Had a fantastic day yesterday in Chelsea. Great to visit this Methodist Church on the Kings Road. Was there to join in a day with Outcome. OUTCOME is a group of LGBT ordained and lay Christians and their supporters engaged with the Methodist Church. Over 40 of us met up at this event. I talked about the mission of the Church as set out in Our Calling and how this can be affected by witholding blessings from people in civil partnerships. Then we shared lunch and broke into groups to consider a range of things. Before we went our seperate ways we shared in an agape service where we thought of many people and groups who do not feel included by Church and how this contrasts with the inclusive love of God who invites all to the feast. A privilege to share in this day. Thanks to all.
Then today Garry and I set off at the crack of dawn to drive to Kings Lynn for the Anniversary services at London Road Church. 150 years since the foundation stone was laid and 149 since the worshipping community moved in.There was a communion service in the morning and a Circuit service in the evening. I have known Neil, the minister at London Road for some time. Although he produced the Bible which he received when he became a member of the Methodist Church which I had signed and I think we were both shocked to realise that was over 20 years ago! It was good to meet with friends old and new. Neil will be ordained at Conference in Scarborough and I look forward to seeing him again then. He was touched by the gifts which were presented to him by the Circuit at the evening service and I know many of them will be travelling to support him in Scarborough too. Good to celebrate Church as the people of God and not just the building.
Had a fantastic day yesterday in Chelsea. Great to visit this Methodist Church on the Kings Road. Was there to join in a day with Outcome. OUTCOME is a group of LGBT ordained and lay Christians and their supporters engaged with the Methodist Church. Over 40 of us met up at this event. I talked about the mission of the Church as set out in Our Calling and how this can be affected by witholding blessings from people in civil partnerships. Then we shared lunch and broke into groups to consider a range of things. Before we went our seperate ways we shared in an agape service where we thought of many people and groups who do not feel included by Church and how this contrasts with the inclusive love of God who invites all to the feast. A privilege to share in this day. Thanks to all.
Then today Garry and I set off at the crack of dawn to drive to Kings Lynn for the Anniversary services at London Road Church. 150 years since the foundation stone was laid and 149 since the worshipping community moved in.There was a communion service in the morning and a Circuit service in the evening. I have known Neil, the minister at London Road for some time. Although he produced the Bible which he received when he became a member of the Methodist Church which I had signed and I think we were both shocked to realise that was over 20 years ago! It was good to meet with friends old and new. Neil will be ordained at Conference in Scarborough and I look forward to seeing him again then. He was touched by the gifts which were presented to him by the Circuit at the evening service and I know many of them will be travelling to support him in Scarborough too. Good to celebrate Church as the people of God and not just the building.
1 comment:
Sorry to have missed both of these events ( I am still signed off and can't cope with crowds), I have heard good reports of both. thank you for all you are doing both in working for justice, and in encouraging local churches.
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