CTNA Chairman's Report 2006

The Executive Committee has worked well together throughout the year.
The following events have been organised directly by CTNA:

• Exchange of Pulpits and United Service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
• Lent and Advent Lunches and Lunchtime Services at Newbury Baptist Church,
• Good Friday United Service and Walk of Witness,
• The Rest Tent at Newbury Show,
• Regular Monthly Prayer Breakfasts for Church Leaders and Reps,
• Meetings of the Newbury Clergy Fraternal,
• A Quiet Day of Prayer at Elmore Abbey.

Contact has been continued with and support given to associated Christian bodies,
ie Shoemakers, COINS Trust, Loose Ends, YMCA, Sustain, Christian Aid.

The Newbury Joint Alpha is in its second year; individual churches have shared their programmes and a Monthly News Bulletin has helped us to be better informed and to pray more clearly for each other's activities.

Chris Ward, our Treasurer over the past two years, has found it increasing difficult to attend Executive Meetings and has tendered his resignation. The work of Treasurer is not arduous but it is important and we are seeking someone with basic Book- Keeping skills to do this job. That position apart, the Executive is in good shape and hopeful of being re-elected for a further year!

Plans are almost complete for the United Service on 20 January, which will take place at Newbury Methodist Church at 6-30pm, and details should shortly be available for a new-look Good Friday Act of Witness. Comments were most positive regarding the Rest Tent (organised by Edwina Cussen) and we hope for something similar for 2007.

The Exchange of Pulpits was dropped this year in order to concentrate more on the United Service but, if desired, it will certainly be re-instate able in the future.

A question which will need urgent attention very shortly is that of the Lent lunches. It is difficult to find enough helpers/cooks for 6 weeks and it may be that some other arrangement is due; this will not suit everyone, but we must be realistic and it is probably time to review the purposes of these lunches and services.

I would like to thank everyone for supporting me and giving me such prayerful encouragement during my time off work. It is good to be with you and back in action again! I look forward to another year servicing you in the Lord through CTNA.

Brian Taylor; 11/11/06