December

London has been the centre of most of my activities since I last blogged! Living so far away from the so called centre of things its helpful to try to combine a whole lot of meetings when I’m in the capital so it was “wall to wall” from morning to night. Highlights included two visits to the House of Lords (I think I could get to like it!!) a site visit to the Olympic Stadium (a lengthy and most inspiring conversation with the Chaplain there and a handshake from Lord Coe!) as well as a visit to Stratford Methodist Church to hear how they are preparing for “the invasion” and learning to see it as a Gospel opportunity, a Carol service at the Queen Victoria Seamen’s Rest in Poplar - an incredibly slow journey (how do people cope with it every day?) but an amazing work and a great service. Proud to be a Methodist there! It was also a real privilege to be at the Fresh Expressions Summit and to hear of the exciting things that are happening all around our Connexion where some folk are connecting with the Gospel and others re-connecting. It was also good (and humbling) to host with Ruth a day for the former Presidents and Vice Presidents and although it got occasionally out of hand (what do you expect with 44 church leaders in the room?) it seems to have been appreciated and Rev Dr Kenneth Greet’s gracious words at the end made it all worthwhile.

Then to Birmingham – the real capital of England – for the centenary service to mark the death of William McGregor, Founder of The Football League and Director of Aston Villa. All the great and the good from Villa were there – it was like heaven! Pity watching the team play at the moment is apparently like the other word beginning with H!

So now I’m in Norfolk and looking forward to something of a rest for a few days but with a certain nervous glance towards an incredibly busy January I suspect I’ll need to carve out some preparation time somewhere along the line!

A very happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to all my patient readers!