Captain's Blog - September 2018

I had a great time at Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace and did a stint on the FCN stall plus had various Farming Community Network related conversations as I wandered around.

Then a trip to Cornwall, not only to catch up with the grandchildren which is always a delight but also to explore buying a Holiday Home – which we did! More on that in due course but we now have a place to stay. So, if any of our Cornish friends would like to meet up we would be delighted to hear from you as our current plan is to spend October 2019 there. But note I am taking a ‘sabbatical’ from July to December 2019.

                            The grandchildren feeding the animals at Dairy Land.

On the way back from Cornwall we spent a couple of days in Bristol catching up with Joe and Alex.  Joe had set us up with a great itinerary for exploring the city including a fascinating trip on board SS Great Britain.

Then to round everything off we stopped off in Rugby to catch up with Tabitha.

Once back home after a 600+ mile round trip it was time to get the car loaded for the Shrewsbury Flower Show. After the gorgeous and yet challenging weather we had been having it was a mixed blessing to have sunshine and showers during the Show.  Overall everything worked out fine for this our second year at the Flower Show with the Church Tent headed up by a Shrewsbury Churches Together Team augmented with a few folk from outside.  We had Messy Church making juggling balls and then our Resident Storyteller gave instructions on how to juggle. I was busy making badges and looking after the garden games.  We also invited people to complete our survey question – ‘What concerns you most about the future?’ Plus we invited people to write Peace Prayer Ribbons as part of the 100 Days of Prayer linked in with the Centenary Commemorations of the end of WW1. (www.remembrance100.co.uk)

No chance of a rest as the next day after the Show I was leading and preaching up at St Anne’s, Brown Edge. This was followed by a Benefice Picnic with my ‘home church’ to which I took some of my games.  Once back home and after unloading the car I did sit down on the sofa and fall asleep for a little while!

  Appointments and engagements for September 2018

Jane and I are on our summer break from the 28^th August until the 10^th September.

Monday 10^th

Tixall & Ingestre Messy Church Planning Group meeting

Tuesday 11^th

Stafford Clergy Chapter (in attendance)

In the evening we have an important meeting at St John’s, Littleworth looking at the development of Discipleship Groups.

Wednesday 12^th

FCN representative at the CPRE (Campaign for the Protection of Rural England) AGM.

In the evening Wash-Up Review meeting for the Staffordshire County Show

Thursday 13^th

Personal Quiet Day

In the evening helping out with RDA (Riding for the Disabled Association)

Saturday 15^th

Rural Mission Solutions Webinar looking at Winter Missional Ideas/Resources

Monday 17^th

Ministry Review with Bishop Geoff and Archdeacon Matthew

Lunch time ‘Chew n Chat’ - friends that do lunch 

Tuesday 18^th

Meet with Carl Rudd (Rector of St John’s)

In the evening speaking to the Uttoxeter Deanery Synod on ‘Practical Mission’

Wednesday 19^th

Church Army Lichfield Cluster afternoon meeting

Thursday 20

FCN Three Counties Training Day (Cheshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire). www.fcn.org.uk

In the evening preaching at Harvest Service at St Matthew’s, Meerbrook. 

Sunday 23^rd

Preaching at HMP Stafford and then at 4.30pm leading a ‘Tea Time Service’ at St Matthew’s Derrington (In Vacancy)

Monday 24^th

Meeting with D.C. as Spiritual Companion

Review meeting with George Fisher as ‘line manager’

Wednesday 26^th

‘Preaching for the Frontline’ – training day led by LICC (www.licc.org.uk)

In the evening with Alan Betts leading a session on ‘Worship for your Frontline’ at St Lawrence, Biddulph

Thursday 27^th

‘Chewing the Cud’ – our informal gathering of rural folk hosted by FCN and this time down at Ashbourne, Derby

Sunday 30^th

Preaching & Leading Harvest Service at Rudyard Methodist Church and in the afternoon Tixall & Ingestre Messy Church