Our oldest member died in April at the age of 101 years. We also record the death of our former minister, Rev Ron McLaren in November. In April four people were baptised with three later being received into membership.

We marked our Christian calendar with special services at Easter, Pentecost, Harvest, our church anniversary and Christmas. At Easter we held a Maundy Thursday communion, took part in the Good Friday March of witness and celebrated an Easter day communion service. A quiz was held at harvest time and the preacher at our anniversary services was our minister's brother Malcolm. The Nativity play was up to its usual high standards and the Candle Light Carol Service was well attended.

Other activities have included the church ramble to Clent Hills, a visit to see the pantomime "Peter Pan" and a visit to the Riding Lights production of "Pipe Dreams". Some of the ladies in the fellowship attended the Day Apart at Kidderminster and the Federation Rally was held here in September when some of our men folk also attended.

As a fellowship we wish to record our thanks to all the leaders of these groups for all they do and to those who attend the groups for their encouragement and support. We also thank stewards, musicians, cleaners, flower arrangers, caterers, audio-visual team, the fabric team and those who host meetings at their own homes for all of their service to God.

Another special word of thanks must go to our minister and all the manse family for all they do in the Lord's name. Finally a thank you to all members of the fellowship here for all the love, loyalty, support and work that is done for the kingdom of God here.

Fabric Report

The Work Hour group has continued to meet on Wednesday mornings to carry out maintenance of the church. We completed the work on the church library, laid new carpet in the area and redecorated some of the walls in the church. A more secure stand for the TV was built and TVs were installed in the kitchen area and small hall. The painting of the radiator covers has been completed. On-going patching up of the flat roof of the large hall has been carried out as well as replacing some of the tiles on the hall and kitchen roofs. Minor electrical work and simple plumbing works features frequently. We carry out some maintenance in the grounds also. Two Work Mornings were held in the year and we thank all who came and helped to tidy up the premises and the grounds. The Work Hour team has its own inimitable style of work and humour! Nevertheless it makes a very valuable contribution to our church life for which say thank you.

Sunday School Report

The Sunday school to date has 21 members, and this year the prize giving and party was held in May 2006, the Sunday school trip to the American Adventure theme park in July and the very successful "Do-it-yourself Christmas Nativity play held in December. Both the children and other members of the congregation enjoyed seeing “Peter Pan" at the Palace theatre too at the close of the year.

This year we have been very grateful for the teaching help we have received. This has enabled the regular teaching staff to stay in for whole services and take it in turns to go in for communion.

As the year draws to a close we have to say goodbye to two teachers who have been dedicated workers in the Sunday school for a good many years between them and of course we mustn't forget their daughter who has grown up in the Sunday school. May I take this opportunity to say a big thank you for their support over the years and to say that both children and staff will miss them very much?

MINISTERS REPORT 2006

Being rather conscious that my report does not change an awful lot from year to year and also that other reports i.e. Deacon's - often overlaps some of the issues that I usually bring up I have decided to keep my report to an absolute minimum and make sure that it does not overlap one page of A4.

One big difference to tills year was of course that it was my sabbatical year, my second since coming to Redditch. During my first sabbatical seven years previously I started a Counselling Course, which included the 'Basics of Counselling' and 'Bereavement Counselling'. This time round I studied 'Crisis Counselling' & 'Relationship Counselling'. These modules completed my 'Diploma in Counselling'. I also used part of my sabbatical time to start writing a book entitled 'Why God' in an attempt to understand why we go through pain in all of its many forms. The book is well on its way - though very little has been added to it since my sabbatical.

Other highlights to the year for us as a family included our eldest daughter’s graduation with a 2.1 from Worcester University. Our middle daughters study and subsequent graduation with Oasis, and the start of her studying with Cliff College. Our youngest daughters studying of a Business Course with a view to use further her skills making cards etc.

For the past 2 years I have been on the Ministerial Recognition Group serving as its Assistant Moderator, however with the illness of the Moderator I took over as Moderator during the autumn. I am pleased to say that the Moderators health has since improved and he returned to the committee early in 2007 as Assistant Moderator. My work for HEBA continues with my ongoing work as a Home Mission visitor when along one of the Deacons we visited Rainbow Hill in Worcester and we were pleased to note that they have been awarded a Home Mission Grant. Also knowing that Malvern Baptist Church's minister was soon to be moving to Yeovil I was asked by the church and the Association to become their moderator and help them through the selection process of choosing another minister - though this work will not start until February 2007.

