us or serve their own areas. Please pray for us as we investigate this. And make use of us! We are not counsellors, we 'Just Listen', so if you need to get anything off your chest, be assured of a confidential caring ear. Judy Hill QUIET TIME Quiet Time grew out of the 'Just Listen' course which some of us followed last summer and autumn. Christian Listening, we learnt, is ideally grounded in listening to God, and we felt we were not very good at that. So we met to practise, and shared with the church some time later the things we believed God was showing us about the future of the listening project. People found it such a blessing to set aside this quiet time with God, together where we are not distracted so much, that we have continued to meet once a month since. We meet at Kath and Andrew’s house, where after a drink and biccies (essential at any meeting) one person gently leads us into relaxation and stillness. For about 20 minutes we sit quietly and each allow God to come to us in whatever way he wishes. It is a calm and healing oasis in our busy lives. We fix the dates as we go along, so watch the handout. Please speak to Judy or anyone you know is part of it if you would like to know more. Judy Hill MAINTENANCE Dear All, 2007 has been relatively uneventful with regard to required church maintenance. In anticipation of the expected church hall redevelopment we decided to minimise our expenditure in relation to repairs on the church hall and have concentrated our efforts on functional rather than cosmetic repairs. Thanks to a small amount of required repair work on the hall and church building we were able to limit repair costs in 2007 to £1,363. Some urgent and overdue repair work to the church manse amounted to £2,157. I would like to thank everybody who has helped in the upkeep of the church buildings and its surroundings during 2007. In 2008 we need to give the church welcome area and toilets an urgently required face lift and the church Manse is also in need of some further improvements. Yours Ralf CELL GROUPS Cell Groups have continued well in 2007 and a new Tuesday evening cell group was started in the autumn. There are up to 50 people involved in the 6 Cell Groups. Generally we meet for a couple of hours during the day or evening to follow a pattern of study and sharing (4 W’s) that is laid out on the back on the Church’s weekly notice sheet; we Welcome, Worship, (study the) Word and (discuss) Witness. Some weeks there are no notes available and so the groups make their own plans which may include a bible study, watching a film, sharing a meal etc. But the groups have an outward looking focus too and these are just some of the things that the groups have done over the last year: Christian Aid collecting/leaflet delivering as a group, run events e.g. teas for the elderly within the church, curry evening, BBQ’s etc. If you would like to know more about joining a group as we move forward in 2008, please speak to Lawrence, Pam, Mike and Jenny C, Esther, Merle or Jenny F. LADIES CIRCLE Although we have had another successful year, we were all saddened by the death of our friend Sue Bryn in August. Sue had been a loyal and supportive member of the group for many years since the days when we were 'young wives'. Our meetings have included sales, devotional, food, music and storytelling evenings, in addition to visits to Allesly for productions by “The Saints” and meals out. We also learned about life as a policeman from Neil Broadway and went on a video tour of the Baltic courtesy of Jackie and Tony Broadway. Our Christmas meal at the 'Cocked Hat' was also extremely enjoyable. We continue to support the BMS hospital in Chandraghona having sent them £50 this year (mostly raised from the sale of gifts and cards from Webb Ivory). Thanks to all members for their support as we hope for another successful year in 2008. Merle Thompson, Secretary LUNCHEON CLUB REPORT It is with sadness and regret that I write this report. I had hoped that we could continue providing lunches in the shortened hall until after the sewer had been moved, but that wasn’t to be. So after more than 25 years, Luncheon Club closed on 12th December 2007. We ended with the Christmas meal which was enjoyed by all who attended. My thanks go to all staff for their hard work, loyalty and support over the years, to Lawrence for his words of welcome at the Christmas meal and finally to the church for the gifts and flowers. Merle Thompson, Co-ordinator CRECHE REPORT Crèche continues to be held in the Foyer/Welcome Area at the front of church, usually during the second half of the service. There are eight helpers who work on a rota system which usually means two weeks on followed by four weeks off. We always work in pairs to look after up to five little ones. We have four children who come regularly and visiting grandchildren from time to time. Parents are always welcome to stay if their child does not want to be left or if they want to play too. The team of helpers are very caring people who often say how much they enjoy being involved with crèche. From next September the team will need to have a new organiser to draw up a rota and to ensure that there are always two helpers each week. If you think you may be that person please speak to Louise Fellick so she can tell you more about it. Louise SPARKLERS (3-7 year olds) REPORT We are the youngest group of seekers and once again the smallest group. We have four children altogether (two children that come regularly and two that come when visiting grandparents). We use mini zone material from Scripture union. For the younger children we do a lot of hands on things as they see more that way and enjoy it. The two older children will be going up to the next group in September, as one is already seven and the other will be seven in February.  