My apologies to faithful friends who visited the blog in the last few days and found this update missing!
The past week involved two journeys to the Arthur Rank Centre in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. The first was for a meeting of the Churches Rural Group (a coordinating group of CTE) and the second was for an editorial board meeting for Country Way magazine. Have you seen the latest edition - it is really good. If you don't subscribe to this high quality magazine about faith and life in rural Britain I encourage you to take out a year's subscription to give it a try. Email me with Country Way in the header if you are interested.
One additional special meeting in the week was at Churches Together in Harborough AGM. CTH does excellent work but the meeting ended on a worrying note as there were no nominations for a new Chairman.
It was encouraging to receive emails appreciating the 21st Century Stewardship booklet. Several are planning to use this in other locations. It certainly is needed. Perhaps the lack of offers for CTH chairmanship also reflects contemporary problems with stewardship of time as well as money.
We had a busy Sunday. It started with a service in Gartree Prison, which was also the final Sunday Service for the Coordinating Chaplain, Peter Molcher, who is retiring. There was a very real sense of God's presence and many were clearly touched within the large congregation. From prison I hastened to pick up Doreen and go to Yelvertoft. The wonderful meeting at the prison over-ran so we got to Yelvertoft 15 minutes late. The majority of our regular congregation were away so we were only six. We used the meeting to do an interactive Bible study on the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. This is such a good way to read and study scripture and it is so encouraging to see how people seem to be stirred by such engagement with God's word. Then in the evening I arrived at Theddingworth Chapel to find I was expected to lead the evening meeting. The previous week we had been encouraged to read James 2. It was another excellent Bible study with everyone participating helpfully. All in all a good day.
This Week
Tuesday afternoon 31st Gartree Prison - please pray for helpful conversations in the fellowship time after choir practice.
Tuesday evening: Church Meeting at Theddingworth.
Wednesday: all day in London. I hope to meet with a colleague in mission in the morning. In the afternoon I will be taking part in an interview with the Church Times prior to the launch of the document about supporting victims of sexual abuse. The document gets launched at the General Synod of the Church of England in July. The interview is followed by a meeting called by friends seeking to put right unrighteous acts of a different kind many years ago in another organisation.
[I continue to be alarmed at well meaning Christians who think that a sexual predator who has done time for one of his offences (out of several) should now be fully reinstated within Christian ministry even though he has never apologised for what he has done. This is a recipe for repeat offending and is very dangerous. Abusers are very manipulative and far too many Christians are dangerously soft.]
Thursday we have a lunch time service of thanksgiving for one of those who shared in our recent Lent course in the village. Her passing will leave the village poorer. Then in the evening we are back to Yelvertoft for the Church Meeting when we shall face some challenging issues.
On Friday morning I travel to Sunbury on Thames where, in the afternoon, I am meeting with yet another victim of sexual abuse. I'm not sure whether or not her abuse took place in a Christian context. Please pray that a Salvation army colleague and I will listen well and be wise.
On Saturday I am teaching morning and afternoon at the International Headquarters of the Salvation Army which are in Sunbury as part of the SA Safe & Sound programme. As I have said before this is an exceptionally thorough child safety programme and I am delighted to share in the teaching.
Then on Sunday 5th I am back ministering at Yelvertoft.
As you see this is a busy week and study, admin and ministry preparation have to fitted in as well. Please make this a week when you pray for Doreen and me each day.
Thank you.
Barry
The past week involved two journeys to the Arthur Rank Centre in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire. The first was for a meeting of the Churches Rural Group (a coordinating group of CTE) and the second was for an editorial board meeting for Country Way magazine. Have you seen the latest edition - it is really good. If you don't subscribe to this high quality magazine about faith and life in rural Britain I encourage you to take out a year's subscription to give it a try. Email me with Country Way in the header if you are interested.
One additional special meeting in the week was at Churches Together in Harborough AGM. CTH does excellent work but the meeting ended on a worrying note as there were no nominations for a new Chairman.
It was encouraging to receive emails appreciating the 21st Century Stewardship booklet. Several are planning to use this in other locations. It certainly is needed. Perhaps the lack of offers for CTH chairmanship also reflects contemporary problems with stewardship of time as well as money.
We had a busy Sunday. It started with a service in Gartree Prison, which was also the final Sunday Service for the Coordinating Chaplain, Peter Molcher, who is retiring. There was a very real sense of God's presence and many were clearly touched within the large congregation. From prison I hastened to pick up Doreen and go to Yelvertoft. The wonderful meeting at the prison over-ran so we got to Yelvertoft 15 minutes late. The majority of our regular congregation were away so we were only six. We used the meeting to do an interactive Bible study on the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch. This is such a good way to read and study scripture and it is so encouraging to see how people seem to be stirred by such engagement with God's word. Then in the evening I arrived at Theddingworth Chapel to find I was expected to lead the evening meeting. The previous week we had been encouraged to read James 2. It was another excellent Bible study with everyone participating helpfully. All in all a good day.
This Week
Tuesday afternoon 31st Gartree Prison - please pray for helpful conversations in the fellowship time after choir practice.
Tuesday evening: Church Meeting at Theddingworth.
Wednesday: all day in London. I hope to meet with a colleague in mission in the morning. In the afternoon I will be taking part in an interview with the Church Times prior to the launch of the document about supporting victims of sexual abuse. The document gets launched at the General Synod of the Church of England in July. The interview is followed by a meeting called by friends seeking to put right unrighteous acts of a different kind many years ago in another organisation.
[I continue to be alarmed at well meaning Christians who think that a sexual predator who has done time for one of his offences (out of several) should now be fully reinstated within Christian ministry even though he has never apologised for what he has done. This is a recipe for repeat offending and is very dangerous. Abusers are very manipulative and far too many Christians are dangerously soft.]
Thursday we have a lunch time service of thanksgiving for one of those who shared in our recent Lent course in the village. Her passing will leave the village poorer. Then in the evening we are back to Yelvertoft for the Church Meeting when we shall face some challenging issues.
On Friday morning I travel to Sunbury on Thames where, in the afternoon, I am meeting with yet another victim of sexual abuse. I'm not sure whether or not her abuse took place in a Christian context. Please pray that a Salvation army colleague and I will listen well and be wise.
On Saturday I am teaching morning and afternoon at the International Headquarters of the Salvation Army which are in Sunbury as part of the SA Safe & Sound programme. As I have said before this is an exceptionally thorough child safety programme and I am delighted to share in the teaching.
Then on Sunday 5th I am back ministering at Yelvertoft.
As you see this is a busy week and study, admin and ministry preparation have to fitted in as well. Please make this a week when you pray for Doreen and me each day.
Thank you.
Barry
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