Sunday 24th March
On Monday evening my wife, Anita, and I went with my fellow Minister and her husband, Sheila and Carl Heron, to see Blues Brothers at the Sunderland Empire. I must admit until a few days before I thought that we had booked to see Blood Brothers but we enjoyed the show none-the-less and spending time together.
I was only at the younger Youth Club this week but I didn’t take the children outside as I was leaving early because I was speaking at the Christian Endeavour Service of our South Hylton IM Church held in the home Alan and Anne Chisholm. There was a warm welcome as usual and the hymns reminded us of the passion and death of our Lord, I had a Lenten message for them. It was a joy to worship with this faithful group.
The prayer meeting on Wednesday was at the local Pentecostal Church where we spent time praying for the nation and for our town especially as we prepare for Holy Week. We also had fellowship together after the prayer time and before we ventured out into the cold weather.
I left work early on Thursday to pick up Anita to go to a parents’ evening to find out how our elder daughter, Hannah, is doing at school. It was good to hear from her teachers and to find out her progress. I then went to our South Hetton IM Church which was holding an ecumenical Lenten service with the churches of Easington and South Hetton. There was a good sized congregation from the various churches to for the service which was led by Eva Richardson, Elsie Armstrong read the lesson and Martin Banks sang a solo. Eva was very kind in the way in which she introduced me to the members of the other churches as the speaker for the evening. After the meeting there was the opportunity to talk over a tea and biscuits.
On Saturday morning I was at our home church where we had arranged a coffee morning with a cake stall and craft stall. I was at my usual post, in the kitchen making the drinks and washing the dishes in between chatting to those who came for refreshments. Despite the bitterly cold winds there was a good turnout, better than we had expected.
After the coffee morning I went home to check the internet for the road conditions before setting off for Wigan. Despite the clear forecast the journey over the M62 was slower than usual so I was an hour late in arriving at the home of Rita and Norman Prescott who had prepared a hot meal for me. Fortunately there was still sufficient time before Wigan Circuit Praise Night at our Mount Zion, Pemberton IM Church, although it was a bitterly cold night with snow and ice on the ground there was a good sized congregation. With Kevan Booth of our Bethel Newtown IM Church playing the organ and the congregation in good voice it sounded as though the church was full as we sang God’s praises.
I was booked into the cottage at the Northwood Christian Centre for the night but Allan Grundy of our Lamberhead Green IM Church invited me to stay at his home rather than risk the country roads around the cottage. Indeed I received a number of offers of a bed for the night but Allan and Ada Grundy looked after me so well despite the short or should that be no notice.
I was met at the door of our Spring View IM Church on Sunday morning by Andrew Rigby, the weather was bitterly cold outside but the church was warm and the welcome warmer still. It is many years since I was last in this church which has been renovated and made into an attractive multi-purpose building. The congregation at Spring View was augmented by members of other Wigan Circuit Churches and I had the privilege of leading the Palm Sunday worship. After the service the chairs were moved and the building was transformed for lunch which gave the opportunity for relaxed chatting both before and after a fine lunch.
It was then a short journey to our Stubshaw Cross IM Church, this was my first ever visit to this church so I was given a tour of it and of the adjoining Anglican Church of St Luke’s by Alan Harrison. This is the third IM church on this site and is modern and attractive, when the Anglican church was built it was designed to blend in with the IM Church and together their facilities can be shared.
As Amos and Mabel Banks entered the church Mabel gave me a packed tea to make sure that I wouldn’t be hungry on my journey home. Once again the congregation was augmented by members of other Wigan Circuit Churches and Kevan Booth had agreed to play the organ. Alan Harrison led the service while I had the privilege of speaking to the young people who helped me by re-enacting a story and of preaching while they went out to Sunday School.
There were refreshments after the service, it was the young people who had baked biscuits and cakes and some of them helped serve which was encouraging to see, and the biscuits and cakes were delicious. As I set off for home I was able to reflect upon the kindness and hospitality of the members of Wigan Circuit and of the blessings I had received in worship and fellowship with them.
If you would like to get in touch for whatever reason you can contact me
by e-mail at president@imcgb.org.ukor by writing to me at my home address.
Diary Dates
for the Coming Fortnight
Monday 25th March
7.00pm Holy Week Service at Enfield Road IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.
Tuesday 26th March
10.15am Lead the assembly at New Seaham Academy
6.00-7.00pm Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.
7.00pm Holy Week Service at Seaham Methodist Church.
Wednesday 27th March
7.00pm Holy Week Service at Seaham Salvation Army.
Friday 29th March (Good Friday and Hannah’s 18th birthday)
10.00am Good Friday Service at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit followed by Seaham Churches Together Walk of Witness.
Saturday 30th March
10.30am Attend the Northern Counties Confederation Easter Sittings at South Hetton IM Church, Sunderland Circuit and at 6.15pm speak at the Evening Rally.
Sunday 31st March
10.30am Preach at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
5.30pm Preach at South Hetton IM Church, North East Circuit.
Tuesday 2nd April
6.00-7.30pm Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.
Friday 5th April
7.00pm Bible Comes Alive Planning and Prayer meeting at Thorney Close IM Church, North East Circuit.
Sunday 7th April
10.30am Attend Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
2.30pm Baptise a baby at Greatham IM Church, North East Circuit.
3.00pm Preach at Greatham IM Church, North East Circuit.