This week from Winchester

This week’s reflection is being written from a Travelodge near Winchester.  I’m here firstly because I have another session at Winchester University tomorrow (Saturday), but since I had to make this journey I offered a day to rural churches in the area for a consultation on rural mission.  Nine Anglican clergy and one lay leader gathered at the vicarage at St Mary Bourne and we spent a useful morning and afternoon together.  Such an event makes very good use of the time.

The week started with services at Newark in Nottinghamshire (where we explored John’s account of Jesus meeting with the woman at the well) and Theddingworth, Leicestershire (where we explored the issue of spiritual appetite and how Nehemiah in the OT and Peter and John in Acts 4 determinedly responded to difficulties they faced.  Later that evening I faced a minor but annoying challenge when I started a really bad cough that turned out to be a chest infection that then overshadowed the rest of the week.

However, on Tuesday I still went into prison to work with the choir and on Wednesday had an enjoyable afternoon of songs and stories with older folk at Yelvertoft (adapted so as not to strain my voice) and the first of our Lent meetings in the village that evening.

During the week we also mailed out the Rural Evangelism Network newsletter and Country Way magazines.  I also got the new REN website online.  You might like to check it out at www.ruralevangelism.net – especially the Knowledge Exchange section.

Our mission work Chairman, Stan, is now home after his heart surgery.  Monica is back from her travels down under.  Though this was a recreational trip she (typically) managed to do some valuable ministry along the way.

No doubt, like me, you have been concerned over circumstances in Libya, Japan, and Ivory Coast.  How I long for the fullness of God’s kingdom to come in.  You too?

The Coming Week:

A quieter week gives an opportunity to get on with work connected with the Research Project and perhaps take a little time out that has not been possible over recent weeks.

Sunday 20^th - Yelvertoft Congregational Church, Northants.

Tuesday  22^nd – Gartree Prison

Wednesday 23^rd – Rural Church Leaders’ Meeting for south Leicestershire, north Northamptonshire and Rutland, held at Torch House, Market Harborough.  Yelvertoft Lent Group in the evening.

Thursday 24^th – Morning Lent Group in Yelvertoft.

Sunday 27^th – Yelvertoft Congregational Church

We praise God for all his faithfulness and blessing, as we look to him to give those opportunities of service – not least as described in 1Peter 3:15.

Barry