Maidenhead United Reformed Church

Church Meeting Jottings

After morning service on Sunday January 15th, with 38 members present, the main item for discussion was whether to agree to put in hand, work to make the aisles in the sanctuary safe to walk on. This is a problem that has existed for some time. Two options were presented: Re-carpet the rear of the church, take up the pews and cover the whole area including the aisle with a thick oak laminate. Some or all of the pews could be reinstated or replaced by chairs. Cheapest variant would cost just under £13000. Chairs would add about £75 each.
The second option would again mean re-carpeting the back area, then covering the aisles with strong boarding, properly supported, and overlaid with carpet. This would require an edging where it meets the pews and would give a slight lip. Cost, about £8500.
The Treasurer presented current income and expenditure accounts to show that we are not in a position to finance the above work from income or reserves. The alternative is to raise the money through events or donations. Put to the vote, there was overwhelming support for proceeding with the work. There was also a 23/7 majority in favour of the first, more expensive option. There must be further discussion to decide what to do about the pews (what’s new?). With tax relief and a few hundred already set aside, the average cost is equivalent to about £140 per member, though not everyone is expected to be able to donate that much. However, it was uplifting to hear that the various collections we had contributed to in 2011 amounted to £4202. The target date for the work is August this year.
Our Secretary, James Gibb, would still like to find a replacement for himself as Church Life & Mission chairman. Any offers? Meanwhile he reported that on Sunday 26th February we are to have a Bring & Share lunch, with donations to support the work of John Johansenberg in Africa.
Other possible events are a Songs of Praise evening, walk from Henley to Maidenhead with a picnic at Hambledon, a Garden Party and an Anniversary lunch including a lunch for former members.
It was good to see Sarah Reeve, who recently became a member, presenting the Churches Together report –she and Margaret are our CTIM representatives. The Christmas Lunch had been a happy and successful event, she said. She gave notice of the forthcoming Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity and of the Lent Bible studies starting around February 22nd. There had been a useful ideas meeting for Christian Aid with several local churches and we were hoping to get a response to a letter that we had sent to the Oxford office.
Alice Gilbert, our Children & Youth worker, reported a good start back after the Christmas activities, which had been very successful, including the Panto trip, the Christmas Club and the Christmas children’s and Carol service. Planned events include the Junior Church party (already taken place and very successful), Easter Club, three day Holiday Club at Windsor (11th -13th April), Cake sale by the Trailblazers to raise money towards a water filter for an African village. There will be another Summer holiday club at Larchfield. We have agreed to man a water table along the Olympic torch route.