And we are expecting a new child from the crèche as she is nearly three. The leaders for Sparklers are Jackie Broadway, Diane Gilmore and myself; Denise Galvin. God bless, Denise Galvin TRAILBLAZERS (7-11 Year olds) REPORT Our group includes children in years 3, 4 and 5 at school. There are regularly six children who are all eager to join in with Bible reading, crafts and games which make’s for a lively time! This year we said goodbye to Daniel and Oliver who moved up to Lasers, but we have welcomed Dorothy and Rebecca who have both settled in well. It was a concern to begin with having four different teachers after Angie and Esther’s faithful years of caring for the group, but the children have taken it in their stride. We are ready to move to Bevan Court when the hall is pulled down, but would ask for your prayers that this upheaval will go smoothly and that we and our hosts will be blessed. The leaders for Trail Blazers are Jayne Jones, Esther Meininger, Ann Coulthard and Jenny Flint, with help from Di Gilmore. Jenny Flint LAZERS REPORT (11 - 13 year olds) Lasers is for children in Year 6 (the final year of primary school), and Years 7 and 8 at secondary school. We have ten young people in the group – Sarah, Anna, Jamie and Tom (Year 8), Eleanor, Abby, Lucy and Faye (Year 7) and Daniel and Oliver (Year 6). The leaders are Ralf Meininger, Alan Schofield and Kay Flynn. Thanks also to Jackie Schofield, who led the group up until the summer. In 2007 we started using new resources from 'Children’s Ministry' and have covered various themes over several weeks, such as Moses, Prayer, Meeting with Jesus, The Ten Commandments, Creation as well as topical themes such as Easter and Christmas. We often use games to explore the theme, read the Bible together, discuss the topic, pray for personal needs and have a chat. Look out for Lasers leading part in the Sunday service this Spring. Kay Flynn DE-BLAZE (FORMERLY 14+) THOSE IN SCHOOL YRS 9+ De-Blaze meets on Sunday mornings and is aimed at the young people in our church in school years 9 and above. During this past year we have had a consistent team of four leaders; Barry Preston, Alan Schofield, David Hope and myself (Sheila Hope) with some extra help from Mike Cosser on 5th Sundays. Paul, Dean, Emily Flynn, Emily Mason, Beth and Kelly have all attended last year and we welcomed Ruaridh, Anna Meininger, Stef and Aislinn into the group at various points through the year. This year we have been using some material called 'Studies To Go', covering subjects such as love, hell, heaven, evangelism, bible, prayer, what is a Christian, people who met Jesus (to name but a few!) and also watched some more of the Nooma DVDs (Matthew, Silence, Sunday). On the first Sunday of each month we stay in Church for the full service and the young people have become involved in helping in the music group, the Welcome Team and with the readings, projector and sound desk. More latterly they have taken on doing Mugs on the first Sunday of each month. In November the young people did a fantastic job of leading the first part of the Sunday morning service about remembrance. Recently the young people have begun experimenting with praying for each other which is something that we would like to further develop. As we look ahead, we plan to continue using the material that we have been using for the foreseeable future and anticipate meeting in a local home during the forthcoming rebuilding work. And so together we continue to learn more about our Lord, try to have fun and encourage our young people to talk freely about the subjects that we cover and stuff that it is relevant for them in their lives. A BIG thank you to everybody, for all of the hard work and commitment over the last year, and we thank God for our young people and the enthusiasm that they have. It’s a privilege to spend time with them and see Jesus shining through them. Please continue to pray for them and for the leaders. Sheila Hope Y4J (Youth 4 Jesus) REPORT (for those at secondary school) Y4J has had another good year. We welcomed Lucy, Abby, Ellie Hope and Faye in September.  We have done lots of different activities again. We start the night off with some games e.g. football, netball, volleyball or table tennis then do an activity such as cooking, bible based things (quizzes, games and studies). We have been to the Memorial Park for games when it was warmer. We had to cancel our annual water fight unfortunately (due to bad weather!!). We have had a couple of social evenings throughout the year as well (tobogganing, pizzas, bowling, films etc.) For the coming year we hope for more fun and friendship. I think it is a really good group of young people, and all get on well with each other. We have made plans for our meetings for when we no longer have a hall to use, we have asked for people from church willing to host a meeting in their home where they will plan what to do that night with the group and the hope is for one of the group leaders to