Present: D. Wotherspoon, H. Davie

Apologies for absence were received from C. Klingler. The meeting opened with prayer.

1. Cecily Klingler had asked the group to look at the problem of lack of space when the children came in after Junior Church. It was felt that there was no simple solution, and that further consideration needed to be given to this point.

2. It was noted that there was not always space by the walls for people to return to their places after taking communion. David undertook to remind the Delta church about this.

3. Wittigkofen was not available for the Nativity Play on the planned date. It was felt that the Nativity Play could be presented in church.

4. The newly restarted Music Group was having a positive effect on worship. Michael Onaderu was doing good work at motivating members. A musical leader was needed: David hoped that Nigel Coombs could fill this role. It was hoped to assemble folders of music to form a repertoire of material that could be sung: David would seek out music.

5. There was a shortage of service books. In the short term there was no opportunity to revise these. David undertook to liaise with Helen Hennings with the aim of collating an additional fifty copies, which might be assembled by the collating team on 30 April.

6. Pentecost would be a gift day for the building fund. It would be an all-age service, and the main theme would be the fruits of the Spirit. A flier would be produced, and distributed to other churches in Berne as well as to the congregation. David had stressed the theme in articles for the May magazine.

   Various ideas related to giving were considered: it was suggested that people might bring gifts which might be subsequently auctioned. It was also suggested that an ornate bond might be designed on which people might promise to give specific sums.

7. The sound system need reinstalling. David undertook to contact a person in the Delta congregation with the aim of having a professionally-installed system in operation by Whitsun.

8. The Communion Rail would be removed for 26 April. Reactions to their reappearance had been mixed. It was felt that they were certainly inappropriate for Morning Prayer. It was suggested that we should continue to encourage people to stand for communion, and might experiment with a "walk-past" communion, as had become the norm in many churches. (This would also save time.) As a first step this might take place in the context of a less formal service, such as all-age worship.

HD