Christians Together in Wrexham/ Cydweithio Gyda Crist yn Wrecsam Agenda St. John s Rhosnesni 7.30pm Thursday 28 th April 2016

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1 Christians Together in Wrexham/ Cydweithio Gyda Crist yn Wrecsam Agenda St. John s Rhosnesni 7.30pm Thursday 28 th April 2016 Present: Richard Sharples (Wrx Methodist), Sarah Errington (St. Johns), Sarah Opper (YWAM), Mark Vening (YWAM), Elizabeth Waddington(IPAC/Comm Church), Gareth Jones (Christ Church,/SP/CLF), Peter Devaney (Salisbury Park), Joan & Michael Winwood (Prison Fell ), John Hodgkinson (Comm. Church), Mike Norbury (CAP/Comm. Church), Chris Norbury, Pat Roper (Comm. Church), Ian Davis (Salvation Army), Sandy Davis (Salvation Army), Elaine Smith (St. Marks), Jonathan Smith (St. Margaret s), Kathy Williams (Gwersyllt/Chaplaincy), John Williams (Brynteg), Menna Davis (Capel y Groes), Helen (St. Margaret s) Phil Arton (Comm Church), Elizabeth Roberts (St. Marys), Mike Lacy (XL Mentoring/Comm Church), Rhian (Capel y Groes), Gwenann (Capel y Groes), David Fewster (St. Johns), Sue Allen (Christ Church), Sue (St. Margaret s), Anne (St. Marys/SVP), John (St. Mary s), Dilys Moore (St James) (Note: 20 different churches or groups represented!) 1) Welcome: a) Devotion/Thought and Prayer by Host Church (Sarah Errington) i) Took time to silently think of ways we appreciate God in other people and considered also actions in the world that break God s heart. Then we wrote a name of a person you want to reach out to on heart-shaped sticky paper and placed it on the outline person on poster in centre. b) Introductions c) Apologies: Geraint Owen (Trinity), Art Ellinson (St. Marks), Brian Matthews (Trinity/WFTR), Kay Polley (TCC), Chris Lawton (Church Army) 2) Updates & Reviews a) Lent & Good Friday review i) Service was excellent and led nicely into Walk of Witness, loved community joining in, superb with SA band, drama was excellent, lots of good feedback about more songs in Eagle s Meadows ii) Suggestions for Improvement - couldn t always see or hear the actors so could we have a PA system, request for more bi-lingual advertising and some verses of hymns in Welsh b) Prayer & Volunteering Marketplace review i) Nearly 100 people through including stewards (most came to the services), very wide range of groups represented, exhibitors loved the idea but low attendance for drop in, results of prayer is ongoing, not sure the outcome for new volunteers overall ii) Suggestions for Improvement questioned the timing of week, and whether it needed to be in a more public sphere (not church) to attract others (like library), suggestion to finish in Queen s Square, suggestion to do several shorter events throughout the year instead of full week c) TCC Hustings event review i) Very good event at University ACTION: Send around Cytûn Policy Manifesto and links for elections information just before Election (Sarah Opper) d) Holiday Hunger Lunches review i) Good media coverage about this recently, well received by play group staff and kids and hopeful to be ongoing through all holidays, thankful for wide range of volunteers e) Prison work review i) Michael and Joan Winwood are new Chairs for Prison Fellowship. Conference was well supported, about 60 attended, some local interest in Prison Fellowship, one of chaplains spoke very well. Thanks to Gareth for organising and YWAM & Chris & Art for background work ii) Governor spoke at another event, he s very forward thinking, shared on structure of prison and how treating prisoners as humans who can be rehabilitated instead of criminals. Mark John, Chaplain, has a brain tumour and advertising currently happening for the other chaplaincy roles.

