Captain's Blog April 2019

FCN top and tailed last month. Beginning with a Three Counties Training Day held at Rudyard Methodist Church.  This brought together the Counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Our excellent speakers took us through some of the complexities of Farm Payments and Brexit. We also heard about Rural + which is a programme run in conjunction with the Federation of Young Farmers exploring mental health issues.  This is a vital piece of work to encourage those entering the profession to recognise that mental health issue should not be ignored or stigmatised.  At the end of the month I attended the Central Regional Conference, held near Rugby!

As I prepare to retire I am keen to explore the place of contemplative prayer.  This has always been an undercurrent in my ministry, but like everyone in busy ministry it can get squeezed out. I was delighted to have an opportunity to explore ‘Contemplating Contemplation’ at a Lent Lunch talk in Shrewsbury Abbey. A transcript of the talk is on my Blogspot under ‘Retirement Blog Three.’ Gordon's Blog Spot

‘Chewing the Cud’ – five of us gathered last time at the Fairways Garden Centre, Ashbourne. As ever the conversation was wide ranging, interesting and informative. Our next one is on the 19^th June and will be at Amerton Craft Farm just outside of Stafford.

I only had one Sunday preachment this month, at St Anne’s, Brown Edge on Palm Sunday. We had an extra challenge of no organist or music making!  I did trim down one of the hymns.  And somewhat unusually I went back to last year’s Palm Sunday sermon (at a different church)  - refreshed it and preached on 'who are you going to follow, the man on the donkey (Jesus) or the man on the horse (Pilate)?'  Both representing opposing Kingdoms and both demanding total allegiance.  

(Again you will find a transcript on my Blogspot)

During Holy Week I was invited to speak at the Burton under Needwood, Filling Station. What a great idea these are. In my early days as a Christian I engaged on a Sunday morning with my home church which was Church of England, Anglo-Catholic and BCP. Then in the evenings, I went to a Charismatic Baptist or a Pentecostal Church.  So, I really do get where the idea is coming from.  https://thefillingstation.org.uk/find-a-station/

I spoke about ‘Everyday Evangelism’ with some practical exercises like the Faith Lift. Imagining you are in a lift and you have 30 seconds to respond to the question ‘are you doing anything over Easter?  That alongside the importance of knowing our faith story whether we are cradle Christians or conversion Christians. Also being true to our nature as we share our faith – not everyone is an extrovert who can speak freely and strike up conversations with random people.  Some (& probably most) are introverts who nevertheless can learn how to respond in line with 1 Peter 3.15.

Good Friday Walk of Witness in Stafford. We managed to walk that line between those who want due solemnity and those who say we should witness and do so with joy.  We ‘walked’ in prayerful silence around to the Market Square and then rejoiced with a live band and contemporary worship songs with a brilliant address from a young Baptist minister, Danielle.

On Easter Sunday we had our glorious SonRise Service at Stafford Castle with around 50 people joining us at 5.45am to see the most wonderful sunrise over Stafford at 5.58am. We lit the New Fire from which I then lit a storm lantern that was then used to light our Paschal Candle in Church.

 

Some appointments & engagements in May 2019

From the 29^th April until the 2^nd May

‘On Fire Mission Conference’ at High Leigh

www.onfiremission.org

Friday 3^rd

Commissioning of Peter Hardy as Staffordshire Rural Officer by Bishop Geoff Annas. (10am)

Saturday 4^th

Staffordshire Young Farmers Annual Rally and setting up a FCN display.

Sunday 5^th

Preaching at St Mary’s, Knutton. This is as a prelude to a Parish Away Day on the 18^th May.

Monday 6^th

Personal Quiet Day up at The Hermitage

Tuesday 7^th

In the morning meeting with my own Spiritual Companion. In the evening attending a lecture at Staffordshire University on Dementia.

Wednesday 8^th

Final Core Team planning meeting for the Staffordshire County Show.

Thursday 9^th

In the morning meeting with DC as his Spiritual Companion. Lunch meeting with Steve Jackson exploring his reengaging with FCN and other allied rural matters.  RDA in the evening.

Saturday 11^th

Attending the Welcoming and Induction of a new Pastor at Chapel Lane Evangelical Church in Stafford.  (3pm)

Sunday 12^th

Preaching at St Anne’s, Brown Edge.

Tuesday 14^th

Friends that do Lunch – ‘Chew n Chat’ meeting at Rising Brook Baptist Church.

Wednesday 15^th

Love Stafford Church Leaders Strategic Forum – meeting to plan for town wide initiatives.

Thursday 16^th – it’s my birthday!

Saturday 18^th

Parish Away day for St Mary’s, Knutton.

Sunday 19^th

Church Army preachment at St Michael’s, Colwich.

Monday 20^th

In the morning meeting with JC as his Spiritual Companion.

Tuesday 21^st – Thursday 23^rd

National Missioners Summer Gathering at High Leigh – last one after twenty years!

Sunday 26^th

Preaching at HMP Stafford

Tuesday 28^th

Staffordshire County Show prep

Wednesday 29^th & Thursday 30^th

Staffordshire County Show and heading up a ‘Team’ of 30 volunteers helping at the Church Tent. I’m also Honorary Show Chaplain.

F