News Archive - February 2021

Message from Catherine - Lent 2

Joy has asked me to write the message this week - there is good news, and not so good news!

The good news is very good indeed: I'm delighted to let you know that Stephen Burge, who is near the end of his curacy, is to become an Associate Minister in our parish. There will be a special service at 7pm on Thursday 22^nd April when Archdeacon Dave Middlebrook will license him in that role; please put the date in your diary.

We hope we will be able to gather in church on that occasion, but if we cannot, or numbers are too great to allow adequate social distancing, you will still be able to participate, as the service will also be live-streamed.

Now for the less good news.

As was expected, our income in 2020 was significantly affected by the pandemic. We saw a shortfall of about £12,000, but with careful management of expenditure, we were able to reduce our total deficit to £9,000 for the year. Regular giving and donations by church members held up very well, and thank you so much for that, but not being able to hold our usual services and fundraising events, throughout the year, and particularly around Christmas, was a significant blow.

Can you help improve our finances in 2021?

• If you are a taxpayer, please make sure your regular and one-off donations are gift aided. Gift Aid is an important element of our income providing an additional 25% top up to all the giving we receive from taxpayers. So your gift aid mandates are of great value to us
• Please consider if you can increase your regular giving this year or make a donation on our Give a Little online platform accessed via our website : givealittle.co/campaigns/29fe6e00-666d-4b8c-b884-f6cf60fc382
• Please support all our fundraising events this year; a programme of events, will be issued as soon as possible. Not only do they allow us to raise money to support our mission and our historic church building, but they do give us a sense of connectedness in these difficult times when we miss each other so much.

With all good wishes,
Catherine

P.S. Listen out this Saturday at 12 noon for 100 tolls from our tower. These will be in honour of Capt. Sir Tom Moore, who was a Bedfordshire resident. We have been asked to join in this initiative by the Bishop of Bedford to pay our respects on the day of Capt.Tom's funeral.

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