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Independent Methodist Churches |
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Serving, Encouraging, Motivating, Resourcing |
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President’s Diary / Blog Sunday 25th July Monday evening was spent packing for the next few days and preparing for the Annual Meeting at the weekend. The reason for packing was that on Tuesday I was due to set off from Newcastle to Glasgow by rail with our younger daughter Rachel. An unexpected delay on the road to Newcastle meant that we began to doubt whether we would reach the station in time but after a dash we arrived in the station to be met by two of Rachel’s school friends and the parents of one of them. We had arrived in time and for good measure the train had been delayed. We had a good journey to Scotland’s second city where, after settling into our hotel, we went out for a Chinese meal and then walked back to the hotel along the banks of the Clyde where Rachel and her friends, Henry and Curtis had great fun playing on some artwork on a bridge. It was an early start on Wednesday, up at 5.30am, to get ready and have breakfast before being picked up at 6.45am to go to the studios of BBC Scotland where we were to record a Children’s programme. Our star quality was immediately recognised, we were allocated the dressing rooms used by Anne Robinson when she films the weakest link. Every effort was made to make us feel welcome, comfortable and relaxed, apart from the moments when it was explained that a knowledge of chart music might be required which filled me with a sense of foreboding. It was a fantastic experience, I learned a great deal including that I am not gifted at playing the kazoo but most of all I was so pleased that even though we did not win Rachel and her friends accepted it graciously and were happy to wish the winning team well. Rachel’s friend, Curtis, who is something of a star in the making, impressed the show’s presenters Sam and Mark but Sam also said that we had been his favourite team from all of the series which thrilled us all especially when the researcher later assured us that she had never heard him say it before. The journey home was filled with much laughter as we chatted over what had happened and I marvelled that God had provided me with such a distraction to occupy my mind up to two days before Annual Meeting. Thursday evening was spent in final preparation for Annual Meeting. I had decided not to go into work on Friday but I couldn’t lie in, I was up early checking plans for the weekend, it was also my birthday so once everyone was up there were cards and presents to open. We set off mid morning as we had made arrangements to meet our brother-in-law, niece and seven month old great niece for a short time in Alfreton before finishing our journey to Swanwick. Once at the Hayes we were able to set to work setting up the Prayer Room, check technical equipment and make final arrangements. After our evening meal it was a quick change for the evening which was a mixture of worship and classical music with the aim of inspiring Churches to work together to find different ways to attract people to meetings where the Gospel is proclaimed. It was good to see so many gathered for prayer at the start of Saturday morning before the business of Annual Meeting which will be reported back to Churches by their representatives and through the magazine. It was good to hear so many speak over the weekend of their experiences in reaching out to those who don’t know Jesus, there was much encouragement and much that we can learn from one another and a highlight was surely the inspiring address by Andrea Williams on Saturday evening. I would be delighted to hear from others of their experience of Annual Meeting, any comments that you have - things that blessed you or things that concerned you. If you would like to get in touch for whatever reason you can contact me by e-mail at president@imcgb.org.uk or by writing to me at my home address. Diary Dates for the Coming Fortnight Wednesday 28th July 6.30pm Attend the joint Seaham Churches prayer meeting at Enfield Road IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit Friday 30th July 7.00pm Attend the service of welcome for the new Salvation Army Officer Sunday 1st August 10.30am Attend Stanley Street IM Church Seaham, Sunderland Circuit 12.00noon Conduct the baptism of Fynn Anderson and Curtis Bate. Wednesday 4th August 6.30pm Lead the joint Seaham Churches prayer meeting at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit Sunday 8th August 9.00am Prayer breakfast at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit 10.30am and 6.00pm Preach at South Hylton IM Church, Sunderland Circuit Sunday 18th July On Monday we visited our children’s school for the parents’ evening of our younger daughter, Rachel. It was good to hear of the progress that she had made in the year and that by her hard work she had come top of the class in English, maths and science. I was at the local primary school on Tuesday for a governors meeting where it was good to congratulate the staff on the work that they had done to bring the children in both the infant and junior departments to a high standard of achievement. After a quick tea it was down to the Youth Club but we left early to go to watch our daughters dance in a show produced by their dance school. I had an early start on Wednesday to travel to Preston for a meeting of the council of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners where I was appointed the Vice Chair, as the Chair had a prior appointment in the afternoon I had to chair the end of the meeting. The meeting was a good one as this professional association seeks to raise standards in charity accounts and the examination of them. On Thursday together with our elder daughter, Hannah, I was in charge of a little thank you party for the children of the Bible Kids of the church. It has to be said that they didn’t take very much organising and their behaviour was excellent. On Saturday we had a coffee morning at our home church, posters had been displayed, leaflets had been delivered to local homes and personal invitations given. Although there was still room for more it was good to see those who came and in conversation invitations to other activities and to the services were offered. One lady had come because of the free Bible Text calendars that we distribute every Christmas, she looks forward to receiving it each year enjoying reading the texts and looking at the pictures throughout the year. She had determined that the next time she received an invitation from the church she would accept the invitation if she was able to. After helping to clear up and a quick lunch I went to our Hetton Church where members of the Finance Committee met with leaders from the Church to discuss a Kingdom Growth grant. This