2 There will be only 700 Welsh prisoners with most coming from Manchester, Cheshire, Shrewsbury. This is the first of 10 of new super prisons, first new prison in 40 years so it s a great opportunity for Wrexham. f) International Fellowship & baptism reviews i) Ran Christianity Explored for 6 weeks, numbers increased and have kept up. Baptised 3 immigrants on Easter Sunday and more requests for baptism. Several attenders are applying for leave to stay in the UK with many challenges. Recent outing to Delamere Forest with over 30 adults + 10 children from 13 different countries. Meet every Sunday at Wxm Methodist Church and is run by an ecumenical team. g) Marriage Course review i) Recently ran again at Wrexham Methodist Church with four couples after it ran several times a few years ago, impressive course from HTB. Contact Gareth Jones or Richard Sharples for details. h) Rocksalt closure i) Pete & Ruby attended Mission Wrexham for many years and ran this much-loved kids club in Caergwrle for nearly 20 years and announced they must close due to ill health. Ruby has slightly improved since deciding to close so they are re-assessing how Rocksalt could continue in a new format given this improvement. Greetings were sent to them from CTW as a mark of appreciation for sacrificial service. 3) Mission a) Caia Park/Church Army i) New avenues made into community, Josh working undercover and making headway with hard to reach people on Park, Chris doing assemblies at 2 schools and running events (Mad Hatters Tea Party) which have been surprisingly well attended so more events are in planning as well as possibly an After-School club ii) Church Army, Methodist Circuit and YWAM are meeting together regularly to plan how to work together on Caia Park b) Christian Aid engagement i) We have a local committee and new people are MOST welcome to join the community. Need door to door collection volunteers. New envelopes will be available. ii) Attendance at Trinity Hunger Lunch was pitiful after attempting to re-boot. Is decline due to the number of other ministries? iii) Next United Service (8 th May at Trinity at 6pm) is a Christian Aid organised c) Recommend Servant Queen resource for mission (Booklet reflects on her faith) i) Servant Queen Booklets available for 1 and you should then give them away (have been produced by many reputable organisations). ii) St. John s organising a service, Christ Church doing an event, Rhosddu Methodist doing an outside tea party, Salvation Army want to do a party in park d) Refugee/Asylum support i) Just Across very busy offering friendship and 3 levels of English class (more teachers needed). Many new families and individuals in recent month, many with trauma and lost family members and suffering. Intl Fellowship represented as well as Health Visitors and Red Cross who come along to help serve asylum seekers. A 30 min. prayer service happens each Thursday with many nationalities represented ii) Just Across Health Visitors distribute fruit & veg bags to 20 families, many churches have contributed to this ( 2500 per year to fund it, one year of funding secured already) iii) Lorry going from Wrexham on 14 th May, a long list of items (Google: wcmrefugees), warehouse is number 8 in Whitegate though limited opening hours during elections (Kate Wilkinson is contact) ACTION: Tell the Foodbank (who gets donations they can t easily give out in parcels) they could contribute items that might be suitable for Lorry (Sarah Opper) e) Chaplaincy i) Glyndwr Chaplaincy: Need money for Student BBQs and hospitality events and Mission

3 Wrexham used to contribute, could we give again toward their hospitality? Phil suggested 150 and many voiced agreement and support. ACTION: Respond to Naomi and coordinate Phil to give cheque in Autumn (Richard Sharples) ii) Coleg Cambria Chaplaincy: Chaplaincy has grown with more on team, running activities and having good conversations, it s a strategic work. 4) Youth & Children a) Messy Church Methodists running it in 4-5 places, Llangollen Ecumenical version, Gresford Methodist running in morning worship, Christ Church runs a similar in Hightown Community Centre, Trinity monthly, and Salvation Army praying about it and using park across street. i) Thank you to Salvation Army for their sacrificial service to the Homeless. Good news that some are coming to