If the snow messed up the diary all the
various illness did an even better job.
I pulled out of a couple of things and I have several other appointments
cancelled due to ill health.
I was straight back into work the day
after holiday with a FCN meeting that included training on our new case work
reporting system. Like all charities FCN
is ensuring that its systems are compliant with the new Data Protection
Legislation coming on stream in May this year. 
I am running
in the Stafford Half March 18th and seeking to raise sponsorship for
FCN… www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gordonbfcn (www.fcn.org.uk)
A
couple of preachments
this month, and both in very different settings. One was in the tiny church of Tixall, just
outside of Stafford. We had around a dozen folk join us on a morning when the
snow began to fall. The Service was BCP but thankfully they have a ‘dedicated ‘Service
Sheet’ – I don’t get to lead BCP that often so I am not familiar with it as it
sits outside my tradition and experience for the most part.
My other preachment was at HMP
Stafford. Here the chapel was packed
with eighty plus inmates. The Service is
a very informal Eucharist with contemporary music provided by a lady on the
organ (who has been involved with the Prison for over thirty years!) and a
music group. Plus they have the most awesome choir. I really enjoy visiting the
Prison albeit it can be a challenge as Stafford is a sex offender’s prison. One
profound moment for me is when the men come up to take the host and then dip it
into in the wine (intinction) – you look at each of one them as individuals and
realise how much God loves and cares from them and whatever demons may be
sitting on their shoulders, Jesus can set them free. There are currently around 30 inmates going
through Prison Alpha led by a team of nine people from five different Churches
across Stafford.
The day after I met with the
Staffordshire Group of the Prison Fellowship. Our numbers are steadily
increasing and we are getting better known. www.prisonfellowship.org.uk.
Love
Stafford Celebration
was a fabulous occasion when over three hundred people came together for
worship and to visit the Mission Market Stall.
It was good to see that the Prison Fellowship had a stall for the first
time. I was looking after a HOPE18 stall and a Church Army stall, thankfully
next to each other.
I am very pleased that rural ministry is being increasing recognized and purposefully resourced. We now have an established Lichfield
Diocese Mission Group with plans for two Conversation and Consultation Days
later on in the year. We have also set up a dedicated Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/184152225508512/
Some appointments in the diary...
Thursday 1st
‘Chewing
the Cud’ – an informal gathering of rural folk
Sunday 4th
Co-leading
Christingle Candlemass at St Mary the Virgin, Ingestre
Monday 5th
‘Chewing
the Cud’ – friends doing lunch at Rising Brook Baptist Church. In the evening
speaking to St John’s, Littleworth PCC about HOPE18.
Thursday 8th
Journey
to Faith – reviewing the Rural Evangelism Course, Germinate ARC
Friday 9th
Meeting
with D.C. (Ordinand) as his Spiritual Companion
Sunday 11th
Preaching
at St Anne’s, Brown Edge
Monday 12th
Tixall
& Ingestre Messy Church Committee
Tuesday 13th
Stafford
Deanery Chapter (in attendance)
Wednesday 21st
Spiritual
Companions Training Day
Saturday 24th
Diocesan
RNG (Reaching New Generations) Learning Hub – ‘Children & Rural (in
attendance)
Sunday 25th
Preaching
at St James’s, Newchapel. I am working
here with Janet Arnold who came into post in August 2017. We have plans in hand
for various ‘gatherings’ including an Away Day seeking to create a MAP (Mission
Action Plan).
Monday 26th
Gathering
of Midland Missioners in Birmingham
Wednesday 28th
Diocese
of Lichfield Community of Evangelist gathering
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