is another of our Churches that does a tremendous work within its local community. At the close of this meeting there was a dash home for a quick change before travelling to our Spennymoor Jubilee Church for the Farewell service of the Castro family. It was particularly good to see children from the Sunday School of this church taking part by singing in the service, more so because there were six boys, 3 of whom were teenagers. Gail and Daniel thanked those present for the support that they have received over the years and explained how it felt to go to a new field of service. The representative of their mission society, Doug Atherton, preached the word from Joshua chapter one reminding those present of what God requires of us. The fellowship at Spennymoor Jubilee had prepared an excellent tea for those who were able to stay. On Sunday it was a joy to be preaching at my home church and to welcome some new people who having come to the previous day’s coffee morning had returned to worship with us. I spent the early part of the afternoon in preparations for next week’s Annual Meeting before visiting one of the ladies from church who is in hospital. Sunday 11th July There was a circuit Mission’s Committee meeting on Monday evening which due to a mix up was adjourned to the home of Hilda Rolfe. Despite the delayed start we had a good meeting where there were several very positive ideas of how the circuit Churches can work together to reach out with the Gospel. We recognised that there needs to be a greater desire for souls within the Churches and that together we will be better able to do this. At the Youth Club on Tuesday I ended up watching the boys as they played football on the church garden, I became the referee showing my knowledge of the offside rule! It is a pity that professional footballers couldn’t play with the same spirit as the boys who enjoyed playing more than winning. The joint prayer meeting on Wednesday was a good time of fellowship and of bringing the people of our town and the needs of our Churches to the Lord. The circuit Children and Young People’s Group met on Thursday evening to make plans to support and encourage the work amongst those churches which have a work with this age group and to encourage the young people of those churches by providing them with opportunities to meet. It was a good meeting with some positive plans made for the future. Friday was my wife’s birthday and our wedding anniversary which we spent at a musical evening at our children’s school. The opening performance for the concert was by the band in which our son, David, plays bass guitar and the final act was the band in which our younger daughter, Rachel, plays drums so it was a proud moment for us as parents. Saturday was the Connexional Day of Prayer to seek God’s direction for the Connexion. There was a good time of open prayer in the first few hours. Being present for the whole five hours I had the opportunity during the day to pray for everyone attending the Annual Meeting and for all of the churches. In the evening various members of our home church went to the Salvation Army for a farewell service for the officer as she moves on to a new Corps and I was asked to offer greetings to her. Sunday was one of the highlights of the church year at Stanley Street church, the Sunday School Anniversary and “Olympics”. It was good to welcome additional people to the service to hear and see what the children had prepared, there were poems, songs, sketches, and dances sharing the Christian message. After the service we had a shared lunch before beginning the “Olympics”, we had borrowed some sports equipment from our local primary school. We were able to include everyone from the youngest to the oldest in some form of sport, everyone took part in a spirit of fun (well I think the threats of one lady not to make tea for her husband if he beat her were only in fun!). God was kind with the weather and those passing by were able to see the fun that we had as a Church. In the evening I was preaching at our South Hetton Church which was in the midst of building work to extend their kitchen where there was a good sized congregation and as usual I received a warm welcome form them. Sunday 4th July Monday evening I spent time in preparation for the forthcoming Annual Meeting but on Tuesday evening I ended up staying back at the office to try to catch up on work after missing quite a few days in June. The joint prayer meeting on Wednesday was at my home church, I opened the meeting but missed most of it because I had to deal with some abusive and insulting youngsters who were creating a nuisance outside of the church. I find it so sad that whilst we want to welcome all and introduce them to our Lord and Saviour there are those whose experience of life and influences have made them hardened. Thursday I gathered at Durham Crematorium with my wife’s family to bid farewell to her cousin John. It was comforting to see that so many had come to pay their last respects. George Eales of our Spennymoor Jubilee Church conducted the funeral painting in words a picture of John and reminding those present of the effect that he had had on their lives. On Thursday evening it was our Church business meeting where we considered how our representative should vote at the Annual Meeting and we looked at outreach plans for the summer. It is so important to be continually and prayerfully looking for ways to reach out to our local communities with the Good News of the Gospel. In recent years we have held a day of prayer at our home Church which we have felt has been of great benefit to the Church and its ministry. The church hall was set out with various prayer stations around it to allow people to focus on specific areas for prayer and through the day we had times of corporate prayer. Prayer is vital for each Christian and each Church. It was an early start on Saturday to set off for the Resource Centre for a meeting of the Executive dealing with a range of issues, some ongoing, some relating to the Annual Meeting and others which needed to be dealt with. On Sunday morning we had our monthly prayer breakfast at our home church. I was able to start off the prayer time but had to leave shortly afterwards to travel to the other side of the city of Durham to our Brandon church. My wife’s grandmother lived and worshipped in Brandon so this church has a special place in the life of our family. It was good that the fellowship had a time of open prayer during the service, at the close of the service we also celebrated the sacrament of the Lord’s supper. In the evening I went to the Methodist church at Hetton to preach, this is a fellowship where I go each year and I’m made most welcome. Until this visit they hadn’t realised that I did not have a Methodist Hymn Book so they very kindly gave me one of theirs for when I preach at their church and at other Methodist churches. |
