The last month has been a month of mixed emotions at Saint Wilfrid’s. We have continued to enjoy the Soup Lunches and have joined with Saint Mary’s and Saint Faith’s in raising funds for the Bishop’s Lent Appeal. Thank you to all who have supported them, and all who have provided them. Thank you also to all who supported the Spring Fair. Although not sure that is the right title for the event this year, as the morning was marked by the cold and the flurries of snow throughout the event. Ian and Father Bob can confirm that the corridor by the Lower Hall was a great arctic wind tunnel! Despite the weather a number of people braved the conditions and came and enjoyed the warmth of the welcome and the various stalls. The Fair raised about £800. Special thanks to the SWISHERS flc staff and volunteers who came and helped with running stalls – and it was good to see a number of the SWISHERS families enjoying the clues around the walls as well as the Fair.
The Fair was the same week as the PCC meeting at which the end of year accounts for 2017 were considered. For Saint Wilfrid’s last year they were showing a £4000 deficit, which was covered from the limited investments held by the Church. However, the draft Budget for 2018 shows a similar deficit is likely unless we can drastically increase our income or equally drastically reduce our expenditure. The PCC felt it would be helpful to request some support from the Diocese in considering this, alongside the long unresolved discussion on how best to make the building fit for purpose. It unanimously agreed that this should happen. Later in May there will be a meeting of the PCC at Saint Wilfrid’s with the Archdeacon, Diocesan Stewardship Advisor and Diocesan Mission Advisor to consider the options we face, and the opportunities we have. It is hoped that everyone will engage with this discussion and together we can find a way forward that will be best for the community we seek to serve.
Please pray for the Church and its community over the coming weeks. Please also remember Deacon Ken in your prayers. Ken was admitted to hospital recently, but is now home. However, he has been advised to rest for a month and so will be having a ‘quiet time’. Please respect his ‘space’ and the need for ‘rest’ – but he would appreciate your cards and messages.
Finally, it was good to be able to host the Parish Passover Meal at the start of Holy Week. Some 40 people gathered to recall the Passover traditions and so understand a little more of the context of Jesus’ last days. Thank you to Jean Godfrey and all who helped her to arrange this meal.