During this past year we formed several 'Working Groups' in the church some of which I am a member of. I head the 'Worship Working Group', which has met twice in the last 6 months since it was created and have as a result passed ideas on to the Sunday School and soon the Church Meeting. One result of this work is the soon to be 'All Age Worship' the initial 'try-out' which will have taken place by the time of our A.G.M.

I would like to close by thanking you all for your support throughout this past year and especially the deacons for time and effort given in love for the church.

Brownies

Our numbers are slowly increasing; we now have 9 girls attending regularly. This year we have enjoyed learning about safety in the kitchen. The Brownies have made chocolate truffles and chocolate /fruit fireworks (Nov). The girls invited a friend each to our Christmas party and each brought a plate of food to share (the showed us a few new dance moves!!!). Unfortunately we missed one week of Brownies because of the snow.

For our Disability Awareness Badge we walked into town to look at different buildings and how accessible they are for disabled people. The girls were invited to join all other brownies in Redditch for a District party event. We also went swimming at Hewel Road swimming baths and all the girls gained badges. This pas year we have done lots of craft activities and have learned some new games.
We will be going on pack holiday on the 30th March.

Mums and Tot's

May: We held a coffee morning and gave all the proceeds to Meningitis trust.
June: We visited 'Dobbie's World' by coach for our summer trip.
Summer break
September: We held another charity event selling cakes etc. for the Meningitis Trust.
December: We had a Christmas party and 'Santa' visited the children bringing gifts for all!
The number of mums and dads attending our weekly meetings has fluctuated between 2 and 15. We offer craft activities on a twice-weekly basis and have managed to purchase lots of new craft resources that have been put to good use. We have also purchased some new toys and thrown away some of the older overused or broken toys.

OUTREACH 2006/2007

Our Lord said:
"Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature"

WORKING GROUP

Met only once during this time / difficulties in getting together a number of people at one time although there were always ongoing conversations taking place between members. An area that requires attention.

ALPHA

A congregational Alpha course took place and the overall response and feedback was good giving the attendees and the leaders the opportunity to revisit basic faith principles and enabling leaders to identify possible course leaders and helpers Another Alpha took place in the autumn tying in with the National Alpha campaign and whilst numbers weren't high it was very ably lead. A mistake was made inadvertently with the advertising of this event and might have contributed to the numbers attending; however we were as a Church not able to bring forward any number of people. Going forward we as a group will at the next meeting reappraise and discuss Alpha as a vehicle in terms of demand/timing venue style. We would also take this opportunity to thank all the back staff Kitchen etc etc without this help these courses would be less than they are

WEBSITE

This has during the period been in the process of being updated and our thanks go to our webmater for his efforts and hard work WELCOME PACK this has been looked at and changes made.

TRUMPET CALL

A group of Church members attended the NEC and had a wonderful day in the company of other Christians from all over the country. A day of prayer/praise and witness for this Country

PROM PRAISE

A number of our members went to the Symphony hall and had an uplifting evening of song and praise

FAMILIES UNITE

An initiative by two of our number to provide help/ advise/ support to the Families of drug users was start up by them and following contacts with other people involved in this area regular meetings are taking place at the Church this imitative is being supported by the Church by funding training.

STREET PASTORING

Again following contacts in and about FAMILIES UNITE, two of our number have embarked on this concept of taking the word of God out of the Church to the people on the street are currently Shadowing Street Pastoring in Birmingham and undertaking counselling training courses supported by the Church.

CELEBRATE LIFE

A major Outreach campaign for 2007! Visit web site for up to date info. A Mission to Redditch by all the Churches in partnership with Counties to bring the word to the people of Redditch, we have already had a Leaders day/ Launch day/ and have attended a course on sharing our faith. A series of events from JESUS bus for schools to Youth events / Geezers FOR Jesus/ culminating in a mission fortnight in the town in September dates /venues to be announced during the year