Exciting visions in Basingstoke

The sun was shining as I began my visit to the Southampton District. We travelled to be with the people of St Andrew's in Basingstoke to hear about the South Ham project. After years of seeking a way forward with a large 1950's building in need of lots of work
the church/circuit are developing a partnership which will result in the total redevelopment of the site providing a new doctor's surgery, dentist practice, a pharmacy and also a new church community building.

This is a real exciting project and the day was superbly organised by Margaret, the superintendent minister and Terry Ayers , a circuit steward. Over 50 people came for the event including the 3 local councillors, members of the medical practise and other church and community groups.


One of the medical team, Dr Western spoke of his gratitude to the church for finding this innovative way forward and the local councillor who spoke was wanting to develop the community side of the new church building. The meeting split into gro0ups to share their hopes and visions for this new project.
Please pray for them.

Drumming for God!

David and I journeyed together to High Leigh Conference Centre to be with over 120 youth workers, pastoral workers, family workers, evangelists etc....This was the coming together of two previous conferences for 'lay workers' and youth workers. We were able to be there for 24 hours and arrived in time to share with the Psalm Drummers.
What an array of drums and other instruments.

We were invited to choose our drums or shaker of choice




and after an hour we were transformed from a rabble to a group of people who drummed together and made a magnificent sound.


It was a tremendous team building and confidence building hour and a half.....and good fun...I've already recommended it for next year's Diaconal Convocation.

Over the five days this group of people grew together and were left better equipped for the lay ministry they offer. It was busy and a packed programme but all those I met wanted to get as much out of it as possible...a big thank you to Penny Fuller and her team for organising such a good conference.

Celebrating God's Gifts at Convo

Much of the new and often ground breaking ministry within our church is being pioneered by deacons. It was a real privilege to share with them in their 3 day annual Convocation at Swanwick.


Here all the active and many retired deacons gather to share faith, renew their vows and seek to be better equipped for the ministry they share in through being accountable to one another, through study and prayer and the encouragement given.

It was a wonderful time of laughter and prayer, of listening and fellowship - much of this was because of the leadership of the new warden, Sue Culver and her team. There is something special about our MDO and I was encouraged to meet those in training, and the probationers, to see that they display the gifts and graces needed as diaconal ministry continues to be affirmed and central to our life as a church in the days ahead.

They are truly a gift of God

Papua New Guinea to Peasenhall

My visit to the East Anglia District began with a very special visit to one of our oldest ministers, the Rev Stuart Luckcock, whose year of travel is 1932.....which means he is in the 77th year of his ministry....wow...... It was a joy to share time with him. he still has a sharp mind and a quick wit...keeping his Chair of District, Graham, on his toes at least! He drives a small motorised scooter around the corridors of the Christian residential home he lives in...and recently has been given 3 points on his license for speeding!

The next day was Women's World day of Prayer and it was a joy to share with an ecumenical group of both men and women telling them some stories from my visits to PNG.


We then travelled to Cambridge where I was able to spend an hour with the chaplain, the Rev Clifford Meharry, at the Leys School. He had arranged for us to meet with some 6th form students who later showed Graham and I around this marvellous school complex. There were some encouraging stories of young people finding faith .. I am aware that there are different views about our Methodist residential schools but as long as they bear our name we must make them the best we can and The Leys is certainly seeking to do this.

Then on to Ely where we met up with David (who took some photos) for an District Overseas Event. There was a marvellous turn out from nearby circuits and food both before and after the worship with songs and music from across the world.
Photo of Ely with Brenda Jaggard, celebrating 50 years as a Local Preacher this year and the Chair, Graham, and superintendent Barbara Garwood.

Graham took the Vice-President to visit a number of projects so Alison, Graham's wife, took me for a full day's visit to the Lowestoft and East Suffolk circuit. We began at Carlton Colville which is growing from a village to a new community of 6000 homes. The small chapel has been refurbished and is a growing Christian community.

The deacon, Ian Cartwright, shared with me some of the new and exciting opportunities. They offer a craft club, music group, children's clubs, cafe church, cinema club and a developing ministry in the local schools.

The church members who met me were full of enthusiasm not only for the way the church is developing but also for athe possibility of building a new church and community centre which would include a cafe, cinema, health and fitness facilities and community rooms This is a wonderful story of a small elderly congregation being transformed and there is great hope for the future from the whole church family.

We then found our way to to Beccles
for another District World Church event. This was a lovely lunch followed by the opportunity for me to share some stories of the way God's grace is being shared and revealed around the world. It was a time for me to meet lots of people who continue to have a commitment to be part of the World Church. Being such a large geographical district they had decided to have two similar events at different ends of East Anglia and for me it worked really well.

Then on to Peasenhall.

here this small chapel were celebrating 200 years since it was opened. There were 2 moving testimonies from David Cole and Jason Vineyard - one an 'old boy', the other a 'new Christian' now a student minister in Cambridge both sharing the importance of this chapel and Christian community. It was a wonderful evening of celebration and hopefully another springboard for the church to continue their mission and service to the village and wider communities.

