Summary of the PCC meeting held on Monday 14th September

Prayers, Apologies and Minutes of the Last Meeting accepted.

Matters arising: We have permission for Wylam Painters & Decorators to begin internal decoration. There will be some extra cost because of washing down and an extra coat on the ceilings. Work will start 2nd November and take 2-4 weeks so we worship in the hall in that period.

The Bereavement Café went well.

Finance: A small surplus of £3,500 is predicted in 2026. We have been asked for a 10% increase in Parish Share in 2027 and after a discussion it was decided that we would offer a 3% increase to match the CPI. Rents for St Francis House, hall hire and car parking will rise 3%. The Development Fund is currently £20,465, to be used for maintenance, internal and external painting, or even (say) a new heating system. Quotations will be gathered for external painting. Agreed we need to budget for outstanding maintenance items identified in the quinquennial report.

Safeguarding: PCC members to check their training is up to dat. All PCC members have Enhanced DBS Certificates.

Eco-Church: A new date for visiting Trinity Church, Berwick is to be arranged to view their solar panels and a visit to Heaton Baptist Church. There will be a gardening day on Saturday 17th October with the MU coffee morning.  Harvest Festival will be 20th September and donations of food for the People`s Kitchen. The flower team have plenty of flowers and vegetables, some donated by members of the Allotment Society. There will be a petition at parish breakfast to mark Fairtrade Fortnight 21st September – 4th October.  We are joining with St Gabriel’s, St Teresa’s and Heaton Baptist Church to host a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing on 4th October at 6pm at the People’s Theatre Green Room. The PCC agreed upto £100 towards costs if needed. The film lasts 50 minutes plus discussion time

Deanery Synod and church development: The diocesan priorities are Building for Mission, New Worshipping Communities and Growing Closer to God, which fit well into our Vision for St. Francis Church. The vicar favours collaboration between churches and sharing of resources, especially as our deanery has only six vicars for ten parishes: each church needs to look at what its contribution is. We need to move forward with our vision planning – to be discussed at the next meeting.

The Parish Visitation by the Archdeacon of Northumberland has been completed satisfactorily, thanks to Sue & Dorothy our churchwardens for managing that.

Future dates:

21st Sept – 4th Oct   Fairtrade Fortnight            

20th September       Harvest Festival

3rd October              Transitus Service 3pm with Third Order Franciscans Harvest Supper and Ceilidh begins 6pm

4th October              St Francis Day Eucharist 8am & 10am

                                   People’s Emergency Briefing, People`s Theatre 6pm

1st November           All Saints’ Sunday 6pm All Souls Service

8th November          Remembrance Sunday with Silence at 11am

18th November        Safeguarding Sunday  

28th November        Christmas market

12th December         Carols in the Park (time to be confirmed)

21st December         Carols in Freeman Hospital (meet church hall 6pm)

24th December         Christmas Eve Crib service 6pm                          

                                 Midnight Mass 11.30pm

25th December        Christmas Day Eucharist 10am

10th February 2027 Ash Wednesday Eucharist 7.30pm        

Next meeting: Monday 16th November at 7pm