Parochial Church Council Notes

Meeting on April 28th 2010 - APCM

Parochial Church Council: April 2010

As April is the month for the Annual Parochial Church Meeting, there is no report for me to submit for this month.

HOWEVER, readers do not get away so easily!

This is not a Parliamentary appeal, but it is a request for your support.

On Wednesday 28th April, the APCM will be held in Church at 7.30pm, with refreshments being available from 7pm. This meeting enables the PCC to report on all the various activities that centre around St Lawrence Church and includes an Address from our Vicar. The PCC has approved a document that is now available for you to take home and read beforehand. At the meeting, your comments and questions will be invited and you will receive a response.

Perhaps when you read the Report, you might decide you would like to take one step nearer – and join us. No doubt you will already know that WE NEED HELP –

1 Do you have Shorthand and Word Processing skills that you can offer to the PCC? Our Minutes Secretary, Janet Lowe, finishes after the APCM and we have not yet found a replacement for her. If you are the slightest bit interested, please find out more about what the job entails – ask Janet, or myself. We will help you all we can.

2 Would you enjoy organising a team of people to raise much-needed funds for the Church and to bring the people of Hatfield (and friends) to our magnificent Church for an Autumn Fayre in November? Many others will help on the day, but planning and putting those plans into practice requires a team of volunteers to start its work soon. After three appeals, the PCC still has received no offers to replace Vera Liddle. The co-ordinator does not have to be a member of the PCC but he/she can rely on their support.

3 The poster in Church gives information about PCC members reaching the end of their term of office. Nominations for PCC members, Deputy Churchwardens and Churchwardens are required. If more nominations are received than there are vacancies, then a vote will be needed to choose who you would like to see on your PCC. Hopefully, there will be an opportunity to vote people into positions on the PCC rather than sitting candidates being coerced to continue because of concern that there is no-one else prepared to stand. A term of office is generally 3 years, enough time to learn from the more experienced and gain the confidence to make a full and valued contribution to the life of our Church. Training opportunities will be offered by the Diocese, introducing new members to the role and responsibilities of being a PCC member.

4 If you are on the Electoral Roll for Saint Lawrence Church, you will be entitled to vote. If you are over 18 and have attended church over the last six months but are not yet on the Electoral Roll, please fill in an Application Form to redress the situation.

5 Finally, please show your support by coming to the APCM.

My thanks are extended to those who will not be continuing in their particular roles. The fruits of their efforts have been appreciated and have had a positive impact on so many. Thank you!

The first PCC Meeting after the APCM will be held on Thursday 6th May at 7pm.
Jill McGarvie, PCC Secretary