Vestry Notes
The latest meeting of the Vestry took place on Tuesday , September 8 th . This was a week later than the usual date for a Vestry meeting as it was felt that asking Lesley-ann to chair a meeting only days after her Licensing Service would have been a bit much .
The meeting did indeed begin with a welcome to our new Priest-in-Charge , the Rev Lesley-ann Craddock .
It was evident from her report to the Vestry that she has already started to make her mark in the area .
We were glad to hear that she and her husband , Ashley , were settling into their new home very well and meeting their neighbours who had welcomed them even if they might have been a bit bemused by the idea of a “ woman minister ” who didn ’ t always wear a clerical collar !
When Lesley-ann was appointed we were told that she and her husband would form a team when it came to mission and service St Oswald ’ s . This certainly seems to be true as it was announced that Ashley had volunteered to be Property Convener .
This news was received with great relief by all members of the Vestry and particularly by the Secretary . He already has plans for erecting the Episcopal Church sign ( somewhat disrespectfully referred to by most of us as “ the pub sign ”) outside the church once a wooden pole can be found to replace the rusty metal one .
This should tell people that St Oswald ’ s is indeed a church and not just a hall for meetings ! Meanwhile a poster version of “ the pub sign ” has been inserted in the notice-board just inside the church railings .
As you know , Lesley-ann ’ s duties involve her pioneer ministry in the surrounding area .
Because of this the 10:30 service on Wednesday morning will be Holy Communion only on the first Wednesday of the month . In the other weeks it will be Mattins which can be led by lay members of the congregation as Lesley-ann is meeting other members of the local community elsewhere .
During the meeting it was decided to hold our Harvest Service on Sunday 4 th October 2015 . Please see Harvest Festival notice elsewhere in the magazine - gifts of food & money to the City Mission and Foodbank .
Paula Fleetwood StOM Page 11