As this article is being written we are preparing for our Annual General Meeting, which gives all the members of the Church the opportunity to look at our life together, as a family of Christians. The main part of the meeting consists of a review of the activities of the past 12 months, followed by discussion & suggestions on how we continue, during the next year, to witness to Jesus here in Pickering.

          The review is in 4 sections:  "Worship"; "Learning and Caring"; "Service" and "Evangelism" and challenges us to look not only at church activities, but beyond the 4 walls to the many and varied needs of the community around us.

          One new initiative, by which we hope to get to know families in the area, was started by Peter Hallsworth, the Circuit Evangelism Enabler, last September - the Potter Hill Cinema! Since the local cinema closed there has been nowhere in the town for parents to take their children to see films. In September the church was used for the first time, showing "Shrek 2", and it has proved to be an ideal venue. The cinema is usually in action once a month on Saturday evenings, showing mainly family films, often with a Christian   message, with free admission, refreshments, and donations requested towards costs. These evenings, often attended by 60 - 70 people, see new faces being  welcomed into the church building and new links made with families.

          Early in the summer holidays we hope to welcome more children and their   families to our Holiday Club, organised by one of our young people who is now at university, and with the help of many volunteers! In Pickering this will run from Wednesday 23rd - Friday 25th July (and at Thornton Dale Methodist Church from Monday 28th - Wednesday 30th July) from 10am - 3pm each day.

          This year Holiday Club goes to the Circus! It should be exciting and great fun too! In previous years we have welcomed lots of children to the Club and we hope we shall see many of them, and new friends too, in July. Watch out for more details soon - and watch also for news of the next film showing at the Cinema!

          Our regular services and weekly activities continue - please look at the board outside the Church for details. We hope to welcome you at some time over the next few months - do come and join us.

Gill Freeman.