LAY DIRECTOR'S REPORT

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Like everyone else, I have enjoyed the holiday period which for Sylvia and I was taken in Northumberland. I had intended to write something at length for Go Fourth during that time, but I'm afraid I felt too well rested to do anything but to enjoy the fresh air and wonderful countryside. On my return I contacted our editor, Geoff, with my apologies and we both agreed that it would be a good opportunity to publish my report to the AGM which was held on 17th May.

I recall looking forward with joy to giving my first report, which reflects how well Cursillo in Chester is progressing. Isn't it strange though, when we feel so filled with the Holy Spirit, that the devil has to put a dig in?

My apologies that after giving my report, I had to rush off back to the hospital, where our younger son was awaiting urgent surgery to mend facial fractures which were sustained a few hours earlier as a result of an unprovoked assault made on him.

Prayers were offered by many of you, not only on that day, but also for a lengthy period following his operation, for which we are so deeply grateful and would like to say 'thank you' from the bottom of our hearts.

Neal may require further surgery to remove a metal plate from his jaw but we know that through prayer out Lord will provide, sustain and support him in all eventualities.

DIOCESAN LAY DIRECTOR'S REPORT TO AGM

I would like to welcome you all to this years AGM. My name is Keith Craddock and I took over from Barbara Hood as Lay Director of Chester Cursillo last November, when Barbara's 3 year term of office came to an end.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking her on your behalf for all the hard work, enthusiasm and joy she gave during that period. However, Barbara is not leaving Cursillo behind as she has now taken office as Secretary to the BACC and we wish her well in her new rôle.

It is not surprising that, in spite of some difficulties, the movement is growing in this country and elsewhere. What it needs more than anything else is clergy to capture its vision so that the lay people can fulfill its aim. Chester is one of 18 dioceses in the United Kingdom which operates Cursillo.

Secretariat

The secretariat is the name given to the diocesan body which has the general responsibility for the life and direction of the Cursillo movement in Chester under the authority of the Bishop.

Reflecting the servant ministry which Jesus taught us to fulfil is perhaps the basic key to all that the secretariat does and I would like to thank them all for their dedication and efficient manner in which they operate.

Our Spiritual Director, Stephen Waters, is loved by everyone and I personally am delighted to be working with him. The lay team are: our secretary, Sally Mullock; treasurer, Tony Riley; Go Fourth editor, Geoff Riley; weekend co-ordinator, Alice Brown; pre-cursillo officer, Evelyn Johnson; publicity and development officer, Iain Whitlam; fourth day officer, Julie Withers; and palanca secretary, Sylvia Craddock. [During the meeting Catherine Shambrook was elected to take Sylvia's place-Ed.]

Sylvia's term of office ends today, so a special thanks to her for continuing to bring contacts from all over the world to Chester.

Please speak to the secretariat about their duties when you have an opportunity and give them encouragement and support because you never know, it could be you on the Secretariat one day!

BACC

Iain Whitlam's term of office as Chester's BACC representative came to an end last November and we are please to welcome Malcolm Brown as our new representative, along with Stephen and myself. Malcolm has spent many hours on his computer over recent months updating the weekend manuals: for this we are extremely grateful. Thank you Malcolm.

At the BACC meeting in March this year, which was held at St.Bartholomews Parish Hall in Wilmslow (which is the centre of the BACC universe), David Lawson from Southwell was elected as President of BACC.

At that meeting, BACC agreed a new constitution whose aims are as follows:

"The aims of the British Anglican Cursillo Council, as part of the Anglican Communion in the United Kingdom and in common with the world-wide Cursillo movement are:

a) to develop in adult Christians a consciousness of their mission to become leaders in the work of Spiritual Renewal.

b) to sustain adult Christians as they take a positive rôle in church life and as they work and witness for Christ in their personal life and in the civic, social and economic life of their own environments."

The main changes to the constitution, without going into too much detail, are to elect a Standing Committee to which it will delegate work.

Membership of the standing committee shall consist of all the officers of BACC together with the following, all elected by a simple majority at an Annual General Meeting for a period of three years:

1) People with specific responsibilities as follow:

3 people responsible for Leadership Development;

3 people responsible for Publications and Resources;

3 people responsible for Public Relations

2) 3 other people, one of whom shall be a lay woman, one a lay man and one a priest.

WEEKENDS

Twenty-one Cursillo weekends have now been held in the Diocese of Chester. Nine weekends were held at Foxhill Conference Centre, where 131 participants have attended, and twelve weekends were held at Savio House, Bollington, where 97 participants have attended.

Of the total of 228 participants, 46 were from outside of the diocese and we presently have 125 active Cursillistas.

Bookings have already been received for the Cursillo #22 at Foxhill in October and for Cursillo #23 at Savio House in April 1998, so please fill in your staff availability forms as soon as possible as we cannot operate without you.

We are presently looking into other venues in the diocese which could be used for weekends. If we are to flourish we may need additional venues as our aim by the year 2000 is to hold four weekends a year. If we are to reach our goal, it is up to each one of us to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.

The primary task of Cursillo, though, is not to recruit potential cursillistas, but to encourage all parishioners and the local community to be Christ like.

ULTREYAS

By the end of the year Stephen and I hope to have attended all of the Ultreyas. It has been a joy to be welcomed at all the meetings we have attended so far with love.

I would like to read to you from Hebrews 10:23-25:

Let us hold firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep His promise. Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another show love and to do good. Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the day of the Lord is coming nearer.

This is what Ultreyas are all about and this is what I feel is happening.

Anyone can attend any Ultreya.

The secretariat will consider changes to the present areas to accommodate the requirements of cursillistas, but we don't want change for changes sake, so if anyone has any requests in this area, please advise your Lay Rector and we will consider them. And of course our thanks to all Lay Rectors for the way in which they continue to serve out Lord in their calling. You are all doing a wonderful job.

Keith Craddock

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