Sunday 2nd October

I was speaking at the Christian Endeavour at our Easington Lane IM Church on Monday evening, it was a joy to meet with the fellowship as various members led, read, sang and played the piano.  Like many churches Easington Lane is blessed with gifted members who willingly use them in the Lord’s service.

On Tuesday evening I was sent home from the Youth Club on the grounds that I had a cold which might be spread to the children so I reluctantly returned home.  Before I left yet more new children came to join so I wasn’t surprised to learn later on that there had been 31 children at the younger Club.

I was up early on Wednesday to get an early train to York where I sat on the platform for 50 minutes before getting a train to Birmingham. This and a change of trains at York on the return were the price that I had to pay to get reasonably priced tickets to attend a meeting of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners.  A fellow trustee had set off from her home in Northern Ireland at the same time as I had left my home but she arrived at the meeting long before me!

The meeting went well, progress was made and plans for the future were put into place so despite the length of the journeys it had been worthwhile.  Although I ended up locked in the car park despite having paid the fee that is to long a story to recount in this diary.

I had no meetings on Thursday evening so with the good weather that we were enjoying I took the opportunity to mow the lawns and to start some tidying up in the garden followed by some tidying up in our study.  Friday evening was another evening of tidying and preparation for future events.

On Saturday morning I travelled with Anita down to Weatherby Service Station for the first meeting of the newly formed Young Peoples’ Committee.  It takes time for a new committee to find its feet so to speak, to learn how to work together and to set priorities but I found it exciting to hear the ideas that were being put forward and trust that we will see some of them come to fruition in the coming year. 

On Sunday I had the privilege of speaking at our Nelson IM Church which was celebrating its 26th Anniversary, having been formed when Salem and Bradshaw Street Churches joined together in a beautiful new building.  It was a pleasure to see at the start of the sacrament service two new members were welcomed into the church.  

My visit also gave me the opportunity to present a certificate to Fred Husband recognising his service as a Connexional Minister for over thirty years. The church also had a celebration cake for Fred which was shared at a lunch after the service which was followed with the opportunity for me to give a short epilogue.   The fellowship is very welcoming and as a number of members of Nelson Church have known me since I was a boy so I felt very much at home.

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

Tuesday 4th October
6.00-7.00pm Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.
7.00-8.30pm Senior Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.

Wednesday 5th October
6.30pm Attend the joint Seaham Churches prayer meeting at Seaham Pentecostal Church.

Sunday 9th October
10.30am Attend Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit followed by conducting the baptism of Jared O’Keefe.

Tuesday 11th October
6.00-7.00pm Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.
7.00-8.30pm Senior Youth Club at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.

Wednesday 12th October
6.30pm Attend the joint Seaham Churches prayer at Seaham Pentecostal Church.

Thursday 13th October
5.45pm Attend Seaham Community Choir at Stanley Street IM Church, Seaham, Sunderland Circuit.

Friday 14th October
7.00pm Administration Group meeting at the Resource Centre, Wigan.

Saturday 15th October
11.00am Connexional Committee Meeting at Resource Centre, Wigan.

Sunday 16th October
10.30am Preach at Grappenhall IM Church, Warrington Circuit.
6.00am Preach at Risley IM Church, Warrington Circuit.