The meeting held in Sibford Village Hall was attended by 42 representatives of all the six parishes.

After prayers the meeting considered the 2012 Benefice Accounts and heard from each parish on its activities and plans. 

Arrangements were discussed for Lent, Holy Week and Easter and Ken Jeffs showed a most helpful little booklet for use by individuals during Lent. 

Messy Church for families will be held on Good Friday in Swalcliffe and will be organised by a group from the Benefice. 

A number of Sibford Teenagers were interested in a youth group and it is hoped to extend this to members from all the Benefice churches and to receive offers from additional  people for help with a variety of skills for occasional resources. 

A lively discussion took place on the Wykeham News and it is clear that this publication which has been virtually unaltered for over 15 years needed an overhaul. A variety of opinions were expressed from which it seemed clear that

• We value some kind of contact being made with every home in the benefice every month (10 out of 12)
• We want this contact to include a clear and simple Christian message
• We enjoy reading news from the six parishes
• We value information about service times, presidents and preachers and readings 

The Benefice-wide weekly pewsheet was considered a useful tool and would be continued. 

Tim Huckvale, the author of the Holy Trinity Church, Sibford website talked about his proposals for a Benefice Website. A show of hands indicated that only a very few in the meeting were not computer literate, and it was agreed that he should proceed with this as it is valuable with many uses including its advertising potential for concerts and fund-raising events.

All present were urged to think more carefully about publicity for both services and special events as well as for fund-raising. We need to use all the tools at our disposal – pewsheet, Wykeham news, posters, website. 

A plea was made for new bell-ringers for the two churches in the Benefice with a peel of bells, Tadmarton and Swalcliffe. Tuition available for new applicants with no experience.

Broughton and Epwell APCMs were rescheduled.

The meeting ended at 9 pm with the Grace.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday July 10th at Broughton, either St Mary’s House or in Church.