CTNA Chairman's Report 2007

First my apologies for remaining in office a month longer than my term due to the Breakfast hosted by Glendale Church at Newbury Rugby Club on 10 November and the postponement therefore of the AGM until this morning!

Actually this illustrates an important principle: that CTNA exists to support churches and is flexible to their programmes; wherever possible we try to avoid clashes that would indicate both to members and to outsiders that churches simply do their own thing instead of working together in the service of Jesus Christ.

It has been another busy year in the full Christian programme with many successes. Barry Kirk's visit in January to speak at the Service marking the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity sparked the flame that has ignited Church Leaders' desire to meet regularly to pray. Since March we have done so each Tuesday morning at St John's, and have hosted visits from Barry Kirk, Roy Crowne (YFC) and Steve Wood from Shoemakers.

Good Friday saw a changed format to the United Service with contributions from local Leaders in place of one straight sermon and this was well received. More work needs to be done in effecting a greater impact on the town as we attempt to witness to the death of our Lord and its significance. Easter sunrise was well attended. The Rest Tent at Newbury Show was a cause of concern for Edwina, the organiser: in the event it turned out to be even more successful than previously.

The IMPACT mission into local secondary schools was fully supported and plans are in place for a Christmas Dinner for the lonely- something Edwina and I have been working on since last February and which under her guidance is coming together well. The January Unity service is at St John's on the 20th at 6-30pm

The Executive have also met with Mark Broadhurst to establish a Steering Group to plan events in 2008 under the HOPE08 banner.

I have enjoyed my return to the heart of CTNA over the past four years. I was one of those who shaped the original Constitution as we brought together the Newbury Council of Churches and Mission Newbury in the early 90s and was grateful to David Cook, to Ron Burke and to Steve Vardy who helped to re-shape it in the later 90s.

During the year we have said farewell to two stalwarts; Keith AlIen who organised the Pulpit Exchange and was an inspiration to both the URC and St Nic' s fellowships and a Council of Churches advocate and, just a few weeks ago, Mark Rye. Mark was a real enthusiast for God and a determined partner in many ecumenical activities. He was one of the visionaries for Mission Newbury as long ago as 1986 and his zeal for a Christian Bookshop was important in the establishing of Shoemakers - he devised the name and remained a Trustee until his death.

I want to thank the Executive for loyal support and high attendance at the meetings held over the year and especial thanks to Rose Dyas for compiling the Newsletter and sending it out monthly: please let her know who would like to receive it and give her e-mail addresses. I would also like to thank John Bramhall and Val Vincent for keeping the monthly Prayer Breakfasts going. Over recent months we have been one Executive member light due to Nelia Ibson's incapacity. We wish her well on her recovery road.

I am confident that you will be well lead by Edwina over the next few years and wish the new executive God's blessing.

Rev Brian Taylor

Chairman CTNA