Captain's Log April 2018

March was another month where the weather caused cancellations playing havoc with the diary.

In my capacity as Chair of Trustee’s for Rural Mission Solutions I met with Barry Osborne and Joy Howell at Selly Oak.  Joy has now been offered work with RMS to forward and foster work with children in a rural context. In due course she will be presenting a webinar and meanwhile Joy will be drawing up valuable resources that can help in children’s ministry in a rural areas.  Barry and I also presented a webinar as part of our Seasons and Cycles looking at the forthcoming summer season. It is available on YouTube – follow the link at www.ruralmissionsolutions.org.uk under ‘what we do.’

Staffordshire County Show – an interesting planning meeting at which we had two representatives from Rising Brook Baptist Church join us. (RBBC is a very large Church in Stafford)  Please pray for a fruitful outcome of this partnership. This year we hope they will supply us with a few folk to act as Host’s and also refreshments. Our good friends at House of Bread who have provided us refreshments in the past have grown and expanded and are no longer in a position to help out in this way. 

I had an excellent Review Meeting with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew and then a few weeks later with George Fisher (Line Manager).  We are all mindful of my retirement in June 2019 and seeking to focus on successors for some pieces of work such as the County Show, and then to concentrate on particular pieces of work and people with whom I have been walking alongside.  I very much doubt if there will be a like for like replacement but the ministry I have been able to do has proved to be of great value. So consideration will need to be given to what support can be offered to parishes and benefices post June 2019.

I had a great time with Revd Captain David Collier, new into post (January 2018) at St Saviours and All Saints, Branston and Burton. I spoke at their Café Holy Communion Evening Service. (A rather odd animal!) I was invited to speak about my ministry and brought it around to talking about my coming to faith, my ministry and vocation and then challenging them to consider their own vocations and calling.

A preachment at my home church of St John’s on Palm Sunday.  I invited people to consider whether they we following the man on the horse, Pontius Pilate representing the world, or the man on the donkey, Jesus, representing the Kingdom of God.  It was very well received and the transcript is available on my blog.

I also met with all three of my Pilgrims this month, walking alongside them as their Spiritual Companion. I really like the mix of Pilgrims I am engaged with in this way.

Some appointments and engagements....

(Weather permitting!)

APRIL 2018

Easter Sunday and leading the SonRise Service at Stafford Castle 6.30am.

Wednesday 4^th

Farming Community Network meeting including Dementia Friendly Training from Dementia Action Alliance. https://www.dementiaaction.org.uk/

Sunday 8^th

Preaching and leading Service of the Word at St Anne’s, Brown Edge.

From Monday 9^th – 12^th Jane and I will be on Retreat at The Sheldon Centre. On the Thursday we are going to Cornwall overnight to catch up with the grandchildren (and their parents) and see if we have time to call in to talk about putting our house back on the market. On the way back we have an overnight stop at Bristol to catch up with Joe & Alex.

Sunday 15^th

Rescheduled Stafford Half Marathon and raising sponsorship for The Farming Community Network.

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gordonbfcn

Text - GFCN51 £2 to 70070

Monday 16^th

Church Army Regional Day in Sheffield.

Tuesday 17^th

Meeting with Alan Betts as we make plans for the first session of Frontline Discipleship, ‘Preaching for your Frontline.’   (See Wednesday evening)

Wednesday 18^th

In the morning meeting with newly appointed Priest, Julia Babb. In the evening ‘Frontline Discipleship One Year Course’ begins for St Lawrence, Biddulph.  Pray for their Vicar, Steven Dyson.

Thursday 19^th

‘Chew & Chat’ – informal lunch meeting at Rising Brook Baptist Church. Out in the evening helping as I do most Thursday with RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association)

Saturday 21^st

With Janet Arnold at St James’, Newchapel. We are going to spend the morning together looking at Evangelism as an Integral Heartbeat using the Five I’s of Parish Evangelism.

Monday 23^rd – Thursday 26^th

Lichfield Diocese Clergy Conference – and I get to go as well!  Great time of networking and catching up with folk, with some teaching and worship of course!

Saturday 28^th

St John’s, Littleworth, Away Day.

(Going with Jane as participant)   

Sunday 29^th

Tixall & Ingestre Messy Church in the afternoon.

Monday 30^th

Personal Quiet Day