Sunday 21st April
I have been invited to become the treasurer for the Free Churches Group (FCG) so on Monday I set off for the 7.07am train from Durham to London King’s Cross for a meeting of a group of members from the FCG and from Churches Together in England (CTE) to discuss the way in which the two groups will operate in the future. I was warmly welcomed to the joint offices at Tavistock Square in Bloomsbury where it was also good to see the familiar faces of Michael Heaney of the Congregational Federation and Geoff Lomas of our Ashton Under Lyne IM Church. The meeting went well making progress in formulating the way forward and afterwards I remained to chat to Frank Kantor, the General Secretary of the FCG, who gave me more information on the role of treasurer and the way in which the FCG operates. At the end of the chat I had an hour and a quarter before my train so I made my way across to a Chinese bakery in China town that we had discovered during our family holiday in London during February. I bought some cakes for my journey and my wife’s favourite to take home to her, however, with delays on the line I was over 40 minutes late in arriving into Durham.
The youth clubs were back to normal on Tuesday although a football course which began at the local Leisure Centre meant that some of the older boys from the Junior Youth Club were missing. There were still plenty of children there, one of the boys chatted to me about the church, telling me that he thinks that it is a good church which gave me the chance to ask what he meant by that and to invite him to come join in the services and Messy Church that we run.
I had a Finance Committee Meeting at the local senior school on Wednesday afternoon where the finances appear healthy and the school is making progress in improving the life opportunities of the pupils. It was then home for a quick tea before going to visit a member of our home church who is in hospital in Newcastle.
I was again on the 7.07am train from Durham to London King’s Cross on Thursday, which was late like the two other trains I had travelled on this week, fortunately I had sufficient time to get to Tavistock Square for firstly a meeting of the directors of the FCG and the a meeting of the member churches of the FCG where our Ecumenical Officer, Bill Hampson represented our denomination. Once again the meetings went well, raising interesting issues and once again I was made most welcome by the other directors and by the members of the FCG.
This time after the meeting I had lots of time before my return train having booked the 8 o’clock to get a reasonably price fare. I therefore went on a wander, making my way through Bloomsbury to Tottenham Court Road, down "Tin Pan Alley” to China Town, this time with orders for cakes from my daughters as well as my wife, through Trafalgar Square to St James Park and Buckingham Palace. I then went down to Westminster Abbey, past New Scotland Yard, along to the Home Office and over to Lambeth Palace to promenade along the South Bank, crossing back by Charing Cross Station I walked along the Victoria Embankment to the Houses of Parliament before turning up Whitehall back to Trafalgar Square. I went to Leicester Square where I had tea despite crowds cheering the stars arriving for the premiere for "Iron Man 3” at the Odeon then I made my way back to King’s Cross satisfied that I had completed my own version of the London Marathon! I had left home with my family all in bed and when I returned home they were once again all in bed, I’m assured that they had got up and gone to school and work but I missed it all.
I was back in my office on Friday catching up on work and in the evening after taking a walk with Anita I was busy changing train bookings and other arrangements for next month. Saturday was a day to get on with more jobs at home and to spend time with my family. It was good to be at my home church on Sunday morning with members of my church family.
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 22nd April
7.00pm Bible Study at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Tuesday 23rd April
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 24th April
7.00pm View Point at South Hetton IM Church, North East Circuit.
Thursday 25th April
5.45pm Seaham Community Choir at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Saturday 27th April
10.00am Executive Meeting at the Resource Centre, Wigan.
2.45pm Bolton Circuit Meeting followed by Circuit Rally in Chorley IM Church, Bolton Circuit.
Sunday 28th April
10.30am Preach at Chorley IM Church, Bolton Circuit.
2.00pm Preach at Noble Street IM Church Bolton, Bolton Circuit.
Monday 29th April
6.30pm Governors’ Meeting at Grindon Hall Christian School.
Tuesday 30th 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 1st May
3.30pm Meeting of Governors at New Seaham Academy.
6.30pm Prayer meeting at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Thursday 2nd May
5.45pm Seaham Community Choir at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.
Friday 3rd May
7.00pm Bible Comes Alive at Thorney Close IM Church, North East Circuit.
Sunday 5th May
10.30am Attend Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, North East Circuit.