KIRK SESSION REPORT – 2017 At the beginning of 2017 Peter South decided to stand down from Session due to ill health. The Session then took the step to make Peter an Elder Emeritus under rule 3.36. Session then applied to Presbytery for an Assessor Elder and Presbytery appointed Rev. Russell van Delden to the position. Russell was welcomed at the meeting in March. During 2017 Session has been looking at various ways of keeping the growth of Manly-Lota going ahead as it has been over the last 5 years. Last year my report showed that our weekly average attendance had grown from 2014 when it was 37 per week and by the end of 2016 that had risen to 42. From January 2017 to December 2017 our average weekly attendance was 47 adults and 10 children. This is an increase from 2016 numbers of 11.98% in adults and a 33.75% increase in children. Again this is not a dramatic increase, but, in a time when many congregations are shrinking it is a very encouraging result. As a result of the growth in children’s ministry in our church Session has been putting a lot of time and thought into finding a suitable children’s ministry worker. Several candidates were found but proved to be either unsuitable or had taken another position. The support of the ongoing work in the mission field has changed from the previous year with the Evans Family coming home from Japan. Session looked long and hard at the best way to support the work overseas and at home. The decision we reached is that we will keep supporting the work in Chiba City through APWM as well as our support still goes to Chandra Smith, and AFES (for Megan Walsh). We received notice that Chandra is coming home due to health problems but we will continue to support her for at least the next 12 months. Jeff has been kept busy with pastoral visitations as well as planning his upcoming preaching outline and working on sermons as well as his other duties within PCQ. During 2016 Jeff ran a membership ‘drive’ and as a result during 2017 we were able to welcome 5 new members. We have been blessed by having such a capable and hardworking Pastor and the congregation as a whole has benefited much under his guidance during the time he has been with us.
During our Session meetings the Elders have been conducting prayer sessions for all the members of our congregation for their health and general problems in their lives and their continued spiritual growth. Another decision made during the year was that from 1 January 2018 the Lord’s Supper would be celebrated on the 1st Sunday of each month instead of quarterly. As your Session we would like to thank everyone for your prayers and support and you can be assured that we will continue working in the best interests of our church in the coming year. May the Lord keep you and bless you all. Ian Carbine Session Clerk MINISTER’S REPORT – 2017 Having to stop and write a report that looks back over the last 12 months is a helpful exercise. It reminds me that there’s lots that we can be thankful for but here’s a few things. I’m thankful for small growth in our average attendance and marginally better growth in the number of children with us. It’s been great seeing people pick up Kevin de Young’s primer on the Heidelberg Catechism and find it surprisingly helpful! I’m thankful for how some of you took a recommendation from me seriously, and tuned into Michael Horton’s, Whitehorse Inn online. Not only did you do that, you also told me that you’ve had some big “Ah-ha!” moments. I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for God opening up some new possibilities for us as a church. For things like having the Perkins family join us, while Glen trains for ministry in the Presbyterian Church and serves as our Field Education Student. It’s been so good meeting with him weekly, talking about what he’s learning at college, praying together, and watching his skills as a preacher sharpen.