services now! b) Youth Worker council funding has been cut (hard decision but budget is limited). Churches need to be aware this has happened. c) Methodist Circuit looking to employee a paid youth worker. Capel y Groes shares a Welsh youth worker with Flintshire. Anglican Mission are looking at their youth work overall. d) Ongoing youth meetings and clubs i) Friday Night Life and Friday socials and mid-week groups for different ages going on regularly at Community church ii) Crewe by Farndon runs Rock the Call regularly and music/band youth club on Fridays others are welcome iii) All Saints Poyser St has a successful youth group running. iv) Bradley Road has a Friday group v) St. John s runs C2 each week on Fridays vi) Wrexham Methodist Church fairly open Youth Club continues on Fridays. e) XL Mentoring trained mentors paired with struggling youth to be positive & consistent influence with one to one weekly meetings, working with Ysgol Grango, would like to grow into more schools/youth clubs/colleges. Mental health and stress is growing in young people and mentoring is a key solution for this in young people s lives. Looking for funding and referrals for young people and more mentors to be trained. (Contact Mike Lacy xlmentoringwrexham@gmail.com) f) St. John s Thursday after school primary school kids Banana Club (11 years running together with Christ Church and YWAM), half the leadership leaving soon so struggling to find leaders and/or funding for paid leaders so it might have to close if people aren t found. (Contact Sarah Errington at vicarstjohnswxm@gmail.com) g) Soul Survivor & Greenbelt i) Soul Survivor tens of thousands of young people go to a 4-5 day conference aimed at youth (secondary school age), totally life changing for the youth, Community Church organised and takes youth from 7+ churches, all church youth are welcome to join the Community Church group that is going (Contact Mike Lacy at wrexhamyouth@gmail.com or on ) ii) Greenbelt Richard driving a bus there, all welcome to join (not just families it s for everyone) h) Open The Book Methodists involved with Anglicans in Hope/Caergwrle, Capel y Groes is in Welsh Schools in area. Both groups said how fun it is to run and how much the kids enjoyed it. i) 6 th Form Meetings - Evening meeting twice a term for 6 th formers and people in college, with games/food/chat/reflection/sharing, all 6 th formers welcome to network and fellowship (contact Cathy Williams catherine.williams@cambria.ac.uk) j) Young Adults (19-29) YWAM and Llay Nazarene tried last year to start something for this age range with games, talk, and food. But they struggled to get church leaders to promote it so it wasn t as well attended as hoped. YWAM hasn t got the resources to do it on their own but they would want to partner with someone on it. k) Methodists across Wales (English and Welsh Language work) are arranging an exchange with Jamaica with young people raising contributions also. Richard & Biddy s daughter going.

4 5) Worship and Prayer a) United service May 8, 6:00pm at Trinity, Christian aid organising, please come b) Bethel weekend in May (hosted by Community Church and at Salvation Army) - Flyers available, Bethel is a church in Redding, California and two of their key leaders are coming over to run various meetings (see bulletins for details) including a Leaders Day at Salvation Army with all leaders welcome (broad definition of leader ) and a 2 day conference called Prosperous Soul (note: not a financial focus but more holistic) c) Pilgrimage & Poetry Pilgrimage details in bulletin d) Ongoing Prayer Groups i) Mark on Park monthly first Monday (alt am/pm), focus on Caia Park, all welcome ii) Costa group Wednesdays in Island Green Costs, little flag/poster inviting people to join them, all welcome to participate or come for prayer. Group would like to have a prayer tree in a public place (library or college?) for the public to add their prayers to and the group will gather prayers and pray for them. Need some funding for materials. CTW can treat it a long-term resource for CTW and churches. Phil suggested CTW give up to 50 and many voiced agreement and support ACTION: Communicate to Biddy who can take steps to make this happen (Richard Sharples) iii) Prison Fellowship Wednesdays monthly at 7, some training from PF manual, prayer for prison, CTW