- Joint Annual Report
For 2008
Some of my people I see in church, and have a conversation with them there. I also keep in touch by phone, and house calls which sometimes are pot luck whether they are in or not, if not a phone call. I do it as a pleasure and it’s always nice to hear about their lives especially if they are quite elderly. Lately I will admit I have not done house calls because I have had flu, also my husband caught it and I had a very bad cold at the same time, so you will know I wouldn’t do any visiting, but pretty well recovered now so I hope to start again.
Eileen ClarkeThe group meet 2-3 monthly, and consist of members of the clergy and laity. Our meetings start and end with prayer, helping us to focus on the importance of what we are trying to achieve. We make contact with anyone who might benefit from, or request, pastoral care. This includes contact on the anniversary of baptisms of babies and children, and with newcomers, people who are sick, in distress of any kind, or who are unable to get to church because of age or infirmity. Of course, other members of the congregation also make these sorts of contacts — and the future Pastoral Contact Scheme will hopefully ensure that no one is missed when there is a particular need. We are often unaware when people are sick, in hospital or have moved from the area. So, please do notify a warden or member of the clergy. The contact is, of course, only made if the individual concerned wishes it.
Jennifer Holloway (Chairman).There are two nursing homes and two residential care homes in St Mary’s parish where the majority of residents are too frail to come to church, so we take church to them. Helen McNicoll, Jennifer Holloway and myself currently share the responsibility of leading services in Barkat House Care Home and Oaklands and Highbury Nursing Homes with Giles Osborne coming to help when he is available. Revd Peter is currently responsible for services of Holy Communion at Stennards Leisure Care Home.
As last year each home received a communal Christmas gift of a plant and tin of sweets following an appeal to the congregation to help with the costs. I would like to thank everyone who generously contributed towards these gifts.
Services of Holy Communion in some local sheltered housing complexes are taken by Revd Peter, Revd, Joan, Eric Dwyer and Jonathan Hodgson, with myself helping out if needed. A Christmas carol service was also held at Oak View Hostel and they too received a communal Christmas gift.
We are always looking for more people to take part in this rewarding ministry by helping to lead the worship or just coming along to share in the services and chat with residents, relatives and staff.
Cathie Carey. For further information contact Cathie Carey (449 2506)During 2008, Rosemary and Eric visited two nursing homes and one care home on a regular monthly basis. Each home is different and the services vary, but include hymns, Bible reading, prayer and a simple talk. In the care home, up to twelve or fifteen can be present. In the nursing homes, numbers can vary widely according to the health of the patients, however more seriously ill patients are visited in their rooms. We do not take the Holy Communion each month, but it is available to any residents who wish. With the help of others, Carol Services were held in all these homes. In addition, two sheltered housing complexes requested Carol Services. There is a possibility of extending these services but we are in need of more helpers. Is there anyone out there who would like to be involved in any way even occasionally? For further information on this important ministry or to join us to get a taster, please speak to Rosemary.
Eric DwyerMeet each Monday at 12.30 in the Parish Hall, for a two course freshly prepared hot meal cooked in the Hall kitchen. The meal, preceded by Grace, starts at 1pm and ends with tea/coffee at 2pm. Now in its 21st year, the Club caters for an average of 30.
We celebrate Members’ birthdays and last year enjoyed coach days out to Hereford and Weston. Once a month, before lunch a short service of Holy Communion is available to Members in the Hall Council Room.
Although not a fund raising group over the course of the year we donated to the Classroom Project in Uganda, Christian Aid, Harvest Help and the Samaritan’s Purse Shoe Box Appeals.
To continue the Bishop’s 1986 ’Live, Learn and Share’ proposals for extending stewardship, and to play our part in building a caring, inclusive and supportive community in Moseley.
We have wonderful volunteer team led by the Coordinator Hilda Johnston. David Sandison, Pat Burrows, Marie Cooper, Heather Frazier, Margaret Guy, Barbara Hanes, Betty Padjasek and Margaret Wyley all give their time freely to make Mondays so enjoyable and very special. Julia Griffin, Luncheon Club Secretary
In one sense, a church’s greatest asset is the building itself and, at St Mary’s, one of the ways in which we’ve tried to make the most of this lovely old building is through ’Church Watch’. This simply involves a number of volunteers — church members — who take turns to ensure that the church is regularly open to anyone who may call in. In practice, this means that the doors are normally open every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday morning between 10 o’clock and mid-day.ln recent months we’ve been restricted to those days due to the temporary cessation of ‘Coffee & Co’ on Wednesdays, but there are plans in the near future to open up the church on that day with a regular mid-week service.
As always, I am extremely grateful to all our volunteers for giving so much of their time to provide a friendly welcome to anyone who may drop by.
Jonathan HodgsonChristmas Day Together exists to provide Christmas hospitality to anyone in the community who would otherwise be alone on this important day. It is part of the community outreach of the united benefice. Staffed entirely by volunteers from both churches and from within the community, this year it was host to approximately 80 guests. The great thing about it is the diverse mix of people who attend. Many are already associated with one of the churches, some are referred to the event by an agency with whom they have regular contact, others have seen the event advertised in the village or around the area. Thanks are due to the Birmingham 13 publication who advertised for volunteers. As a result of this many new and extremely helpful volunteers attended, making the whole day easy to manage (although hard work!). It is good to know that many who attend have been coming for years and greet everyone as long lost friends!
