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AUGUST During August some of our activities lay fallow but there was ongoing and regular weekly worship, occasional offices and pastoral care. SEPTEMBERFrom 1st September to Harvest Festival on 12th October, we marked Creationtide, when we celebrate God as creator and sustainer of life. %u2018Back to School Sunday%u2019 was held on 22nd September, where we blessed everyone who goes to or works in schools. The PCC met on 23rd September where we agreed to share the services of Richard the administrator.The PCC also approved an Ex-Offenders Policy in accordance with diocesan requirements. OCTOBERWe celebrated Harvest Festival on 12th October. Donations were received for Oldham foodbank. The first meeting of the Mission Community Welcome and Inclusion Group took place this month. The group looked at three stages of inclusion: inviting, inclusive and radically welcoming and considered examples, good and bad of inclusive welcome in our churches. Further work will be done on the practical implications. NOVEMBERA joint service took place for All Souls%u2019 on Sunday 3rd November. This took place at East Crompton St James. Families for whom we have taken funerals during the past year were invited and the service was attended by just under 70 people. We celebrated Remembrance Sunday on 10th and Safeguarding Sunday on 17th. We also held another joint Admission to Communion weekend. Members of all four PCCs in the Mission Community attended an Away Day, convened by Mother Katy and Father Paul. The general consensus was that it had been good to meet PCC members in other churches and that it is important to keep the momentum going. The following were common themes to take forward: l The need to deepen and grow faith;l Welcome and inclusion l The need for shared ministry and collaboration.The PCC also approved joint services of 2025 and plans for Holy Week . An excel spreadsheet of events, arising from a Joint Planning Meeting for all five churches, was also approved.Operating across five churches presents significant administrative challenges. Mother Katy presented a proposal to streamline administration by adopting two new areas of technology %u2013 Microsoft 365 and ChurchSuite data management system. The same proposal was presented to all four PCCs and approved. Use of these new tools will be implemented in 2025, with more details to follow.DECEMBER Mother Bec left the mission community on 1st December to take up her post in the Diocese of Southwark. Her leaving event was well attended, with representation from all five churches. The Mission Community gave thanks for all she has done during her curacy with us and prayed God%u2019s blessing for her future ministry.Advent was celebrated in many ways. The Archbishop of York%u2019s Advent Book 2024, %u2018Do Not Be Afraid%u2019 by The Venerable Dr Rachel Mann, Archdeacon of Manchester was chosen for the Advent Book Club, with arrangements to discuss as a group in January. Mary and Joseph were hosted each night on their journey to Bethlehem, by families who signed up for Las Posadas. Compline was live-streamed each Tuesday evening during Advent. The annual Community Christmas Lunch was held in the Parish Rooms on Saturday 7th December. Once again it was an excellent event which was greatly appreciated by all who attended. Our usual Sunday services focussed on Advent. Other special services were held jointly across the Mission Community, providing a wide range of opportunities for worship. Our toy services took place on the second week of Advent, and the toys were taken to Oldham Athletic to join their toy appeal supporting families in need in Oldham. East Crompton St James%u2019 School held their Christingle service in church at the end of term and St George%u2019s School had a similar service in the school hall. A traditional Nine Lessons and Carols was held on 22nd December in EC St James. A big thank you to Rev Howard Moston and all the choir for their conducting, playing and singing at this and throughout the year; we are blessed to have them lead our singing and enhance our worship as they do. Also across the mission community we held Crib Services and nativities on Christmas Eve, as well as an early First Mass of Christmas, Bethlehem Mass and Midnight Mass and a Eucharist in each church on Christmas morning.THROUGHOUT the year, of course, the daily work of the parish church has continued, with regular worship, pastoral care and occasional offices. Prayer and worship at EC St James%u2019 takes the following form: l 11.00 am SundayCommon Worship Sung Eucharistl 10 am ThursdaySaid Eucharist l 5.30 pm ThursdayEucharist service aimed particularly at children and families.At St Saviour%u2019s: l 9.30 am SundayCommon Worship Sung Eucharistl 5.00 pm 2nd & 4th Sunday of every monthYCT service aimed particularly at children in Year 6 andbeyond. This is a mission community wider service.In 2024, the average attendance at regular services was: Sunday 9.30am 52 adults and 30 childrenSunday 11.00 am 47 adults and 5 childrenThursday 10am 4 adults (and occasionally 1 child)Thursday 5.30 pm 39 adults and 50 children although in term time attendance is often about 100 peopleIn 2024, there were:l 35 baptisms (9 at St Saviour & 26 at St James)l 13 children admitted to receive Holy Communion l 5 confirmations l 4 weddings (1 at St Saviour & 3 at St James)l 14 funerals in church (3 at St Saviour & 1 at St James) and 8 at the crematorium Members of the clergy and authorised laypeople visit and take communion to those unable to get to church. THANKSMy heartfelt thanks go to everyone who throughout the year has contributed to the life of the church in East Crompton and the wider mission community. We each are blessed with different gifts and skills and it is wonderful that people are willing to commit their own precious time to the work of the Gospel. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR