In the Mayor's Parlour

This morning before going in to work I was privileged to be invited with others from the local community to meet with Councillor Dann, the Mayor of Hillingdon, in the Mayor's parlour in Uxbridge. Councillor Dann had invited small groups of people who are involved in local voluntary groups such as Help the Aged, Cancer Research fundraising, community outreach, art and charity groups etc to meet her and see the different memorabilia in the parlour. Suffice to say that I suffered from another bout of bling envy!!

I was there as part of a group who organise the British Tanzanian society, raising funds and awareness for people in need in Tanzania. I met Elizabeth and Ron Fennell some time ago at Westminster Central Hall and they were responsible for hospitality to the Masai warriors who were in the UK to run the London Marathon in aid of their home village. I had a little involvement in their programme, although sadly was in Cameroon when the warriors were here, and was invited to join this group this morning. The Mayor had been impressed by a concert Elizabeth and Ron had arranged with visiting blind musicians which was held at Central Hall to raise money and this invitation was in recognition of this.
It was a great opportunity to hear of the work of the different voluntary groups and the work of the Mayor and I was very impressed by these people working in the Borough where I live. So many people give of their time freely for the benefit of others and our communities are the richer for it.

Sharing in Ruislip

This weekend has been quite light on the VP front, apart from the odd phone call, e mail etc and on Saturday night Garry and I went to hear Kate Rusby at the Cadogan Hall. Excellent. We really enjoyed it. Then this morning I had been asked by our minister, David Bidnell, if I would share something of the year so far. It was lovely to be among folk who know me and I probably spoke for longer than I had intended but they were very gracious (all this in a service with the Church AGM and communion!). It was good to use the new technology there too which behaved well under Terry's excellent management. It was interesting to reflect on how different it felt from rushing into and out of places where you are an unknown quantity. Still not much time to reflect as we raced off to have lunch with Garry's mum. That's the thing about these occasional days off. They're so busy. Still, back to work tomorrow (after a short detour) and the Channel Islands on Thursday. Hope the sun keeps shining.

'doon sooth'

Back from Shetland, back 'doon sooth' as Sheltlanders refer to anywhere else in Great Britain other than their own islands - even Scotland. And, as Ruby mentions, what a great time we had.

The three services on Sunday were all quite different. The morning at Walls was a lively affair with a little worship band and hearty singing. The afternoon service was in a chapel as remote as any I have every preached in. We wended our way into the moors and when we arrived I could not see any other building in any direction - and you could see for miles. The regular congregation of a small handful meets monthly, but a huge crowd of about 20 turned out for this service. The evening service was in Scalloway (Scalwae!) and a district affair. The church was full and as always these people were serious about their faith. They travel for miles to get to worship and their loyalty and devotion to God and each other is highly impressive.

On monday I was taken north to the islands of Yell and Unst, via ferry. I went to Haroldswick Methodist Church, the most northerly chapel in the British Isles. And very nice too. The foundation stone was laid by Donald English in 1990 and it was opened in 1993.

On the way back to Yell we set off on the ferry, got half way across the water then turned back in order to pick up two cars that had arrived late! Shetland is like that. Drivers wave to each other as they pass, and everyone acknowledges each other.

Back on Yell we visited another little chapel, were made very welcome, and served the neverending supply of traybakes and tea. This place is not for dieters!

Tuesday morning I left Shetland, via Edinburgh then Birmingham arriving back at College later afternoon. Just in time to catch up with a pile of mail and emails. So I have hit the ground running.

Today Helen and I are having a 'packing up day'. We are summoning up the courage to venture into the loft to begin to chuck out and keep various things, ready for our house move which, we hope, might be able to take place in June. That would be good, so please pray the processes involved go smoothly and we can get one transition taking place over summer earlier than late July and early august.

North to Shetland

This weekend brought a visit to the most northerly District in the British Isles. Shetland. What beauty, what faith, what love and concern we found there. We arrived on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately the President's suitcase didn't arrive until very late on Sunday night! It's arrival at all must surely have been as a result of the fervent prayers at the Prayer meeting at Burra church on Friday night.

By Saturday lunchtime, after meetings with the staff, there was no sign of the case (which went on a trip to another island altogether!) and so a shopping trip for "essentials" took place. Here you can see the President being advised on his purchases by the Chair of the Shetland District, Jeremy Dare. This meant that Martyn too could be a fresh expression of the President aws he led a session on Fresh Expressions of Church on Saturday afternoon and preached at a gathering in the evening.

