County Shows have been a feature of my ministry
for the past thirty two years, so that would seem a fitting end on which to
retire.
Like many people across the
country here in Staffordshire we were affected by the snow in early
December. I was due to take the Service
and preach at St Anne’s, Brown Edge,
but decided it was too risky.
However I did make a trip to London for the National Missioners Gathering & Lunch. We had some short presentations that were very encouraging. These included ‘Mission Academies’ part of HOPE18. We also had an update from Roy Crowne on HOPE18 with some great stories coming back after folk had distributed the ‘Christmas Hope’ magazine around their area both rural and urban. https://www.hopetogether.org.uk/ William Nye who is the General Secretary for the Archbishop’s Council enthused about the structural changes in the CofE with a greater emphasis on mission, Church growth and making Jesus known. We had an update from Nick Shepherd, the newly appointed director for ‘Setting God's People Free,’ and who will be leading on Discipleship in the new Evangelism and Discipleship department.
For the Report see…
I also ventured out to spend some
time with Janet Arnold, a Priest and
Church Army Officer recently appointed to St James,’ Newchapel. We have scheduled in several dates to help
the Church review its programme, particularly focusing on evangelism and also
to create a MAP.
I had another great Review Meeting
with my line manager, George Fisher who is so supportive and full of
encouragment.
Another London trip, but this time
to talk about housing in retirement, including housing provided by the Church
of England. The big question – do we rent or do we try and buy? And then ‘where?’
Carol Service in HMP Stafford – what an amazing talented group of people they have in the
prison. A fantastic choir and a funky rock band who had written their own
Christmass song as well as offering some very upbeat rendition of some of the
classics. We now have four members of
the Stafford Prison Fellowship and
hope to grow this and develop an increasing level of support for ministry in
prison. It would also be good to see a
more coordinated effort by the various churches currently doing ‘their thing’
in the prison. Prison Alpha is one of
the initiatives that does bring the Churches together in their engagement. www.prisonfellowship.org.uk
Carol Singing around the Wards – was great fun as around eighteen us in two group went
around the Wards at Stafford General and sang carols. It brought some tears, many smiles and was
much appreciated by all.
Check out the dedicated
Facebook Page - NHS Prayer Partners
We said farewell to our Curate Becky Richards on Christmass
Day. She has been appointed to six parishes in her home setting of Cheswardine
The year ended with Church@4 at St John’s with a time of
worship, prayer stations/crafts and food with the Methodist Covenant Prayer as
a focus to take us into 2018. I really liked this presentation of steps we can take as we enter into a New Year - I took the 'Greatest Step' 42 years ago making a New Years Resolution to become a Christian!
Thursday 4th
Meeting with Alan Betts to discuss
presentation of ‘Frontline Discipleship’ course (one year) to St Lawrence
Biddulph. (LICC) 1
Monday 8th – Wednesday 17th
Holiday
Thursday 18th
FCN Staffordshire Group meeting
and in particular getting to grips with new recording system so that we can be
compliant with new GPDR legilsation.
Friday 19th
A trip to Rugby to pick up HOPE18
resources.
Sunday 21st
Leading (along with Celebrant)
Holy Communion at St John’s, Littleworth. I am also Leading and Preaching
Morning Prayer (BCP) at St John the Baptist, Tixall. (Part of the United
Benefice) In the evening there is a
major ‘Love Stafford Celebration’ when Stafford Churches come together.
Alongside the celebration there is a ‘Mission Market’ and I have both a Church
Army stall and a HOPE18 stall (side by side!)
Monday 22nd
As Spiritual Companion – JC is
visiting me in the morning. Lunch time ‘Chew & Chat’ at Rising Brook
Baptist.
Tuesday 23rd
Personal Quiet Day at The
Hermitage
Thursday 25th
As Spiritual Companion – JM is
visting me.
Hospital Chaplains Meal (I am a
Locum Chaplain for Stafford General)
Friday 26th
Joining the Lancashire FCN Group
for a Reflective Extended Lunch at Whaley Abbey
Sunday 28th
Preaching at HMP Stafford on the
Feast of the Presentation
Monday 29th
Stafford Group of the Prison
Fellowship meet for Prayer & Update
Tuesday 30th
Meeting with my own Spiritual
Companion
Wednesday 31st
Rural Mission Team meeting. Making
plans to set up two ‘Conversation & Consultations’ days in June 2018. We are really trying to beef up our Rural
Mission presence and have recently set up a dedicated Facebook Page.
We also have the ‘Mission Team’
New Year Lunch following the mornings meeting. 1 In the evening it
is the first of our Presentations for Frontline Discipleship at St Lawrence,
Biddulph – Preaching for the Frontline.
Other news...
Jane is very much involved
with St John’s and even more so with the Vacancy. Our Rector left us in August, our Curate in
December and we have recently heard that one of our Readers is also retiring
leaving us very understaffed. We do have a Youth & Children’s Minister at
St John’s, Cathy Short. Please can you
pray for our Churchwardens – Littleworth, Dave Blake and Ann Scott, Ingestre, Sue
Haenelt, and Tony Stubbs, Tixall, Anne Andrews and Robert Collier. Our next Rector
Interview date is set for the 16th March.
There are also big changes as Jane
and I settle down to life without Tabitha living with us. Since the Wedding in November life has been a
tad manic so ‘ordinary life’ has not yet settled in. As we move into the year I will need to be
canny about succession issues and making preparations for retirement. Plus we have our house in Cornwall to sell
and make some decisions on our retirement home.
(And ‘dispose’ of the Church Army Mission Caravan along with other
resources.)
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