7 attendees: PL = Peter Lowe (Chairman), GT = Geraldine Thompson, DB = Diana Betts, AM = Angela Martin, TW = Teresa Wells, FB = Fr Bryan, MM = Mary O’Mahony
Apologies were received from: Owen Clutton, June Adams and Roger Wright
Agreed actions shown in bold red type.
1. Minutes of last meeting
FB: We are now going to have double glazing installed in the Presbytery and the neighbouring house. The next Tesco Foodbank initiative will be on the weekend of 29–30th November. Tesco were in the news this week announcing that unfortunately, they still have to waste a large quantity of vegetables.
2. One World weekend 18-20 October 2013
AM: This was very successful and well attended, but there was no banner, so public awareness of the event was very limited.
FB: I agree, on the whole the weekend was successful. The Sunday Service was well attended, but mainly with church regulars. 20 St James’ parishioners were there. I wished I had invited the Confirmation Group. However the banner did not materialise and one of the churches had no representation. However it was a successful for the new Methodist Minister Juliet.
GT: I found them very welcoming there.
MM: These inter-church events develop slowly.
FB: The speaker from Christian Aid was pleased to come, but the audience was too small.
GT: Agreed that the confirmation group would have benefited from attending.
3. Traidcraft stall
DB: The ordinary Traidcraft stall will be on 9–10th Nov. The purpose will be to clear the ordinary stock and take advanced orders for Real Advent Calendars. However Traidcraft are running low. We will not take monies until the calendars are delivered.
GT: Cocoa pods have proved useful for playing a ‘Fairtrade Game’ at Beavers.
DB: There is a booklet inside the Real Advent Calenders.
TW: Are all the chocolates the same shape?
DB: I don’t know, however they are priced at £3.99 each.
FB: Let me know when you want the publicity to be released.
(Members agree this and also the rota for 9–10th November).
FB: Once again, thank you for your hard work.
4. LiveSimply update
TW: There will be another gardening day on Saturday. There’s not too much to do, just some weed killing and clearing.
FB: Joe has the plan clearly marked out?
TW: The hedging will arrive on 4th November in pots. Next Spring will be the major planting time.
FB: It’s a bit of a shame to have the garden closed off.
TW: Perhaps it can be open more often on nice days?
FB: When Archbishop Peter visits he will bless the garden. On the same day, Chris Bain (Director of CAFOD) is due to present the award – assuming we pass it. I only know of one other parish that has applied for this award – Tunbridge Wells.
5. Bromley Borough Foodbank
DB: The next Foodbank collection will be 16–17th November.
FB: That weekend is also the mission Sunday, but no problems.
(GT & DB have offered to transport the food to the Foodbank after the collection).
MM: Do they distribute food at any time or at set times?
GT: We’re not too sure, but they are well organised and pleasant.
MM: The harvest appeal at St James’ School will go to the Foodbank.
FB: It must be difficult for people to go to the Foodbank. The then Anglican Bishop of Southwark set a challenge in 1965, to live for 5 days for £1. There were interesting results. It is important to walk in someone else’s shoes.
5. New overseas project
FB: OC was going to talk, but as he is not here, we will probably have to wait until next meeting. However, does anyone have any thoughts?
MM: Connect 2 was never intended to be a long term project.
DB: We have to make a list of criteria of what sort of new scheme we should take on. It has to appeal to all age groups and be an accountable project.
GT: I found the You Touch Africa website very thorough. It gave much detail about all the projects.
FB: Father Arbo will be moving to Kidbrooke soon.
MM: We will put this discussion on hold until next meeting.
GT: Perhaps an alternative could be Medicins sans Frontieres. Accountability is important.
DB: The project needs to be personalised.
FB: We can still take on an overseas project, but we must not forget that there are also radical pockets of poverty nearby.
6. J&P Group chair
FB: OC is happy to carry on as chair. Alternatively someone else may wish to do this.
7. Any other business
FB: It would be nice to get some more members.
GT: The church could do with some more cleaning equipment. Not bought but donated by parishioners.
TW: We do have a steam mop in the hall. I suppose this could be used in the church as well.
MM: During cleaning sessions we do however need more time to prepare equipment, e.g. emptying the vacuum and rinsing mops. Not such a problem if the group size is increased.
FB: The J&P group will be cleaning alongside the Live Simply team on 2nd November. My feeling was it was unfair when there was just one team of people doing church cleaning every week, so that is why all parish groups have been asked to contribute.
TW: Perhaps in future if you know you’re going to be away, then you should find a substitute, rather than just phoning to say you will not be there?
FB: I am thinking about moving Exposition to another slot during the week, so that cleaning can start after the Saturday Mass at 10:00am.
TW: There will be another CAFOD speaker at Westminster Abbey at the end of November. I will get more details and if there is interest get hold of tickets.
MM: Perhaps a note could be put in Briefly asking for more J&P members?
FB: Please let me know if anyone wishes to address the congregation to promote the J&P group. The next spare slot will be on the Feast of Christ the King on 23rd -24th November.
MM: I will try and write something with a view to speaking then.
FB: My own view about LiveSimply, is that once we hopefully get the award we should stop. I am aware however that RW wants to keep the ‘Spirit of LiveSimply’ alive in some form.7
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 9.10pm.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 27th November at 7.45pm.