In the evening I joined the Chair and a packed vehicle full of people up to the top of the mainland to North Roe where I was privileged to open a sale to raise monies for the North Roe Church. It was a really good community evening held in the Community Hall. I came home with a number of purchases but wouldn't put my name against my guesses for the name of the toy dog, instead asking the young lady selling the names to tell me five names of children on whose behalf I could pay for entries. One of these was the winning entry and the winner, Stuart was thrilled - his mother maybe less so as the dog was bigger than Stuart.

A late night by the time we returned to Lerwick after the 2 hour drive but a good time was had by all and over £1000 raised.
On Sunday morning I preached at Lerwick in the morning and then at Burra in the afternoon before being driven by Jeremy's wife Sheila back to the airport and the journey home. As I was checking in we were given the good news that the missing suitcase had been discovered on Kirkwall and would be arriving later that evening.
Thank you to Jeremy and Sheila and Marianne and Craig for their hospitality and to those in the District for their love and care. My first time in Shetland but I hope it won't be the last.

Methodist Council

For the last two days we have both been at the Methodist Council. This is the governance body of the Methodist Church in Britain which employs the staff and approves the budgets for the Connexional Team and a range of other Connexional bodies. There were just under 400 pages of papers for this meeting with accounts to be approved, papers and presentations on a whole range of things including equalities and diversities, the proposed youth participations scheme, confidentiality in the work of the Church, ecumenical issues, MPH, Women's Network, grant making, world church relationships, review of stationing, use of designated training funds etc etc... Really meaty stuff. The amount of work that goes into preparing all of these reports is enormous and there is real commitment from all of the representatives to making appropriate decisions. Today was the last Methodist Council of this connexional year and much of what we were looking at will be on the agenda of the Methodist Conference in July. Thanks were given to those who finished their stint on the Methodist Council today for all of their work. Not least those members of the Connexional Team who had made proposals for change which leaves them without jobs and those for whom the years running up to retirement have been far from a gradual easing off. The Methodist Church owes a lot to so many people who will no longer be part of these structures. It is right to mark that here too and give thanks.

joy upon joy!

Had a great but very busy couple of weeks.

Thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Bolton and Rochdale district last weekend. Great folk and great events – the evening in Bolton was tremendous with choirs and bands everywhere.

On Monday (last) I unveiled the plaque on the house where Thomas Champness, a Wesleyan Methodist missionary started the newspaper (The Joyful News) and founded the group which became Cliff College. Thanks to the mayor, the civic reps, and all the supporters who braved the rain and hail to witness the event. In these days when my leaving of Cliff, which has been both my home and ministry for the last 12 years, draws nearer it was a moving and cathartic event for me.

Then it was 2 days with a group of young ministers, a fantastic time of sharing and listening – I am writing about this occasion in this week’s Methodist Recorder.

This last weekend was spent in Manchester and Stockport district. Friday was spent having my photograph taken every 5 seconds while looking round the Methodist insurance co. Then a fertile conversation with a group of lay workers, lunch with some of the staff at Manchester Central Hall, and off to a great infants/primary Methodist school in Tameside.

Last night I shared in the 150th anniversary of Langley MC in the Macclesfield circuit. Thank you to you all for a lovely time – and a great display of nostalgic memorability.

Then down to London, where I am now, girding my loins for the Methodist Council tomorrow. Joy heaped upon joy!

Ruby the flexible, the valiant

Well...Ruby's vice-presidential year may well have prepared her for the long hours, the swift movement from one group of individuals to the next, the speeches, the gift ceremonies, and the cheek-aching smiling that has filled her colourful 3 days in the rural areas of NW Cameroon. But we have also subjected her to dancing and pompom waving as the communities showed their appreciation of her visit; to torrential rain and slippery slopes as she clambered up to see people's compounds and down to see people's vegetable gardens; to cross rickety bridges while people on all sides took her photograph and to pitch black roads leading to the only open watering hole after a 12 hour day in the field. And she has met it all with good grace and energy, interviewing community members and being bear-hugged to their chests, looking at their carrots with genuine interest and really making them feel appreciated and alongside them. They are all waiting for her return trip! (written by Kirsty Smith, MRDF Director)