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READERS BULLETIN SPRING 2012

Thoughts from the Chair,

The meetings of the Hereford Diocesan Reader Committee take a fairly predictable form, as do most committee meetings. Unfortunately at our last meeting our treasurer had to report that thTe committee funds were at present in deficit. We felt, as a committee, we could not ask the diocese for an increase in the allowance they make for Reader Ministry in these difficult times. We are all too aware of the views of some Readers on this tricky subject. However the committee does feel that we should try to make an effort to reduce our costs if only in the short term. The committee will be moving their meetings from the Bishop Mascall Centre in Ludlow to the Diocesan Office which is only about three quarters of a mile away. This will save the cost of room hire and committee members will supply their own refreshments.

After careful consideration and much discussion the whole committee agreed that the only other area in which we can make a significant saving is on the Christmas Book Tokens. We are all very loath to do this as it is offered by the diocese as an encouragement to Readers to purchase additional reading materials that might be helpful in their ministry. If you feel strongly that you would like to continue to receive the Book Token please contact me directly. The committee made it very clear that they would continue to support 'Readers in Training' and if possible increase support in this area. I appreciate our decision could be quite controversial but once we have a healthy balance sheet we will as a committee be considering how we can best support all Readers in their ministries.

In our parish we are now well into our Lent Course and Easter is not that far away. My wife Penny and I together with several others from our parish went on the half day training course run by Nick Helm for 'Soul Spark' and we all came away very fired up. We have three groups running and Penny and I are leading the Monday Evening Group. To be fair Penny is doing most of the leading and I am playing the supporting role. I will be very interested to see how the numbers on the course hold up as it is taking people into areas of their spiritual life that most of us have never explored before. If you are involved in 'Soul Spark' we would be interested to hear how you are getting on (comments to our editor for the Summer Bulletin please).

Easter, I think, is my favourite time of year. We are very fortunate in our village, the church is situated at just about the highest point and has spectacular views all round. It is wonderful after celebrating the risen Christ on Easter Day that one can come out of church and look down on God's spectacular creation. I find it so wonderful yet so humbling at the same time.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy Easter.
Barrie.

From the Editor.

It is a priviledge to be trusted with the editing of this bulletin. I will be glad to hear any comments or criticisms you may have.

If you don't know me I am Reader at the Cathedral. This means that my ministry is not quite the same as those of you in the parishes but there are still ways in which Reader ministry can be exercised and I feel it is important that there should be a Reader at the Cathedral.

I used to teach Maths and IT and so have been using computers since they first came into schools. Nowadays I find it really helpful that on a smartphone, tablet, or even a Kindle, one can easily download the daily office with the correct readings and collect for the day in situ. There is no need to look anything up. It is all together in one place. For me it makes praying the office distraction free. If you haven't found this yet you can do so at http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/join-us-in-daily-prayer.aspx

Graham Bennett
graham@archenfield.fsnet.co.uk

From the Warden.

Reader Movements

It with great sadness that we record the death on 1st February of Roy Pearce, of Holy Trinity, Hereford. At 78 he was one of our oldest Readers, and probably the longest serving, having been admitted in 1955. May he rest in peace.
We congratulate Joyce Banbury of Eardisley, who had the honour of Reader Emeritus conferred on her on January 6th at a singular service for the Epiphany at Winforton.
We welcomed Kath Riordan (formerly Kath Farmer) back to the Diocese and to her previous parishes of the Bucknell group at the beginning of the year.
The Revd. Lynn Money has replaced Prebendary Jane Davies as Sub-Warden for the Readers of the Bromyard Deanery.

Annual Reports

Although the majority of the Annual Reports for 2011 have been returned to the Warden, there are still some outstanding. If yours in one of those - could you get it to Andrew as soon as possible please. Thank you.

Chrism Eucharist

As in previous years, all readers are warmly invited to robe and attend the Chrism Eucharist at our Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, April 5th at 10.30 am; to join with other licensed and commissioned minsters to recommit ourselves within our ministries to the service of God, his Church and our communities.
Your incumbent has been sent all the details of this service, and should have shared this information with you. This reminder is just in case it has slipped his or her memory.

Reader chosen to receive Maundy Money

Just to let you know that, having checked with the Bishop of Manchester's office, it is now in the public domain regarding nominees to receive Maundy Money from HM the Queen at York on Maundy Thursday and our nominee, Mrs Vivian Norgrove, Lay Co Chair of Telford Severn Gorge and Reader, is very pleased to now be able to share the news of this honour with her friends and family.

News from Mike Wilkinson

As you know I am involved with Through Faith Missions, which works with various churches across the country of all denominations helping them take the Gospel into their locality. Through them I embarked, a few years ago, on a course of study in evangelism. This was in conjunction with St. John's College Nottingham ( extension studies) & the London Bible College. One of the offshoots of Through Faith Missions is the Society of Contemporary Evangelists. I am pleased to be able to say that I have now completed my studies and will receive my certificate some time next year. Because of the studies I did for Reader training I was given some credits for the St John's, Nottingham course.

On another point I have very recently been elected as the Chairperson of Hereford Open Door which provides cooked breakfasts two days per week for anyone that is homeless or living on their own in poor circumstances. All done through voluntary donations from various sources and with volunteer labour, of which I am one. For a week at Christmas we provide a light breakfast and a cooked lunch each day.