Church Stewards 2022-23

Martin Jackson

Kim Tame

I grew up in Westcliff-on-sea, Essex, where my parents had a greengrocer’s shop.  We were sent to Sunday School at the Westcliff Elim Church, which was a great place for encouraging children to participate in the music and worship, and to feel that faith is something personal and alive.

Colin and I have moved around the country due to his job, so we have lived in Essex, Sussex and Hertfordshire before moving to Wokingham in 1996, with our daughters, Samantha and Jennifer.  Nearly every time we moved, I had to change my job, with a resulting patchwork of careers; I have worked in banking, journalism, marketing and social care – all fun and challenging in very different ways.

Now that we are retired we are delighted that we see a lot of our twin granddaughters.  I’m glad to be able to contribute to church life by preaching, playing music, and now by stewarding.  Covid-19 has presented many difficulties, but it’s been great to see how people have risen to the challenge, learnt new skills and embraced different ways of worshipping.

Siân Moore

I was born in Walthamstow and brought up in Chingford, both then in Essex, and now Waltham Forest.  I attended the Sunday School at South Chingford Methodist Church at the suggestion of a neighbour who taught there and thought that it was something I’d enjoy.  It was and I went on to become a Sunday School leader myself before going to university.

Whilst at Sussex University I was a member of the Methsoc and was honoured to be the secretary one year which gave me the right to attend the junior synod.

As a language student I spent a year working in Paris and France still plays an important role in my life.  After university I went straight into teaching having discovered that I loved working with children through holiday jobs.

My teaching career brought me to the Reading area and although I did move away I soon came back.  I’ve taught languages in playschools, nurseries and small primary schools, before moving into prep schools and then ending up at Dolphin where I’ve been for the past 14 years.

One of the great motivations in my life is being helpful to others.  I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to offer my service to the life of the church and look forward to working alongside all of the congregation as we move forward out of the pandemic.

Malcolm Souter

I was brought up in the Methodist Church from childhood and have been a member from a teenager.  Although I was moved about the south of England during my career in trustee and executor banking, we always managed to find somewhere to live with a local Methodist Church.

I lived in Wokingham in the mid-1970s and then returned in 1986.  Both sons went to St Crispin’s and are now married and living in Leicestershire and York.

In 2003 Ann died and four years later I married Kate and ‘acquired’ two teenage children, now both married and living in Sussex.

Following redundancy/retirement from the bank I worked for 8 years with a local firm of solicitors, once again in the field of executorships and elderly clients but am now “properly” retired.

It seems difficult to believe that I have now been back at Wokingham Methodist Church for 36 years.

During that time I have been Gift Aid Secretary and still am, unless anyone would like to take over, and have been a church steward with each of the last four ministers.

It is a privilege to take on the role of a church steward again.

Liz Goddard

Mike Goddard

The past year has seen a slow and steady return to worship without restrictions although we continue to encourage worshippers to be respectful of others and their needs.

We have welcomed several new faces to our services and, sadly, said farewell to friends.  There are also members who still do not feel safe returning to worship on our premises; we miss them and would like to assure them that they are still valued members of our church family.

In September 2021 we launched, with Claire’s help, ‘Fresh Start’.  Meeting for breakfast on the second Saturday of the month we worship together in an informal way using crafts, games and discussion.  Along with Creative Spirit, which resumed meeting after the summer break, we aim to offer different styles of worship to attract those unable to attend on Sundays or who are unused to more traditional forms of worship.  We would like to encourage our Sunday worshippers to support us in these endeavours as an extension of our worship activities.

Ideally two new stewards are appointed at our AGM who then hold office for three years.  Siân Moore joined our team last year but we were unable to fill the second post.  Martin was out of action for some time following surgery so we are grateful to previous office holders who have stepped into help.  The team of Welcome stewards have, week by week, recorded names of worshippers and encouraged the use of hand sanitizer and we thank them for their loyal service.

As we come to the end of our time in office we are aware how important it has been to be part of a committed group of stewards who, along with leadership from Catherine and help from Will, have supported us during our four years in office.  The enabling power of the Holy Spirit has strengthened us as we have learnt from each other and gained strength from each other’s gifts.

We do encourage you to consider whether you are being called to serve the church as part of the steward team to enable the worship life of our community to continue to grow and expand.

Christine Morgan and Chris Rooke-Matthews