Important News
This year’s annual meeting will be held after the 10.30 am morning service in the Wesley Chapel on Sunday, 27 April 2008, so will commence at 11.45 am aiming to finish at 1.00 pm. There will be various elections this year so nominations are required for the following:
Churchwardens - 2
(More information from Peter Seal or Di Heathorn)
Senior Steward - 1
(More information from Di Heathorn)
Deanery Synod - 4
(3 year term - More information from Peter Seal or Mike Cranston)
Council Members - 7
(including 5 for 3 year term and 2 for 1 year term)
Information about being a member of council is available from Peter Seal, Di Heathorn or Sandra Payne.
Boards for making your nominations in advance of the meeting are on the tables at the back of both Holy Saviour and Wesley Chapel. Please make sure that anyone you nominate is willing to stand.
This is an important meeting in the life of our church so please do come along. There will be provision for childcare. Group reports and the annual report and accounts should also be available prior to the meeting.
Sandra Payne, Council Secretary 
The Parish of Bitterne LEP
An Anglican Methodist Partnership
At the meeting of the Church Council on 10th March, the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Southampton, read the following statement from the Rev Stephen Mourant:
“I regret to inform you that I have tendered my resignation to the Bishop of Winchester as priest in charge of the parish of Bitterne. My health has been adversely affected over the last year or so with the stress of leadership here, and I need a prolonged period out of overall responsibility in ministry to recover fully. With the support of the Diocese, we shall move from here a little later in the year once our youngest daughter has completed her “A” levels. At some point in the near future I will re-enter ministry elsewhere in an assistant’s role with a view to taking up full responsibilities somewhere once I have fully recovered.
This will come as a blow to many of you, but I must get fully well again to be able to be effective in the long term as a leader. Thank you to all who have supported us and prayed for us – may He bless you as a church.
An informal farewell will be arranged closer to when we actually move from here.”
Bishop Paul explained that Stephen’s resignation will be accepted by Bishop Michael and would most probably take effect from 1st July. Since the meeting Bishop Paul has indicated that Stephen is likely to move out of the Vicarage in late June. Stephen remains on sick leave, and will not return to work in the LEP. Bishop Paul stressed that while it would be entirely appropriate for us to show our concern and love for Stephen and the family by cards and letters, it would not be helpful for Stephen’s health for people to call on the Vicarage in person or to telephone him.
As a Church and as individuals, we will continue to uphold Stephen and his family in our prayers. During Holy Week, the Church of the Holy Saviour will be open for private prayer on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 o’clock until noon, and on Wednesday from the conclusion of the service of Holy Communion until midday.
If you want to talk about this sad news with someone, then the members of the staff team – Adam Gay, Meg Cook, Mike Cranston, Margaret Doust, Brian Gaffney and I – are all more than willing to do so,
Rev Stuart Bell
on behalf of the Church Council.
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