The event this year cost in the region of £650 with transport and table decorations provided very generously by the volunteers. A special thanks for the very generous anonymous donation received and to Pat Burrows for her splendid coffee morning held to raise awareness and necessary funding for the day. Very generous donations are also received from the members of the group and these are put towards the Christmas charities for the year.
Janet ThorneFSMCM exists to support all the musical activities associated with St Mary’s. It organises choir trips such as the long standing Frankfurt exchange and in general supports the Director of Music in activities ranging from arranging concerts to Choir trips and exchanges. Fund raising is an important part of this and is done in various ways such as the annual barbecue, coach trips, raffles and wine-tastings.
There are about 55 members and a committee of eight that meets once a month.
In the past year FSMCM has supported the Robed Choirs successful visit to Portsmouth last August and arrangements are in hand for Ripon Cathedral.
The barbeque in June was enjoyed by all. These are well supported and another is planned for this year. As part of Moseley festival a concert featuring the Choirs was well attended. A Skittle Evening was held in October and provided entertainment for both young and old and a most successful event in November was an ’Evening with Carl Chinn’. This event was part of the fund-raising in aid of the visit in 2011 to Capetown. There was a successful wine-tasting in December.
We have tried to dispel the illusion that FSMCM is an exclusive club and have attempted to publicise events like the wine-tastings and summer barbeque as being open to all. For more information contact the Chairman, Dr John R. Carey 449 2506, the Secretary (Amanda Doyle 449 3135) or any committee member.
Joan Griffin has been a stalwart supporter of the Robed Choir over the years, and as such we were sorry when Joan announced her intention to retire in March. The Friends have granted life membership to Harry and Joan Griffin in recognition of their support of both choirs and the music at St Mary’s. Music stands and a conductors podium had been identified as most needed through 2008. The Friends were pleased to help in their acquisition and would welcome any ideas for 2009. The Parish Summer BBQ in June was very well attended. We were happy that Jamie and Duncan Wall agreed to organise activities on the school grassed area. Our thanks go to them and to Dr Burton for making that possible. Thanks are also extended to Jeremy for allowing us to host the event at the Vicarage once again. The Choirs concert at the end of June as part of Moseley Festival was also well attended. This provided a fitting tribute to the hard work that both choirs put in during the year. Portsmouth was the venue for the Robed Choir in August and was very successful. Beautiful singing in the Cathedral combined with many varied activities kept participants of all ages suitably entertained. This year we are moving north to Ripon. We are very grateful to Sarah Swainston for organising the Skittle Evening at Selly Park Tavern in October. I still have nightmares at John Carey launching himself headlong to bowl!
Carl Chinn provided us with a very entertaining talk about life in bygone Brum, featuring many local anecdotes and gems of little known local history. Carl has been very generous in donating his fee to kickstart the fundraising effort for the planned trip to South Africa in 2011.
The Wine Tasting in December had a change of host. Our friends at Elizabeth of York stepped in to provide an interesting evening with different foods to try with the various wines. Congratulations to Michael Hell who won a bottle of wine of his choosing from those offered for tasting. As ever, we must thank Michael Perrier and Ian Biggs for their endeavours and appreciate all they do to enhance the musical life at St Mary’s.
Amanda DoyleEvents across the Benefice have been very varied both in nature and purpose covering fundraising, social (both in Moseley and further afield), and outreach. There were a number of new ventures as well as trusted favourites.
The Jumble Sale (about £4000), Curry and Pizza Evening (about £300), Summer Fair (about £1500), and Harvest 40’s Night all at St Anne’s were excellent.
At St Mary’s the Choirs Concert, ’Evening with Carl Chinn’ (about £555), and Christmas Fair (about £1000) fared equally well.
‘Cracking Carols’, as part of the Christmas Tree Festival brought many new people into St Mary’s, providing a lovely atmosphere and much positive feedback. The event also raised £500 for Kinmos.
‘Christmas Day Together’ catered for about 80 people, with many new volunteers from the community which was welcome and refreshing.
The ‘parent’s party’ of new intake pupils at Moseley C of E at St Mary’s Vicarage was a very successful new venture.
Benefice Pilgrimage to Liverpool was an excellent trip with many participants making return visits. Lunch Club trip to Minehead was a well attended lovely day.
Chatsworth House, although foggy, provided a lovely day out and a nice outing for the time of year. Events across the Benefice have been very varied both in nature and purpose covering fundraising, social (both in Moseley and further afield), and outreach. There were a number of new ventures as well as trusted favourites.
From a Murder Mystery Evening to a Summer Soirée, and from a Summer BBQ to a Family Skittle Evening and from Wine tasting to a Lunch Club Dinner, there has been something for everyone, young or old. In order for the committee to represent life across the benefice there should be at least three more from St Anne’s and at least 2 men to achieve more of a balance.
Amanda Doyle.Arranged for 7 February but had to be cancelled due to the speaker’s accident in which he broke some ribs.
On 19 May at Christ Church, Yardley Wood.
On 14 October at Christchurch, Selly Park.
The meeting then split into discussion groups. Dr Woodward made a plea that the subject of older people should be actively discussed at parish level.
The Dean then thanked the speaker and closed the meeting with prayer.
Rosemary Berridge