Churchwardens' Report and Vicar's Report

Churchwardens' Report

Delivered at the APCM On Sunday 26 April 2026

Ajoke and I would like to convey our grateful thanks and guidance to Father Taemin for his trust in asking us both to be the Churchwardens of the Parish of St. George’s Church here in Enfield plus the support of our PCC and congregation.  The foundations that were so firmly put in place by our predecessors – Irene Selema and David Jenner have been so supportive, they have made our first year an easier task – thank you both so much.  We feel humbled to have taken over the reins from the 2 of you.  Also, from the congregation the encouragement and fellowship during our first year as your wardens have been immense and we are so appreciative. 

As Churchwardens we report to you all annually on the fabric of our Church and any renovations or improvements undertaken during the past year and those planned for the future.

The headlines for this year are:

·  Purchased new Paschal Candle stand with Birthday donations.

·  Large TV and stand purchased with Birthday donations.

·  Vestry Porch has been cleared and painted.

·   Altar of Repose backboard constructed and varnished together with first creative            message – He is Risen, which was finished in time for Easter Vigil.

·   Prayer Board constructed and varnished.

·   Bouncy Castle has been annually serviced and approved fit for purpose.

·   Replaced all non-working light bulbs in Church where possible by hiring scissor lift           but then unfortunately we have had slight issues resulting in a number of bulbs now  not working.  This will be reviewed and alternative bulbs replaced.

·   Noticeboard at rear of church has been updated for clarity of information displayed.

Works being planned:

·  Continuing painting of lower section of church

·  Lighting repairs

·  Organ Chamber curtains to be rehung.

·  White parking lines around Church boundary to be repainted.

Parish Activities have continued to be held throughout the year including 2 Family Activity Afternoons, Parish BBQ, Easter Raffle, St George Celebration Evening, Christmas Market, Harvest Bring and Share Lunch, Pancake Party and our monthly 100+ Club Draw.  Thank you to everyone who supported these events. We are organising a new event soon – a Table Top Sale in May, hopefully this will prove a worthwhile activity reaching out to our community and will be a regular feature in our church events.

We supported the North Enfield Foodbank both with our Harvest gifts and also presents for the children at Christmas to support our local community.  The Foodbank were amazed at the volume of our gifts that we delivered to them and were very grateful for our support.

We are still continuing to sponsor a child through the charity Compassion.  Madosse, who we had supported for many years had reached the age where he did not require our support and we were given the opportunity to support a new child and we are now sponsoring Nathan who is living in Togo. 

Mothering Sunday this year, the PCC decided once again to distribute the specially prepared gift bags as we did last year as they were well received.  These items were generously donated by some of our PCC members and were gratefully received by those who attended our Mothering Sunday services.

As a church we are trying to continue to do our part in recycling and being more sustainable.  We recycle as much paper/cardboard/plastic plus we are still signed up to the scheme where we return the empty metal and plastic church candle holders back to be melted and included in further production of church candles.  Boxes are sent back regularly.  Additionally, we have a box for recycling old batteries. 

Communication plays a pivotal role in the life of a Church, our WhatsApp Group is being added to every week which is brilliant, so we can reach out to everyone on what is happening here in our Church Community. 

This year we made the decision to cease printing the Parish Magazine in its current format and introduce at the beginning of 2026 a Parish Newsletter, our first issue was published at the beginning of February, and another one is due shortly.  These newsletters will be distributed on a quarterly basis electronically through our various communication platforms, but parishioners can request paper copies if they wish.

We as a congregation are so proud and pleased for Father Taemin to be installed as a Prebendary of St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 1^st February 2026.  It was a truly moving service which so many of us travelled to London to be with him and witness on this special occasion, a recognition so well deserved.   Thank you to all those who generously gave to the secret collection and as a church were able to support him in purchasing his new robes and vestments for his new role. 

In early March this year Father Taemin held training for our current Eucharistic Ministers at our church and for those who wished to join this very special team who diligently and respectfully administer the communion to us at our services.  We are pleased to say that Chika, Ajoke, Roni, David, Gill, Irene and Dudley are fully licensed by the Bishop to carry out their duties.  They are all valuable members of our Serving Team.

Finally, throughout the year we have various teams of people who work quietly in the background to make sure that our church thrives and is well presented for us all, we would like to express our thanks to the Servers, Sidesmen, Flower Ladies, Sunday morning refreshment team, Cleaning Team, Readers and Intercessors, Garden of Remembrance Gardening Team, Team Jesus, our various fundraising and social activities, Christmas Tree Working Group, washing of our communion linen, parish newsletter production and delivery, music and sound system for our services, 100+ Club administration, stewardship and gift aid recording together with those who count our weekly collections.  As you can see there are quite a few – we are glad to say many hands make light work!

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the Church as one body with many members, each indispensable. Volunteers are not an optional extra, they are the living expression of this passage.

