Last Sunday I was invited to preach at Watlington (Oxford Circuit) on the occasion of the Methodist Church's 200th Anniversary. A warm welcome, an air of celebration created by the large numbers of visitors that had enjoyed cream teas the day before, and a group of people who wanted to move forwards with God. It gladdened my heart to realise that a good number of local Anglicans had joined in the worship. It was a joy to be with them all, the bring and share lunch was of a very high standard, and the anniversary (fruit) cake rounded things off very well indeed! Below is a picture taken by Phil Crockett after the service. An excellent village occasion.

On Tuesday I was in London for meetings, notably about recent government initiatives on renewable energy. A real buzz about London in preparation for the Olympics. Then on to Methodist Church House to help with planning the Connexional Team service in September. Conversations with a number of old friends and colleagues. Good to hear up to date news from Sierra Leone, from Arnold Temple; that 'Singing the Faith' is being sold in such numbers; the sensitive way that the Fruitful Field report is now being progressed; that mission partners, the Harbottles, are all set for Haiti. I also saw Tom Quenet, who has volunteered as an 'ambassador' for the London Games. I wonder how many other Methodists have volunteered to be part of this amazing world wide celebration? This is what travellers coming to Heathrow will be greeted by - well the outer layers anyway! Thanks for the use of the pic. Very athletic and the colours suit you, Tom!

The thanksgiving service on Friday for Peter Baker in Slough was very moving. The church itself was packed, and the overflow hall also full. Andrew, Jill and Tim were a real witness to the love of God in the most difficult of situations. I know that the family will be upheld by many in prayer. On Saturday Isabel and I travelled to Hove, hosted by Isabel's cousin Char and Jonathan. A lovely meal was shared with a number of local church leaders and I found myself involved in a number of important and spiritually deep conversations; which enabled the worship on Sunday to be both more meaningful and more personal. Some visitors from Zambia stopped to talk after the service, about their HIV/AIDS work. Global and local. On Tuesday evening, it was off to Sutton Coldfield, to be with Rev Joshva Raja (Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies) who was being inducted or collated as Vicar of Curdworth, Middleton and Wishaw. Joshva has given excellent service over the last few years and inspired many from different parts of the world on the MA (Mission Studies) course. It was a joy to share with so many others in this service, conducted by the Bishop of Aston. One thing has been consistently disconcerting this week. I keep turning up for events as a friend, but treated by many as the Vice-President!

Vice President

After a triumphal attempt at blogging yesterday, I need to add some other highlights of the Plymouth Conference: Mark's address was excellent on Saturday, topped and tailed by the young women's choir from Edmonton (in the Enfield Circuit where I spent over 30 years). It was very special for me to be ministered to by youngsters I have seen growing up. The Sunday ordination service at Gwennap Pit was such a wonderful occasion, not just for the diaconal ordinands, but also everyone involved. When the rain came it added to the sense of joy without detracting from the sense of occasion. The thoughtfully provided white ponchos came into their own, but I have to report that Sue Culver provided Steve Wild and the Bishop of Truro with purple ponchos; and Steve seemed to be enjoying this distinction a little too much, I felt! Chatting to my neighbour, the same person that had received a soggy communion loaf from me shortly before, she turned out to be the Leader of Cornwall Council (we all looked the same under white ponchos! Is there a sermon there?)and was very impressed by the occasion and Eunice Attwood's sermon - a sort of prophecy about how to get out of the pit! I have come home via our son's house move near Salisbury, then on monday my work with village churches restarted. Good news, bad news, a bible study where people shared deeply about suffering, a well-intentioned letter misconstrued by the receiver, a week of rain and sunshine. And tomorrow a funeral for a much-loved and talented young man. Please pray for God's presence and peace for the family.

