This was the last meeting of the 2007/8 PCC before the elections at the Annual Parochial Meeting in April.

Much of the meeting was in fact concerned with preparing for the annual meetings, including finalising the agendas and considering and approving the annual report.

Unfortunately the annual accounts were not back from the independent examiner in time for the meeting but the accounts, unlike the annual report, do not need prior acceptance by the PCC before being presented for adoption at the annual meeting.

Another annual requirement at the last meeting of the year is for the churchwardens to present the updated inventories of the churches to the PCC and this was duly done for both St Alban’s and St Mary’s.

• Other matters reported to and discussed at the meeting were:
  
  An update on parish priorities and Mission Audit. Agreed priorities included a review of the pattern of worship, reviewing the system of pastoral care in the parish, and developing lay training for specific ministries.

The outcome of our Mission Audit work is due to be presented to the Deanery Synod in May and is likely to include some of the topics from our list of priorities. The format for reporting to Deanery Synod is still awaited.

• The financial position. Jean Brooke reported that the general fund was in credit and that she had paid two instalments of Parish Share so far this year. The Share amount was somewhat notional at this stage of the year as the outcome of our application for Aided Benefice status was still not known.
  
  
• Issues arising from the meeting of the Worship & Pastoral Care Group in February which included consideration of some of the main proposals in the priority areas, particularly the pastoral care system and the review of worship.
  
  Suggestions for the pastoral care system included additional Lay Pastors, the establishment of ‘Care Rings’ within our congregations and of Care Ring Co-Ordinators to work with the Lay Pastors.
  
  The review of worship was at a very early stage but one agreed outcome was the introduction of monthly healing services. Also agreed at the meeting was the suggestion to have a Sunday later in the year when people would be encouraged to visit another church in Southampton to see what is happening in similar or analogous churches to ours.

The meeting concluded with sparkling wine to mark the end of the PCC year and many thanks to Gary for providing it. The best wine was certainly kept to the end on this occasion, as on a previous one which you may recall.