In a world where we are all time-pressed, and seem to be busier than ever, their willingness to give creates space for others to encounter Christ.

Often, their faithfulness and dedication is hidden, and may go unnoticed.  When we arrive at church on Sunday, how often do we pause to think who made things possible here?

Each generous act quietly says to the community, “You matter.  This place matters.  God’s grace is for you.”

Such giving is not without cost.  Time, energy and sometimes emotional resilience are poured out.  That is why gratitude is so important.  We are called not only to benefit from this generosity but to honour it - to notice, to encourage, to pray for those who give so much.  Ephesians 4:12 reminds us that the whole body is built up as each part plays its role.  When volunteers are supported and affirmed, the entire Church is strengthened.

We must pray regularly for those who serve and noticing when the load they carry has grown too heavy.  It means encouraging rest as well as commitment, ensuring responsibility is shared rather than assumed.

So, we honour our volunteers - not merely with polite thanks, but with heartfelt recognition. Let us pray that God will continue to raise up cheerful, faithful volunteers in our parish, that through their quiet acts of service many may glimpse the generous heart of Christ.

We look forward to the year ahead.

Thank you.

Jane Jenner  & Ajoke Alaoye

Churchwardens

Vicar’s Report

Delivered at the APCM On Sunday 26 April 2026

Human beings are creatures who forget.

From a scientific point of view, forgetting is actually an important process that allows our brains to rest. Have you ever found yourself forgetting things from time to time? I have been experiencing that quite often these days. But hearing a doctor say that this is actually a sign that the brain is functioning well gives me a small sense of relief.

Even though we are creatures who forget, there are certain memories that remain far more vivid than others. Strangely, I clearly remember my very first day in the Korean Army. I remember the moment when I took off the clothes I had come in, changed into a trainee’s uniform, and packed my clothes to send back home. I remember the smell of barracks, the noise, the shouts and the fear in my heart. I cannot remember what happened yesterday, but I vividly remember that day— 11 Jan. 1997. Perhaps it is because that moment was deeply imprinted on my heart as traumatic experience.

What kinds of memories are you living with?

Are they joyful memories that make you smile? Or are they painful ones that still weigh heavily on you?

We are creatures who forget.

However, as Christians, there is something we must never forget: that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to forgive our sins.

It would be wonderful if we could organize our faith and store it like a computer, so that we never forget things we've learnt. But, but in reality, we often forget the story of Jesus quite easily. We also tend to forget that the overwhelming sense of gratitude and awe we first felt when we realized how deeply God loves us.

In last Sunday’s Gospel, we heard the story of the two disciples, who was on the road to Emmaus. Although they had been close to Jesus, they did not recognize him, even when the risen Christ stood before them. They walked with him for about two hours and listened to his words, yet they did not recognize him.

Yes, they did feel their hearts burning within them, but it was only when Jesus took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them that they finally recognized him.

The Sunday Eucharist that you attend each week is centred on that very moment when the two disciples remembered and recognised Jesus—the moment when he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them. By repeating this act every week, we strive not to forget him. The reason I encourage you to come to church every week is actually quite simple: it is to remember Jesus, and not to forget Him.

The Church is the place where we gather to remember Jesus. Simple. And it is not only about remembering his life, but also about coming together to support and encourage one another as we strive to live as his disciples.

Over the past year, we have made many efforts, even in the midst of our busy lives, to remember Jesus well and to follow him. It is through your passion and love that our church stands where it is today.

Today’s meeting, the APCM, is a time to say “well done and Thank you” to one another, to recognize each other’s presence, and to share our gratitude in God. Through moments like this, trust is built, and we grow into a community where we become a source of joy to one another.

As we come to the end of this year, I would like to say this to you:

You have truly worked hard, you have done your best. Thank you for helping us remember, once again, that we are one body in God.

But I hope that this remembrance does not end here today, rather continues in our daily lives. May we not forget the moments of joy and service we shared in the Church, the times we prayed for one another, and above all, the love of Jesus who gave himself for us.

In the coming year, we will still be busy. At times we will grow weary, and at times we will forget things again. But whenever that happens, I hope we will return to this place, remember once more, and become a community that holds one another up.

We are the Church not because we are perfect, but because we remember together.

We are the Body of Christ not because we are strong, but because we depend on one another.

In the new year, may we continue to walk together as a community of faith that remembers Jesus, remembers one another, and brings joy to God. And along that journey, may we become a small source of comfort to each other, and a strength that helps one another to keep the faith as we are, in the end, the People of Easter.

Thank you, my brothers and sisters in Christ for your prayers, and support, in so many different ways.

So, let us pray:

God of eternal compassion, each Easter you rekindle the faith of your consecrated people. Give them still greater grace, so that all may truly understand the waters in which they were cleansed, the Spirit by which they were reborn, the blood by which they were redeemed. We make our prayer, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 ** Collect of the Evening Prayer on the Low Sunday / Daily Office.

Fr. Taemin Oh

Vicar.