Vice-President

Apologies for not blogging before. Thought I'd cracked it at Conference, but clearly not! So a few comments on Conference highlights, for me at least. There were some difficult debates, not least about training (Fruitful Field) and the proposals re leadership of the Connexional Team - but how gracious people were with such emotional subjects. Ongoing prayers needed for people affected, some of whom are very good friends. I was delighted with the number of world church visitors who ventured forward, notably the Argentinian Bishop who spoke first in the discussion on the report on Drones - given what the politicians of respective nations have said recently about the South Atlantic, I found this very moving. So many hopeful signs in our Church. The young people spoke so well to their particular pieces of business, and the Church now needs to hear them more to other parts of the Agenda. There is a real focus on deepening Discipleship, which can only be good for both the Church and wider society. Without going on too long, sitting on the platform and being surrounded by prayer, by regular worship, by uplifting moments from all parts of Conference, was very special. What a privilege.

Ruth's Final Blog

And so to my final blog. It’s been a privileged year, full of challenge, fun, hard work and new experiences. And in one of those ‘Godincidences’ an invitation during the course of the year led to my final official visit being to the church that nurtured me as a teenager and witnessed my commitment as a follower of Jesus and as a member of the Methodist Church. The youth work at that church was terrific, and engaged a great number of us. Fortunately, although most of us moved away, some are still there, and so Jan Burgess responded to my invitation to organise a reunion of friends as part of the weekend. Of course, most are now retired so there was plenty to catch up on, and we had lunch together and then a cinefilm show! Yes, really. Jan’s husband Vic had been way ahead of the game in the 1950s and took cine film way into the 190s of Youth Club hikes and weekends away. So he assembled his antique projector and persuaded the reel to run. Not only nostalgic but a glimpse of social history as we were reminded of how fashions (we used to hike in skirts!) and motor cars changed over a period of about 8 years. Some of the older boys smoked a pipe (tobacco of course).

In addition to the reunion, I ran a workshop on spiritual leadership, answered questions at a ‘meet the VP’ session and did my final service based on the challenge from the MRDF trip to Kenya.

 Thank you North Harrow, and all the other people who have made my journey so rewarding during these past twelve months. To those who have organised, given me transport and hospitality, arranged visits, provided meals, shared in leading worship, written notes of encouragement and, essentially, prayed for me, I give my heartfelt thanks. Together we look forward to a year led by Mark and Mike, and will pray for them and all the ways they will enrich, and be enriched by, the people called Methodist. May we all know God’s continued blessing.

My last blog entry!

So here it is – my last blog entry!  If you have been – thank you for reading them during the past year.  If not then it’s been a really good way for me to relive and reflect on some of the events of this crazy, exhausting, exhilarating and grace-filled time.

And the last two weeks have been special too!  The Irish Methodist Conference will live long in the memory – not only for its courageous and forward-thinking decisions but for the privilege of preaching at the Conference Service in Enniskillen and meeting Joan Wilson, widow of Gordon Wilson, whose daughter was killed in the bombings on Remembrance Sunday 1987.  What a testimony to God’s grace they were and are!  Another tear-jerking moment!  And then being asked to preach and assist at the Ordination Service at the end of my year was as awesome as at its beginning.  Still I think the highlight to top all highlights! I learnt about rain in Ireland too – it’s heavier than ours!

My final District visit to Bolton and Rochdale was preceded by The Outcome Conference where I was warmly welcomed and glad to share in worship and discussion.  And of course it was good to return to another of my old churches - Seedfield in Bury – and see a good number of folk I didn’t know!  The District Service in Bolton will linger in my memory too for the worshipful worship group!  The Holy Spirit banner was a really good back-drop to worship and perhaps a good place for me to end – especially after my MHA sponsored walk tomorrow (still possible to sponsor me online at www.justgiving.com/revleoosborn!) and running with the “original” Olympic torch at Much Wenlock where the modern games originated – will leave me more exhausted than I am already!

As I hand The Presidential Torch on after the Ministerial Session of Conference please pray for Mark Wakelin and Mike King that God’s spirit of power may come upon them and equip them for all the days ahead and that the Spirit of peace would come upon me and give me – and you – a good rest!