Sunday was a day of anniversaries as well. The small chapel at Litcham in the Mid Norfolk circuit were celebrating their centenary and then later in the afternoon I preached at Bungay United Church celebrating at the end of their 350th celebrations. After this service I was met by Brian and Eileen Chubbock who showed me a photo from when they had met Myrtle and I in February 1980 just after we had arrived inJamaica....a time of reminicising........and we did look young!

Thank you to Graham and alison and all those who came to any of the worship and events....it was good to share with you and to leave feeling that there is so much to celebrate and give God thanks for.

reunion in Beeston

On the saturday of my recent visit to the Nottingham & Derby District ity was great to meet up with some of those who were part of the Youth Fellowship all those years ago at queens Road. A good meal and then lots of stories and slides reminding us of pantomimes and holidays with dear Stuart Burgess as our minister........much laughter and many happy memories...

Back Home 3!

Spent all of the Friday at Southwell. Meeting the circuit leadership team and then after lunch some of the members of the church. Once again we had a good conversation together how this growing congregation can continue to witness to the love of Christ.

They are of course in the 'shadow' of the Minster and I was delighted to be invited by the Dean to preach at their evening prayers (the choir had been given the night off after a busy Ash Wednesday!)

The following day I was able to visit the new Pearson Centre in Beeston. This is the new BB and GB suite of premises after finally closing down the old Beeston Lads Club which had been the home of the 17th Nottingham BB Company I had been involved in for many years. This new centre is brilliant with halls, recording studios, dance studio, gym and much more. A quick photio with wendy, the full-time BB captain and youth officer and some boys arrivign for a games competition.



then off to my home Church at Queens Road which was the venue for a District World Church Day entitled, 'Many Nations - One Church' and hosted by the Korean congregation. They led worship (bad photo of some of the children dancing)

and then i was invited to share some stories from around the World Church. then a wonderful lunch, again proivided by the Koreran congregation and lots of entertainment and testimonies.



We next went off to find Gedling Road Methodist Church where there was a community day for people to come and look at their refurbishment - which was excellent and I was also excited to hear of the chaplaincy that the minister, Louise Grosberg, is developing with the NHS Trust who share the same car park as the church.

a quick photo shoot

but on closer inspection can be seen the lovely face painting images...the things you do as President!

The visit ended on the Sunday. A packed Chilwell Road Church for aNottingham Trent Valley circuit service felt like a home coming as there were so many people there from my past....those who knew me before I was even born! to those who were at school with me, in the BB and my home church...people who were my Sunday School teachers, past Presidents, and so many who knew my dad........I was so busy talking I didn't get any photos...but they are in my memory. Then later on to a circuit service at Mickleover where a good number of people came to sing and share the story of God's grace.

This has been a special time, as is perhaps obvious by the comments above. It isn't always easy going back home....but I was made to feel so welcome and once again thank all those people who encouraged and shaped me in my early years.

Back Home 2

I had never been to Tissington until Wes took me to this lovely village of over 200 people. It is well known for being the first in the Well Dressing season and the Methodist chapel is at the 'end of the village'......
this Methodist society began in a caravan, then into a rail carriage and eventually they made it into a wooden hut and in 1965 a stone chapel. They have grown from 4 to 10 members and have plans to develop their premises now they can get running water into the building! It is always open and if you go to the well dressing it is used as a base for mission and outreach.

Thanks to the minister Tim Morris, Sister Merle and the other people who gave their time to welcome me and share their vision.

We spent time that day with people at the main church in Ashbourne, at the Corner Cafe - if you go I recommend the special hot chocolate drink.....comes with lots of cream and chocolate flake.

They have great hopes and dreams for redevelopment as have the church in Uttoxeter
and were taken around the circuit by the minister, Christine Hey. The people at the village of Hilton have already done a marvellous conversion of their village chapel to create an excellent suite of premises that are being used more and more by the community. A good group of members came to greet us and we spent a good hour sharing together how the church through their hospitality can share the gospel more fully.

This day ended with a very special event for me. One of the people who has shaped my ministry has been Jean Vanier, the founder of the L'Arche communities. The West Bridgeford Church in the centre of Nottingham host two Faith & Light group - one for children and young people and the other for adults. These are gatherings of people with learning difficulties, special needs and autism - offering a caring, supportive environment for all.

I was deeply honoured that the two groups had come together on this Thursday evening to meet the President.We shared a meal together and I was able to wander around meeting members of the two groups as well as some of their families.




We then gathered for worship. what a celebration of God's love, joy and grace this was.


There was a very moving trstimony from Alison, some great singing and marching around the church waving flags and banners.
People are working very hard to raise money to begin a L'Arche community in Nottingham - please pray for them.