Holiday…
Early
September saw Jane and I relaxing on a fabulous holiday in Rhodes. Soaking up
the sun and swimming in the sea with lots of nice wine, cold beers and gorgeous
food. Plus fascinating places to visit. We hired a car and traveled
around the whole island.
However it was back to business on my return with hardly time to stop and breathe.
An
evening spent with my friends at Doxey
Parish Church exploring ways in which they can share and show the love of
Jesus. They have a lot of new build around them and so that is creating both
challenges and opportunities.
Then
another day looking at ‘Frontline
Discipleship’ with LICC. (www.licc.org.uk)
We are delighted at the way they have
worked with the Diocese in helping to create a package that we hope will embed
the principles of ‘Frontline Disciples.’
We are currently working with them to craft and develop a programme
whereby we will walk alongside a parish/benefice for a year with various inputs
covering various aspects of ministry – i.e. worship, sermons, pastoral care,
etc.
Stafford County Show – the planning team enjoyed a fabulous meal together as
we looked back to 2016 and made some plans for 2017. The real work now is to consolidate the core
ministry of hospitality and providing a sanctuary at the Show. Pray we might find people who will want to
engage and join the Captain’s crew!
I
did have one very silly Sunday that saw me preach at Trentham Parish Church at both their 9.30am and 11am Service. Then
dash off to Egginton (nr. Derby) to run an PCC Away Afternoon for the benefice
of Anslow, Rolleston and Tutbury. We
were exploring a Benefice MAP that would provide a ‘Common Vision – Locally
Expresed.’ I then stayed on and preached at Evensong at Rolleston.
Thankfully
the next day I was at The Hermitage for
a Quiet Day.
FCN (www.fcn.org.uk) continues to feature a good deal at the moment as we
are busy making plans for our Harvest Service and AGM which the Staffordshire
Group are hosting. We have developed a very helpful informal gathering in a
local eatery in Stafford where we simple ‘chew the cud.’ Joining us on these
occasions is Stella Mills, Agricultural Chaplain for Derby and Becky who is the
RABI local rep as well as Staffordshire FCN folk. It is great to see the
sharing of ideas and links and the offer of following something or someone up.
Stafford 10K – this happened on the 10th anniversary of my
mothers death. As my mum suffered from a heart condition I asked for
sponsorship for the British Heart Foundation and have been delighted to have
raised £145.00. I set a target of £79.00 – £1.00 for each year of my mum’s
life, so this figure is fantastic. I was also really pleased to complete the
run in 58.24 – which is only slightly slower than the same distance in 1998
albeit that was a much tougher course in Saltash, Cornwall.
www.justgiving.com/Gordon-Banks8
www.justgiving.com/Gordon-Banks8
The
month concluded with Review Meetings
with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew and then Head of Missions, George
Fisher. They all seemed very pleased with the way things have been progressing.
God is good!
Some appointments October 2016
Saturday 1st
Away
Day for St Marys and All Saints, Trentham. They are currently in Vacancy and we
are looking to create a MAP that will go towards the Parish Profile. The parish
is being looked after by their curate Andy.
Monday 3rd
Trustees
Meeting of Sunrise Ministries – Selly Oak, Birmingham.
Tuesday 4th
Meeting
in the morning with Matrin Strang, Vicar for Doxey Parish and then in the
afternoon with John Marshall who heads up ‘Love Stafford.’
Wednesday 5th
‘Chew
& Chat’ – informal meeting at Rising Brook Baptist (Brook Café) 12.30pm and
all are welcome – very informal, we eat lunch and chat!
Thursday 6th
Representing FCN at the YFC Harvest Service St
Chad’s, Stafford.
Sunday 9th
Preaching
and leading Service of the Word at St Anne’s, Brown Edge.
Monday 10th
The
Mission Caravan is being serviced. ‘Barnabas’ is really coming to the end of
his life. He could still make a good prayer cell or someone might want to renovate him. Then there
is the question of a replacement!
Saturday 16th
Attending
the Germinate Conference.
Monday 17th
Meeting
with my Spiritual Companion
Tuesday 18th
FCN
Harvest Service and AGM at Rodbaston Hall. The Staffordshire Group are playing
host and organising this day.
Saturday 29th
Rural
Mission Solutions – webinar. This is part of the series we have been covering
on Seasonal Mission Opportunities. We will be looking at the ‘winter season’ –
Advent to the beginning of Lent. If you have any good ideas or know of
resources we would be delighted to hear from you. Barry Osborne is also running
a webinar this Saturday 1st October on ‘Image’ For more details
visit…
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