God Bless.

VP Blog for Manchester and Stockport District, celebrations and the Irish conference

Visit to Methodist insurance - we were in Manchester so thank you for the brollies

Manchester and Stockport is a neighbour, and I was already familiar with some of it. It was good to go into the city and meet with two important administrative groups that serve the Church well, Methodist Insurance and TMCP. Little sung heroes, they play a vital role in protecting us from the ill-advised actions of others and ourselves. And in the latter case, invest our money for us. It was good to know that some of the staff who previously worked for Resourcing Mission have been integrated into the team, though sad to meet the ever dwindling remaining staff from that office – all will be gone in a very short time. Their loyalty to Methodism through difficult years has been immense. Thank you.

Staff of TMCP

We stayed on the premises for lunch with a group of district lay workers who are enabling Fresh Expressions, and had a useful conversation before going downstairs to the Nexus Art café. Here’s a very creative fresh expression of church, well worth a visit. Local artists work there and display their art, and there is a very spiritual feel to it all.

We managed to fit in a quick visit to the John Rylands Museum, where the tiny, awe-inspiring oldest fragment of John’s Gospel is now on display amongst many other ancient documents. Do go!

That evening, it being Ascension Day, we travelled to the village of Mellor  where Leo was to preach at an ecumenical service was held in the Anglican church of St Thomas The church is situated within the boundary of an Iron Age Fort and is a fascinating place to visit. It has stupendous views over Cheshire.

Friday was a day for touring projects: starting with a cup of coffee at The Mustard Seed in Chapel-en-le Frith, then on to find Grace Murray’s grave (see Leo’s blog) then to Buxton where Deacon janet heads up a team that has bought a Spar shop and is in the process of converting it to ‘The Hub’ community centre. These two projects are fragile, but attempting important work. Then lunch in Buxton at the Dome, a walk to fill up our bottles at the local tap supplying Buxton Spring water (free) before visiting the MHA at Bowdon, and then to Hale to see the almost completed new build which incorporates chapel and housing accommodation. Quite an adventure for the congregation.

Well, we weren’t tired at all after all this, so completed the day with an evening speaking and listening to circuit leadership teams.  And a buffet supper!

Saturday was the day for interactive Bible study at Poynton Methodist Church, which was an energetic morning, and I was back there the next day for their morning worship, thereby being excused from participating in the Manchester 10K Run which a number of colleagues were doing!

The visit closed with a District service at Cheadle Hulme which was a fitting climax to the very full and interesting visit. Thank you to all!

 

London highlights and other celebrations.

Susanna Wesley's grave

London has some opportunities that other districts just don’t have, and two of these have been special during May. The Wesley Day (24^th), commemorations of John’s conversion, start with choral evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral (we sang ‘And can it be’) and then there is a pilgrimage beginning at JW’s statue in the grounds of St Pauls, where a liturgy includes the laying of a wreath and the singing of the ‘Daughters of Susanna Wesley’ choir; moving on to the Flame in Adersgate St (another wreath, more singing and praying;  then to Bunhill Fields Burial ground where Susanna lies – incredibly moving to sing and pray here, and then into Wesley’s Chapel for a service which culminates with a procession to the graveyard and a final ceremony at John’ grave. (we sang And can it be.) I think that it should be compulsory for every Methodist to do this once in their life time – it is just the most marvellous experience. Thank you Leslie and Jennifer for this treasure. I forgot to say that prior to that I had witnessed the hanging of the John Wesley nameplate from a high speed train power car on the wall at Methodist Church House. It had been rescued from a scrap yard!

A once in a lifetime opportunity for me on the last day of May was to sit next to the Archbishop of Canterbury firstly at evening prayer in the crypt at Lambeth Palace and then next to him for a meal and conversation on the relations between our two churches (with another nine people I hasten to add!). That was a special privilege which will certainly stay in the memory.