go with them. If you can host a meeting please see a group leader (David and Sheila Hope, Barry Preston, Kam Rai or Denise Galvin). God bless, Denise Galvin CHILDREN’S MINISTRY As part of the child protection team, it is our duty to keep the child protection policy and guidelines to the forefront of church life. Part of this, is that as a church that we adopt the policy, on a yearly basis, and also take the time to affirm our child advocates and children’s workers and from now on we plan to do this at the Annual Church Meeting. I am sure you will agree that their constant commitment and work within this field is a valuable asset to our church. Below is our child protection policy. This was last adopted by the church in 2007. Our Aim: is to create a safe environment for children and young people who attend Quinton Park Baptist Church,which will enable them to grow and develop. We will seek to develop a community of care so that children and young people will find the church a safe community and environment to be in. We will welcome and recognise the child or young person as a whole person created in God’s image and invite them to share in the life of God’s people within the realm of God’s love. Quinton Park Baptist Church Child Protection Policy The purpose of this policy is to have in place adequate guidelines for the protection of each child and young person should abuse of any kind be revealed. It is also to ensure that all leaders/teachers of children and young people are adequately checked and referenced and 'suitability' is obtained from the criminal records bureau. All suspicions and allegations of abuse against children and young people will be responded to, and followed up appropriately and in accordance with the Baptist Union 'SAFE TO GROW' child protection guidelines. Each person working with children and young people at Quinton Park Baptist Church will receive and read the guidelines of what to do in the event of suspected child abuse or allegations. We will advise parents/carers of the 'Safe to Grow' policy in place at Quinton Park Baptist Church and also what action will be taken if child protection issues should arise. As part of our commitment to children and young people, the church has appointed Mrs Jenny Cosser and Mr Mike Cosser to be their child advocates. Their role will be regularly explained to children and their names and telephone numbers will be publicly displayed around the church. Jenny Flint is currently the Seeker’s Co-ordinator and she will support the workers and regularly remind workers of the requirements and dangers through the children’s workers meetings. Obtaining criminal record disclosures and references for people who work with our children and young people is only one brick in the wall of an effective policy for the safeguarding of children. It should not lead to complacency as only a very small percentage of those who bring harm to children are ever convicted. The policy will also be affirmed by church membership at the Annual Church Meeting. As members of Quinton Park Baptist Church, we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and young people. It is the responsibility of each one of us to prevent physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people and to report any abuse discovered or suspected. We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church. We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection and appointing of those working with children and young people, whether paid or voluntary. The church is committed to supporting, resourcing and training those who work with children and young people and to providing supervision. The church is committed to the Home Office Code of Practice 'Safe from Harm' and adopts the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great Britain in it’s book 'Safe to Grow'. Each worker with children and young people must know the recommendations, and under take to observe them. Each shall be given a copy of the church’s agreed procedures and Good practice guidelines. Our Children’s workers are – Louise Fellick, Jenny Cosser, Becke Ayres, Pearl Cotterell, Hilary Laven, Eileen Colsell, Julie Fortnam, Sheila Gillet, Denise Galvin, Ann Coulthard, Jenny Flint, Diane Gilmore, Jayne Jones, Jackie Broadway, Marie Johnson, Esther Meininger. Ralf Meininger, Kay Flynn, Alan Schofield, Sheila Hope, David Hope, Barry Preston, and numerous other workers in Holiday Club and Y4J. Hopefully I have covered everything and everybody (1 am bound to have forgotten something or someone – so my sincere apologies, it’s not intentional). As you can see there is a lot of time and commitment given by these people and everyone has other commitments within and outside the church. Please keep these people and this work in your prayers. It has been a time consuming and lengthy process but we are really pleased to be able to say that we hold satisfactory references and Criminal Records Bureau checks for all the above people including Crèche, Seekers, Holiday Club and Y4J workers. I appreciate you taking time to read this document which we will be voting to adopt at the Annual church meeting. If in the meantime, you have any issues or queries, please contact me or others on the 'Child Protection' team. With thanks, Sheila Hope (Safe To Grow Co-ordinator) on behalf of the Child Protection team (Jenny and Mike Cosser, Sheila Hope and Lawrence Fellick)