Closure of Chapter Balance Sheet

The chapter's finances have been brought to final account. In accordance with the rules of the GSS, the assets of the chapter have been sent to the Secretary-General to be held until such time as the chapter is reformed. The final balance of the chapter amounted to £1,131.12 and a cheque has been issued to the Secretary-General in this amount. A summary of the final balance is posted on this weblog for your information. Thank you to Trevor Langrish for preparing the final balance and for Michael Ling for auditing it for us.

Final Balance Sheet

Receipts and Payments Account for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 May 2013

Receipts
Collection March - St Mary's, Kidlington £25.00
Donations £25.00
Bank interest Lloyds TSB Account £1.26
Total Receipts £51.26

Payments
Secretary's expenses 2012 £188.56
Secretary's expenses 2013 £38.46
Total Payments £227.02

Balance Sheet as at 31 May 2013
Balance at 1 January 2013 £1,306.88
Less Deficit £175.76
£1,131.12

Balance at bank £1,169.58
Less unpresented cheques £38.46
£1,131.12

Bernard Hepburn

We have received the sad news that Bernard Hepburn passed away in May after a long illness. Bro Bernard became a member of the GSS in 1995. He did not attend chapter meetings latterly but kept in touch with the chapter and he was a faithful altar server at SS Mary & John's Church in Oxford where he was the longest serving server at the time of his death. Our condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace.

Minutes of the Chapter AGM 2013

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Guild of Servants of the Sanctuary – Chapter of St Birinus held on 13th March 2013 at the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Kidlington.

Present: Bros. Trevor Langrish, Ben Heffer (chair), Ken Belcher and Dennis Dean; Srs. Susan Greenaway, Jenney Dowdeswell and Angela Dean; supporters Pam Cooper and Barbara Belcher.

Chapter Secretary’s Report 2013

The chapter roll remains unchanged at 24 comprising 15 members, seven life members and two associate members. In December I learned of the death of Bro Sid Cox. He died in Sobell House, Oxford on 22nd March 2012 (shortly after the AGM last year). Bro. Sid was a life member of the GSS and originally attended the Abingdon Chapter before its closure. Living in Didcot, he had the rather awkward journey by train, bus and by foot to get to Guild Offices in Kidlington, but that did not deter him and I know he really enjoyed coming to chapter meetings.

Chapter Treasurer's Report 2013

In 2012, again there was little activity with the chapter’s finances. Income was £146.04 (£82.17 up on that for 2011). This is because we had increased giving in collections during celebrations of the Guild Office, donations (one for a retirement gift and one chapter donation) one membership subscription paid in (therefore also paid out). Expenditure was £102.00 (£94.86 up on that for 2011). This is due principally to no Secretary’s expenses being submitted during 2012 (those for 2012 were submitted early in 2013); there was also a donation to the Candidates for Ordination Fund. The deposit account remains untouched and is accumulating interest – the balance on it is currently £1,153.12. This leads to our total assets for the end of 2012 being £1,306.88.

Next Meeting

The next chapter meeting will be held in St Mary's Church, Kidlington on Wednesday, 13th March at 7.30pm.

After a celebration of the Guild Office the chapter's Annual General Meeting will be convened to recieve the report and accounts and elect chapter officers. The minutes of the last meeting held on 16th March 2011 can be found here.

Agenda
1. Opening Prayer
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Minutes of the AGM 2012
4. Matters Arising
5. Secretary’s Report
6. Treasurer’s Report
7. Election of Chapter Officers
8. Chapter Programme 2013
9. Any Other Business
10. Closing Prayer

Nominations for positions of chapter secretary and chapter treasurer should be notified to the current secretary prior to the meeting, similarly those wishing to serve on the chapter committee should advise the secretary, who will be happy to tell them more about the duties involved.

Lent 2013

Christian! dost thou see them

On the holy ground,

How the troops of Midian

Prowl and prowl around?

Christian! up and smite them,

Counting gain but loss:

Smite them by the merit

Of the Holy Cross!

Christian! dost thou feel them,

How they work within,

Striving, tempting, luring,

Goading into sin?

Christian! never tremble!

Never be down-cast!

Smite them by the virtue

Of the Lenten Fast!

From Hymns of the Eastern Church, 1866

Lent is a period of fasting and abstinence for christians. Fasting means eating just one main meal during a day; abstinence means refraining from eating meat. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence; and Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting and abstinence.

Candlemas

"Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 3.1

The Epiphany of the Lord

All they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. Alleluia. Isaiah 60.6

The kings of Tarsish and of the isles shall bring presents: the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Psalm 72.10