Between these two days in London, I enjoyed some ‘me time’ at the annual Methodists for World Mission Conference, which this year focussed on Africa.  As you might imagine, it was joyful, colourful and informative, for we celebrated the energy and creativity of Africans whilst acknowledging the pain of so many of them suffering illness and poverty. Organisers: you did a wonderful job!

The original building at Woodhouse Grove

I then made a visit to Woodhouse Grove School which is celebrating 200 years in operation. It now has two sites, catering for the learning needs of children from 3 to 18, with a most impressive suite of premises, curriculum and ethos. I was shown round by the Head Girl, and had a stimulating lunch time session with some sixth-formers. They were articulate and thoughtful, and it seems likely that they will make worthwhile contributions to society. 

The following weekend it was the annual Cliff College celebrations, which despite the weather were also joyful, colourful and informative! So much happens now in marquees that the weather was only a spoiler on a minority of events, which people could still enjoy if suitably dressed! It was good to be back at a place where I had enjoyed my postgrad study.

The Irish Conference

What exactly is a ‘Peace Wall’? Apparently not what I thought. In Belfast it’s what still keeps apart some of the Protestant and Catholic areas of the city and is a huge and horrible symbol of the disease which still marks certain parts of the city. Under the guidance of Revd Inderjit Bhogal Sylvia (my PA) and I visited places with names infamous for atrocities of bigotry and hatred. We walked through a gateway on the Springfield Road from the desolate looking Catholic side to the neat housing estate on the protestant side and we gasped -it was like going into a totally different world. Nearby is Springfield Road Methodist Church, whose front entrance is in the Catholic area, back door in the Protestant. It is the base for a community project working for community integration but sadly the worshipping community, after years of faithful witness which included having the inside destroyed by a bomb and rebuilt, has now ceased to meet there. It’s hard to comprehend the sacrifice of that kind of witness.

From Belfast, we travelled to the Corrymeela Community in Ballycastle, where Inderjit is Leader. The contrast couldn’t be greater. Perched on a cliff top, with peaceful, magnificent views to the Western Isles, Corrymeela provides programmes about peace and reconciliation. A party of school children from Enniskillen (site of an atrocity on Remembrance Day in 1987) had just arrived; it is an integrated school, unlike the majority of schools in Northern Ireland which are ‘faith’ based (yes, protestant and catholic). Volunteers from all over the world come to spend time here, and the sense of the peace of God pervades the whole site. See www.corrymeela.org for more info.

We made a quick sightseeing trip to Giants Causeway, a world heritage site, and an incredible geological experience. And how strangely warm those basalt rocks are! Then, we made our way to Enniskillen  for the Irish Conference.

Enniskillen War Memorial

Enniskillen is really an island surrounded by water. Also lots of water continually comes from the sky! But the people are warm and friendly and we are made very welcome. And in stark contrast to what we saw in Belfast, the ecumenical relationships are good too. The installation of the incoming President, the ordination service and all meals are held in the nearby Cathedral, St. Macartins, whilst all business sessions are in the Methodist Church. Observers from a variety of denominations including Orthodox and Roman greet us, and the Bible Study is led by a Benedictine, Dom Mark. A brave (his word – audacious) invitation in a town where Catholic- protestant relationships for some people are still fragile. But the church must be prophetic.

The business passes quickly – our own conference could learn from it – much trust is shown in the decisions presented and there is no attempt at micro-management. Trust in those who present the business is immense.

Enniskillen Methodist Church

Sunday morning, and I take the service at Ballinamallard MC. It doesn’t start till 11.30 so no wonder people don’t hang around afterwards (or didn’t they want to tell the preacher what they thought of the service?). Then back to the Conference ‘business’ associated with affirming people, which included a tribute to those ministers who are ‘sitting down’ as well as reception into full connexion of the ordinands. Then the most amazing service in the cathedral where the ordinations took place, each ordinand giving an inspiring testimony as to their call. I think the roof might need to be examined for safety after the singing of more than 600 Methodists nearly raised it. What a great way to end the Conference.