Sunday 7th April
After the busy-ness of Holy Week and the Easter Weekend it was good to have the bank holiday on Monday to have a lazy day and to catch up on jobs. I went shopping with my wife, Anita, to get the food for Tuesday’s lunch club at church and answered some emails. In the evening we still held our Bible Study at church which was both a good time of learning more from God’s word and a time of fellowship.
It was back to work on Tuesday but in the evening at church we had a combined youth club rather than separate junior and senior clubs because of the holidays. With the change in the clocks it was a pleasant change to have the children outside without the need for the floodlights and at several points in the evening I had all of the children outside. I’m not sure what the other leaders were doing inside but it was a pleasure to look after the children, playing referee, mediator, nurse, teacher and friend.
There was no prayer meeting on Wednesday so there was another chance to spend time catching up on jobs and to have a leisurely tea with the family which is a rare treat. I had the day off on Thursday which gave the chance to both relax, sort things out at home and see some tradesmen before Anita and I took our daughters out for a shopping expedition and to have a meal out. Fortunately it was quiet so although I am no fan of shopping I managed to get some new clothes and some more books to read. Most important was the time spent with my family, our son, David, was not able to come because he was at Air Cadets so although we would have liked him to be with us we were also proud that he honoured his commitment to the Cadets by going there rather than having a night off to go out for a meal.
Friday was another day made up of a mixture of relaxing and jobs around the house. There was the chance for Anita and I to do the shopping together, Anita is having trouble with her back so I was able to do the lifting, stretching and carrying. There were various people that we knew who we saw but it was especially pleasing to see children from the schools where we take assemblies either smiling at us or coming up to talk to us. In the evening I went to a planning and prayer meeting for the Bible Comes Alive at our Thorney Close IM Church where I had a list of people to see from various IM churches. I was able to see them after we had made arrangements for the forthcoming presentations and had a time of earnest prayer prompted by a Bible reading and some thoughts brought by Martin Bolt from our Thorney Close IM Church.
On Saturday Anita and I went in search of the exam centre where our elder daughter and son will be sitting A levels and G.C.S.E.’s in the next couple of months. This gave me the opportunity to take Anita to the Accident and Emergency department of Sunderland Royal Hospital, she would have refused but I drove her there to have her back checked. Where the G.P. and physiotherapists had failed to diagnose a slipped disc the hospital doctor was able to do it. With painkillers from the hospital pharmacy we were able to come home before going to a surprise party for a friend in one of the other churches in Seaham.
We had a small congregation at our home church on Sunday morning due to illness, holidays and people visiting family but we still had a good time worshipping the Lord with George Park of our Boldon Colliery IM Church as the preacher. After lunch I travelled down to our Greatham IM Church where I had been invited to conduct the baptism of a baby girl. It was good to see so many gather to celebrate this new life and to have the privilege of welcoming them into this village church. I then took the service with a very attentive congregation and was blessed by the after service prayer meeting. Our Connexion’s oldest Minister, Mrs Wilson, was as usual a great encouragement and blessing, to hear her prayers for the future when she is 102 shows what a remarkable lady she is. There were photographs taken after the service because the pews are to be removed to make the building more flexible.
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
Tuesday 9th April
6.00-7.00pm Combined Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Wednesday 10th April
6.30pm Prayer meeting at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Thursday 11th April
11.00am Joint meeting of IM’s with members of the Congregation Federation at their headquarters in Nottingham.
Friday 12th April
7.00pm Ministers’ Meeting of the North East Circuit at Hetton-le-Hole IM Church, North East Circuit.
Saturday 13th April
10.00am Finance Committee Meeting at the Resource Centre, Wigan.
Sunday 14th April
10.30am Preach at Moorside IM Church, Leigh Circuit.
Monday 15th April
11.00am Attend a meeting of representatives of the Free Churches Group and Churches Together in England at Tavistock Square, Bloomsbury, London.
8.15pm Children and Young People’s Working Group Meeting at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Tuesday 16th April
3.10pm Lead the assembly at New Seaham Academy
6.00-7.00pm Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
7.00-8.30pm Senior Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Wednesday 17th April
6.30pm Prayer meeting at Seaham Salvation Army.
Thursday 18th April
11.00am Attend a meeting of the Free Churches Group at Tavistock Square, Bloomsbury, London.
Sunday 21st April
10.30am Attend Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.