The group meets once every three months. Our most recent meeting was on 6th December 2023, and as usual we discussed general arrangements for worship, as well as future events – through to May 2024 this time.
At our last meeting we referred a couple of matters to the Annual Church Meeting (ACM), and we appreciated the thoughtful discussion they were given there. One was arrangements for Communion, and we hope that these will now settle down into a pattern that everyone can become familiar with. The other was the timing of the morning service; the ACM decided that, on balance, we should not move it earlier.
Members of the FISH house fellowship are working on proposals for monthly Sunday afternoon services of Alternative Worship, oriented towards children and young people (though of course all will be welcome). Current plans are for this to start after Easter 2024. We welcomed this initiative, because it is important that we keep looking for ways to make worship attractive to more people. Although the outdoor Songs of Praise service in September 2023 was, literally, a washout, we have learned from it and will continue to look for ways to take our worship outside the walls of the church. Subject to Church Council’s agreement, this year we hope to take our worship quite a long way outside, joining the Annual Church Camp at Buckfastleigh for a service there on 19th May. A coach will be provided for those who don’t want to drive, and there will be an evening Communion service at the Mint led by Rev Norman Wallwork.
Special services in the next six months start with our Covenant service on 7th January, led by Rev Brian Hadfield. 21st January is the Sunday in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and we will welcome Rev Phil Wales from the Cathedral for the usual pulpit exchange, while Barbara Easton will join in leading a service at St Stephen’s. Also at 3pm United service Prayer for Exeter at Blessed Sacrament, Heavitree with refreshments afterwards in the Richard Reynolds Parish Centre. Sunday 28th January Homelessness Sunday service 4pm St Petrock’s Church
11th February is designated by the Methodist Church nationally as Racial Justice Sunday; we do not observe this every year, but we have decided that we should this year since we have not done so for several years. Rev Simon Taylor’s visit for the Spring Term will be on 18th February, which is Student Sunday. Because of the date of Easter, our usual pattern of communion services will change during March and April: there will be morning communions on 17th March (Sung communion for Passion Sunday), 31st March (Easter Sunday) and 14th April, and evening communions on 24th March and 21st April (a Taizé service led by Rev Brenda Mosedale). On 5th May, we will welcome Rev Dr Jane Leach, Principal of Wesley House, whom you may have heard on “Thought for the Day”; and our Church Anniversary and Gift Day for 2024 will be on 30th June, when our preacher will be Rev David Wilkinson, Principal of St John’s College, Durham and another regular “Thought for the Day” contributor.
As always, the full minutes of the group meeting are available to any member of the congregation, and if you would like to see them, please let me know. The next meeting of the group is planned for 28th February 2024. If you have views on any of the points raised in this report, or indeed on any aspect of the Mint’s worshipping life, please let us know before that meeting: the group always welcomes views and ideas from the congregation.
Stephen Lea (stephen@leafamily.org.uk), Chair; Bronwen Lea (bron@leafamily.org.uk), Secretary