see this as our focused way of engaging with the new Prison iv) St. Margaret s Wednesdays, communion, shared lunch & prayer all welcome e) Cinnamon Network They ve approached us to ask if we are interested in them providing leadership training for help with projects/setting up new social action projects. Usual training Saturday 9-5 (no lunch provided) by regional trainer in Wales, Tim Able, and 1 other CN staff. A London version costs 22/person but bursary s available. On the back of a successful Faith Action Audit. If desired, need a host building to provide facility, hospitality, and projector. CN has given 3 possible 18 th June, 2 nd July, and 9th July. (Elaine Smith is contact faithactionauditwrexham@gmail.com) Discussion: All agreed the latest date is best so choose 9 th July. If for then YWAM can offer this but if it s more than a church is needed. ACTION: Communicate with CN about 9th July and find out about costs, as well as identify project leaders and ask if they are interested, once number known chose a venue, contact AVOW about it too (Elaine Smith) f) Roger Jones Musical in Llangollen, Gresford and Wrexham in May (see bulletin) 6) Salt and Light Ministries: a) Ministry reports from many ministries in town available in next bulletin and on website. Request a paper copy from Sarah at info@ctwrexham.org.uk b) Local Established ministry brief verbal reports i) Foodbank changes - now open M/W/F and donations should all go to Warehouse on Bersham Industrial Estate and not the Salvation Army ii) Street/School Pastors recruitment drive for more new Street & School pastors, volunteers needed with organisation/admin ASAP iii) IPAC (pregnancy counselling) slow going but new administrator and website happening, applied to join Pastoral Care UK (support given to team), recently found out about Care Open an organisation helps Church Leaders engage with their young ladies who get abortions. Pat Roper shared a testimony from one her clients and how God moved. 7) Sharing of News: a) Report from Church Leader s Fellowship continues to be encouraging, good number attending. CLF are encouraging pulpit exchanges between churches. b) Church/Congregation News i) Rhosnesni Chapel closed on Easter Sunday ii) Rock Chapel (AoG) established, Dave Rowlands moving here, intention to build a new fresh congregation in Caia Park

5 iii) Presbyterian minister no official news but a vote was taken last Sunday, new post will cover 6 churches in area, would be appointed later this year (no official news until after churches involved are told) iv) Llay Nazarene church leaders Jonny & Jen Blake moving to Canada and the church is calling for Pulpit fillers from August onwards (Contact Llay Nazarene secretary Gemma Colclough at gemco82@hotmail.com) v) Sam Erlandson arrived and serving in All Saints Church, Poyser Street and Holy Trinity Church, Rhostyllen, and Jonathan Smith will invite him to future meetings. c) YWAM Legal & Leadership changes became an independent legal charity in December 2015 and now have a functioning Board. Mark & Sue Vening are stepping back as Wrexham Community Leaders and are handing it over to Bob & Sarah Opper through the next few months. Venings will remain part of the YWAM community locally and continue to serve at YWAM Wales National Coordinator. 8) Business a) Minutes of Last Meeting (28 th January 2016) i) Finance correction: Collection was , Brian Matthews paid 125 to Norwich Books and was agreed to keep it as a simple transaction b) Sarah Opper, Communications Officer on furlough need volunteer for bulletin mid-june to mid- August, would like to train someone in May for 2 bulletins. If not one volunteers, bulletins will pause for 8 weeks. c) Finances i) 234 in CTW, awaiting transfer from old Cytûn account (minus outgoing 150 to Glyndwr Chaplaincy and 50 to Prayer Tree) ii) Jonathan has bill for 110 from St. Giles for printing Prayer Diaries iii) Q: Do Churches pay a yearly fee? No, in our constitution we state that we we occasionally ask for a donation but it s not regular. Donations always welcome. 9) Future Meetings: a) Sunday 8 th May, 6pm, United Service for Christian Aid at Trinity b) Thursday, July 14 th, :00 pm., (AGM) at Capel y Groes c) Autumn United Service, 27 th November 6:00pm at Wrexham Methodist (pm) with Elfed Godding, EA (kicking off Advent) 10) Closing Prayers